Problem with starting seeds

[sunnychooks]

I started some seeds two weeks ago and they're sitting in my kitchen near a window that gets lots of sun. I planted 12 pepper plants and 12 eggplants. I only have one of each that have sprouted. I'm thinking I may have packed the soil too much when I planted the seeds. I may have also over-watered them. I know it's not a lot to go on, but does anyone have any ideas as to what I could have done wrong? I used Scotts Potting Soil and planted them in paper rolls, so they have plenty of drainage. Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[OaklandCityFarmer]

They actually might still be okay. We've had seeds sprout a week or two after their target dates. However, a few things could have affected the germination.

Perhaps the soil did not warm sufficiently or dropped too low at night to allow the seeds to sprout. The ones that did sprout, are they on one side? This might show that indeed they didn't have enough warmth. Did they ever dry out? This also might affect them negatively.

How old are the seeds? The age and quality of the seed may also affect the way they sprout.

In our experience, peppers and eggplant usually can push through soil without a problem. Unless you plant them way too deep. We usually don't using a standard potting soil but a seed starting mix but that shouldn't affect them that much.

I'd try using a seed heating mat. Or keeping grow lights on over them to keep the seeds warm enough to sprout.

Dig up on of the seeds and see if there is anything going on there. If the seeds still seem intact and they seem okay then leave them and keep them warm and moist. They should be okay.

 

[sunnychooks]

Thanks for a bit of hope! The two that sprouted were on opposite sides of the tray, and they are in my kitchen, so I don't think it got too cold. I've been very good about watering them as well. The seeds were just ordered from Baker's so I'm sure they're good. What is a seed heating mat? Do they sell them at garden supply stores, or can I just use a heat lamp from my brooder? How warm is too warm? Thanks for the info! Waiting for seeds to sprout is worse than waiting for chicks!!!!!

 

[patandchickens]

If you are concerned about 'soil' compaction you could try inserting a table knife along the side of a cell and pushing it over a little to 'break up' the soil (try it, you will see what I mean). Doing that to the unsprouted cells should be basically harmless. I'd give them another week before I gave up.

Pat

 

[OaklandCityFarmer]

Most seeds sprout at about 70 degrees F.

Like Pat said, give them another week or so. By the way, that's a good tip, Pat. I'll have to remember that.

Most garden stores sell seed mats. They're mats with a heating element that warm seed cells by being place on the mats, they usually need to be plugged in to a power source. We actually don't use them, we use grower lights instead but I've heard they work pretty good. I usually see them for around $30 or so.

Seed sprouting and raising young seedlings is what I love the most. I usually spend hours in our greenhouse tending to them. It does need a lot of patience though.

 

[sunnychooks]

Good news! I've had 6 more pepper plants sprout! The one pepper plant I thought I had turned out to be a weed! I noticed it looked different when the others started to grow. I had been watering and admiring a weed for an entire week! I hope that isn't an omen for a first-time garden grower!!!

 

[OaklandCityFarmer]

That happens to me all the time. I plant a bunch of seeds in the ground and a bunch of stuff comes out and lo and behold I catch myself loving weeds.

 

[SewingDiva]

Most garden stores sell seed mats. They're mats with a heating element that warm seed cells by being place on the mats, they usually need to be plugged in to a power source. We actually don't use them, we use grower lights instead but I've heard they work pretty good. I usually see them for around $30 or so.

Seed sprouting and raising young seedlings is what I love the most. I usually spend hours in our greenhouse tending to them. It does need a lot of patience though.

I so agree with OCF - rasising your own seedlings is very rewarding, and you can grow varities that you just won't find in a graden center.

I use heat mats and grow lights and I recommend them for cliamtes colder than zone 6 - we live in new Enlgand, and a gorw mat means I can start seeds when air temps are as low as 40 degrees F. A gorw mat will icnrease the temperature by 10 20 degree F, so that menas I can use one to start cool season crops very early (late Feb in my area) and can slo use them for warm weather crops liek tomatoes even when the airt emp is only 50 degree F.

I found a store on Ebay has the best price anywhere for heat mats - about $25 each, including shipping. This merchant also sells seeds,and he has really interesting varieties and good prices: seed starting mat


I do use heat mats along grow lights and recommend them for climates colder than zone 6 - we live in New England, and a grow mat means I can start seeds when air temps are as low as 40 degrees F. A grow mat will increase the temperature by 10 to 20 degree F, so that means I can use one to start cool season crops very early (late Feb in my area) and can also use them for warm weather crops like tomatoes even when the air temp is only 50 to 60 degrees F, as it is in early April.

I have just two heat mats, and this is sufficient because I use them only until seeds germinate, then the mat goes off. then I move the mat under my next two 2 flats of seeds once the first set has germinated and growing well with grow lights.

I don't bother with a heat mat thermostat because I tend to raise seedlings that like similar germination temps. So when the weather is cool in March I do all of the cool season crops (kales, lettuce, broccoli, etc) and move on to the warm season crops like tomatoes and peppers when the air temps allow it (early to mid-April in my area.)

I also agree with OCF that seed starting requires patience, but it's not really difficult. Success is really all about good record keeping and creating a controlled environment with reliable temps and lighting that is on at least 16 hours a day.

:watering
~Phyllis