Germinating Brussel sprout seeds

[treepixie]

How do you germinate your Brussel sprout seeds.

I just don't seem to be able to get them to germinate, had this problem last year to.

I am using seed compost and they are only slightly damp not soaking wet and have tried them just on a window sill, in the propagator and nothing seems to work, what am I doing wrong?

[Kristen]

They would prefer no additional heat, most especially after germination (it will make them very leggy), but I doubt that a bit of TLC like that would stop them germinating.

Presumably the seed you have is OK? (no guarantee of course, but a Big Brand Name might be more comforting than an old unlabelled packet that a mate found lying in his cupboard!!)

Brassicas that I sow in containers usually give me 100% germination (in the sense that I carefully space each seed in neat rows in the container, so that they have root to grow once germinated, and thus I would see "gaps" if the germination was less than 100%)

[Scoot]

Mine are just sown in modules and up to now I have 5 out of 8 germinated.

They are in my little growhouse in the garden.

[treepixie]

Thanks for the replies

The seed I am using is Suttons and expires 2017

[Kristen]

The seed I am using is Suttons and expires 2017

Can't see anything wrong with that

Sorry, can't think of anything else - unless per chance the seed is duff. You are not over watering them, they don't need high temperatures to germinate - indeed, they will germinate in cold temperatures, albeit a bit more slowly. Not much that I can think of that could go wrong really ...

[bario1]

How deep are you sowing them?

[rustylady]

When you say the compost is only slightly damp that worries me. It needs to be moist, not dryish, because the seed needs to be able to take up water in order to swell and germinate

[Lumpy]

I put mine in MPC, tended to over water them and left them to their own devices in the porch. It can get quite hot in the sun so I open the window and door and don't cover them at night. My 8 plants are now 3-4 inches tall, leafy beasts that are going to have to be put in soon.
I know its very early but I am not going to waste the plants.

[treepixie]

How deep are you sowing them?

sprinkling them on the surface and very lightly covering them with compost

[Kristen]

When you say the compost is only slightly damp that worries me. It needs to be moist, not dryish, because the seed needs to be able to take up water in order to swell and germinate

Good point. Perhaps worth [lightly] wrapping the container in cling film so that the moisture is retained - unless the container already has a clear plastic lid or similar.

Need to be careful, with this approach, when the seeds germinate. I tend to place the clingfilm on top, so the seeds can push it up, rather than "wrap" the container - as you would if putting a bowl in the fridge.

[treepixie]

Thanks for all the advice, I will have another go and report back

[Alison]

Are these the same seeds as wouldn't germinate last year? If so then I suspect that is your problem as brassicas germinate easily and seed stays viable for years.

[Lisasbolt]

I bet they are duff seeds. Contact suttons they guarantee a return of seeds do not work, I think they will probably either refund you or just give send you some more. Hopefully they will arrive in time to try again

[kathyd]

Is it possible to pre-germinate brassicas like you can with peas and things? I know they're a bit small, but I don't see why not... Maybe if you lay just a few on a plate or saucer on some soggy kitchen roll, you'll be able to see if germination begins or not? Don't drown them, just keep the paper wet. If they do start to push out tiny tap roots, then you'll know it's not the seeds at fault, but 'something else'.

[Kristen]

Is it possible to pre-germinate brassicas like you can with peas and things?

Yes Putting some seeds on nicely damp kitchen paper is a useful germination test for pretty much any seed (and no reason not to then "plant" any seeds that chit / start to grow a root (if its not too fiddly ..)

best to put the damp kitchen paper / seed in a Tupperware/similar box, otherwise the paper will dry out which kinda ruins the experiment!