Grow Your Own Magazine

I have just sown some Pansy Chalon Supreme, as per the instructions on the packet for winter/spring flowering.

A couple of questions...

1) Should I cover the seed trays with newspaper / black polythene, etc.

2) Do I need to nip the top out of them if/when they grow to stop them going 'leggy'. If so, at what stage? Discovered this by hindsight with growing cosmos for the 1st time this year

Thanks in advance

James

Pansies need light to germinate and I personaly would pinch out the growing tip.

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The greatness comes not when things go always good for you,but the greatness comes when you are really tested,when you take,some knocks,some disappointments;because only if youv'e been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

I've never managed to grow pansies or violas from seed. Nothing happens.
However, I have lots of self-seeded ones on my allotment ~ so my tip would be to scatter the seed on poor ground, never water or feed it.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Well so far so good! About 75% have germinated

At what stage should I pinch the growing tip out???