Seed Sort Out

[Kristen]

Now I have to look at the seeds and hide my credit card

Much cheaper to just buy the book ... although looks like I had the last one at a knock-down 2nd hand price; Sorry about that ...

[Guest]

^^^^ Why did you post that NG? Now I have to look at the seeds and hide my credit card

What goes around, comes around (encouraging seedaholics )

The downside to oriental veg is there is a lot in the brassica family so not great for seedsaving for homegrowers

[veggiechicken]

To be honest, I have lots of oriental type seeds that never get sown. They don't quite fit in with my normal sowing pattern. OK, its a random pattern but so many are sown after midsummer - and I forget

[Guest]

To be honest, I have lots of oriental type seeds that never get sown. They don't quite fit in with my normal sowing pattern. OK, its a random pattern but so many are sown after midsummer - and I forget

Sssssssssssssssh!.........snap

Good intentions and all that

[hamamelis]

I keep hanging my nose over that book but not bought it yet as I know it'll also lead to loads of additional planting options too which I haven't really got the time for

It's looking like it'll be one of the most expensive library books I ever borrowed...

[Alison]

It's looking like it'll be one of the most expensive library books I ever borrowed...

That's why I'm not getting it

[dandalady]

i have resisted buying it because i have too many seeds as it is. my new years resolution is to sow those that are more than a couple years old and pop them in somewhere if they germinate and foist them on others. I dont do so well with some of the orientals. They tend to bolt, particularly the mooli

[marchogaeth]

I don't do so well with some of the orientals. They tend to bolt, particularly the mooli

You don't say exactly which ones you mean (apart from mooli) but a lot of orientals are long day length plants so if they are planted before mid summer they will bolt. I think mooli bolts if stressed.

[Kristen]

Having read the first 20 pages of Joy Larkcom's "Oriental Vegetables" I'm now an expert on bolting

I previously thought it was day length, but Joy says (mainly with respect to those that are members of the Brassica family):

Single most important factor is low temperatures both during germination and early stages of growth (which leads to the formation of flowers rather than leaves). "Young plants need to 'clock up' a certain number of heat units to prevent bolting. Once this has been done they can be subjected to lower temperatures without damage"

#2 Day length. Greater tendency, in many species, to bolt if day length is longer than 12-14 hours, thus greatest risk in Spring / early Summer.

#3 Genetic factors. Thus sowing varieties selectively bred can reduce / avoid this problem.

#4 Stress - including transplanting shock, lack of water, overwatering or sudden temperature change (oriental Brassicas are shallow rooted so do need little-and-often watering)

Joy recommends:

Raise plants in propagator / greenhouse etc. and then plant out.

Germinate seed at 22C (ideal), but not lower than 18C

If low temperatures forecast provide protection.

Choose bolt-resistant varieties

Grow cut-and-come-again Brassica varieties early in the year, and headed varieties later.

[Penellype]

Very interesting Kristen - explains perfectly why my pak choi sown outside in spring bolted and the ones I grew indoors in pots in summer and planted out later didn't.

Would be helpful if the seed packet mentioned some of the above instead of just saying:
"Sow March to July, every 3 weeks" and "Sow 1/2in deep in rows 15in apart"