Grow Your Own Magazine

It can happen sometimes SS, try covering the top of the pot with some plastic or cling film, then the moisture will keep the top damp. You can always stand the pot in a saucer of water for a bit to take up more if needed.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

SS
Could be that your sweet peas and your other seeds were germinating and were just gathering strength to break through the compost crust when you broke it for them. Either way, breaking the crust will do no harm.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

I know this sounds dumb, but if the crust is fairly dry then underneath's going to be as well isn't it?

Also, another thing, my lettuce seeds are growing like there's no tomorrow, they're about nearly 2 inches tall. When do I need to pot them on?

You could pot them on now. I normally transplant mine into seed trays ready for planting out.

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SS
The crust will form on the top of your compost first as it is "open" to the air and heat, whereas the compost further down the pot is not. However, because the pots are small, the compost will dry out quuite quickly, and by the time you notice a crust on top, there's every chance that the rest of the pot will be too. Also because your seed compost consists of such fine particles, they do not hold onto moisture as much
The same applies to garden soil - if you rake it to a fine tilth, the top will dry out much quicker than the soil only an inch below.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Ok, cheers all, since i've moved the crust and re-watered other's are now starting to poke through

Am going to move the lettuce seeds on. Into a seed tray is ok rather than 3 inch pots is it? Isn't a seed tray quite shallow like the cells?

you can use either SS there would be less root disturbance with a pot or cell when it come to planting out. (Wilko's a re good for cell paks if you only want a few & cheapo plastic pots too)

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

A seed tray is fine for lettuce plants. Save your 3 inch pots for tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, marrows and sweetcorn which all have a much bigger root system than lettuce. Then when the lettuce has grown on some more plant it outside.

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Thanks guys

Ok, got the trays, shall I plant the lettuce shoots a bit lower so not so much 'stem' is showing? or just as they are now?

Also, how far apart? Sorry if someone's answered this above!

You can plant them so that the seed leaves are just above the surface but you have to be careful not to damage the stems, plant them an inch or 2 apart for now.

Ok thanks. was going to put the seeds out today that need going straight into the soil as we're going to have a sunny week. However, the nights are going to be down to 0 temperature wise. Should I wait?

I would. Can you cover the soil with a cloche to warm it up at all? You could plant out under this then.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Hi there everybody, I am new to growing things and would like to get to know some of you so that I might actually have some vegetables to eat by the autumn!

Welcome NAV to the Vine. You have come to the right place to learn about growing vegetables. This is the start of the growing season and we are all just starting out with seed packets in and bated thingies as Nic would say If you don’t have a veg bed sorted then you could try growing in containers for this year while you sort things out. Try the search buttons at the top of the page and hunt for information you need. It is surprising how much information there is on the vine and we are still in our first year.
Have fun and enjoy.
Jax

Thanks Jax,

We have got one side of the garden dedicated to my vegetable venture.. Lets just hope they turn out

I'll resist the johnny craddock quote Jax
Hi Nav, well if you've got half a garden dedicated, your half way there

Any questions, don't be afraid to ask, we're a friendly bunch of grapes. and don't forget to take some photo's for us all to see.

I can reccommend Geordies Missives that Jax & LJ have managed to paste in to several mails.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Hi Nutsabout! I'm sure your vegetables will be great and you will be the envy of your neighbours. One vegetable that never fails to produce a bumper crop is courgettes. It must be the easiest vegetable to grow as well. Defender is a good green courgette variety and Gold Rush is a yellow variety.

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Hmmm, I have to say most things are doing well. Not a word from the peppers yet...I hope! Everything else has now sprouted, cucumbers are about 2-3 inches tall!!

However, the lettue sprouts which I moved into a seed tray are all kind of droopy and just lying there!

They don't look dead, but they're not stood up like they were. Any ideas? Have they had it or should what should I expect to see happen next?

They are pining for the fjords SS

Seriously, it's just the shock of being transplanted, they should pick up in a day or too once they have re-easablished themselves.

It might pay you so put some plastic over them loose - the really thin white waste bin bags are ideal the thinner the better. this will keep a moist atmosphere around them & also give them a bit of shade fom the sun which may stress them until the get their roots out. make sure they don't dry out aswell.

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Hi there guys and girls,

Can you tell me approx how long it should be from planting tomato seeds and chilli seeds before I should see shoots coming through??

They should take up to two weeks but it depends on the temperature. Just be patient and give them chance.

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If you put them in a heated propagator they could be up in about a week. I bought one last year & was surprised how fast the toms germinated. If you've got them in trays or pots cover them with plastic bags which will warm them up a bit. The germination times given on seed packets are usually just a guideline & seeds just come up when they're good & ready.

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