For years, I have planted Night-Scented Stock in a trough on the kitchen window cill. In with the earth, on with the seeds, water, then sit back and wait for the scent on warm Summer nights.
Three years ago I followed this routine as usual and within a few days the little green seedlings came up but stopped growing after about a week. They began to turn red as in the photo and nothing else happened.
I thought it was the poor quality potting compost I had bought (for £1) so next year I changed the soil. The same thing happened.
So then I began to think it was a bad batch of seeds - I had bought about 5000 of them - so I threw them away and bought some more from a reputable supplier.
With new earth and new seeds the same thing is happening this year. The crappy photo above shows the sorry state of the 2019 crop.
Blogland seems to be teeming with gardeners. What am I doing wrong???
In the title, I mistakenly typed 'please' in capital letters. I have changed it but I expect it will appear the same on your dashboards. It gives the wrong impression. I am not that desperate, honest.
ReplyDeleteCould be a number of reasons.
ReplyDeleteYou could be heading for bumper comments.
DeleteActually, I had worked that out for myself. I hope I do get lots of suggestions.
DeleteI could give you at least 5 but I thought you would just say you knew all that as you have been growing them successfully for years. It was a tricky decision.
DeleteCan I have the best one?
DeleteOk then: Substandard soil. Even purchased compost needs to be the right sort and seedling compost is best, not general purpose compost.
DeleteOh, just read next comment and reply from you. They do need some sun.
DeleteGood tip. Thanks. They cannot get more than one hour sun a day but that's never stopped them in the past.
DeleteLooks very dry sunburnt. Try some miracle gro in the water.
ReplyDeleteThey don't get the sun, which I think is part of the problem. I have never needed fertiliser before, but thanks.
DeleteHave you tried them in a different container in case your planter contains any pests or toxins?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. I may have introduced something with the first batch of bad soil. When I opened the packet there was all sorts of other rubbish in it, as if some entrepreneur had swept a motorway car park and bagged it up to sell. I will try washing the container and maybe sterilising it too.
DeleteI went looking for all kinds of advice on Google, but then I thought you probably already tried it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did Yael, but thanks anyway.
DeleteSorry, I've not had that experience. You've done everything right so far (replacing the seeds, using good soil). I guess the next logical step is sterilizing the container, then trying a little fertilizer as someone suggested. I don't suppose you can buy some plants that are already started from a garden centre? -Jenn
ReplyDeleteYes, I think I will do that. In general, I think if you want lots of flowers it's best not to over feed them though. Thanks.
Deletetry a clear plastic bag to protect and warm the seends
ReplyDeleteI may try that too, but I've never had to before. Thanks.
DeleteI've had problems with seeds as well during the last couple of years and don't have any answers. Latest theory is compost that doesn't drain very well causing waterlogging.
ReplyDeleteMaybe but they aren't showing signs of water logging as far as I can see. Thanks.
DeleteDon’t plant until all signs of frost has gone.
ReplyDeleteSow seeds in a humus rich compost 6mm deep in rows 30cms apart.
Gently water in.
When seedlings have germinated and are large enough to handle, thin out to an 8cm spacing.
They should be in full sun and kept moist but not soggy.
Maybe they would do better in a few pots.
They do need lots of sun but you've grown then successfully on your windowsill before so that shouldn't be the problem.
Give ‘em another go ! XXXX
You've been reading my seed packet haven't you Jack@???
DeleteHaha !!!!! I planted some seeds this year ( not stocks) and, even though I say it myself, they are looking good. You might do better buying the little plug plants that have already got off to a good start. XXXX
DeleteI want to grow Night-Scented Stocks from seed, in a window box, as I have been doing for years.
DeleteTry a different type of flower. The soil and the amount of sunlight have great bearing on how well plants grow. I do like Miracle Gro soil and have excellent results with my potted plants using it.
ReplyDeleteI want to grow Night-Scented Stocks from seed, as I have been doing for years. If I wanted to grow a different sort of flower, why would I put this post up and ask you all advice?
DeleteRe-reading the above reply sounds a bit abrupt - sorry. I would get some Miracle Gro soil if they sold it here, but sadly they don't. Thanks anyway.
DeleteStick some plastic ones in and spray liberally with perfume.
ReplyDeleteBest advice so far, but they don't sell the perfume.
DeleteThe plants seem to be showing signs of phosphorus defiencency. Soil and water with a near neutral ph will aid in phosphorus uptake.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I think a different choice of soil may help in this area.
DeleteWhen you come back home late from the Pub' at night, don't open the window and piss on them; it makes the leaves turn red and shrivel.
ReplyDeleteI never come home late from the pub, but if I do I will bear that in mind.
DeleteOne never comes home late from the pub. One comes home at exactly the time that was intended. Profound eh?
DeleteYes indeed. And one always waters other plants on the way home, never bothering to piss out of one's own kitchen window. Simples. The man is an idiot for ever suggesting it, but he lives in an area where there are no pubs, let alone ones within pissing distance.
DeleteI would suggest you buy some new plants from a seed supplier like Suttons or a good garden centre or nursery. A lot of cheap compost is full of peat and this forms a cake when it dries out. John Innes number 3 is very good and contains loam. Under watering and over watering can also be a problem with new seedlings. A cheap spray gun is good for misting your emerging seedlings. Good luck Tom and lets have more of your gardening posts. Have you thought of getting an allotment? Jeremy Corbyn has one.
ReplyDeleteSo I am either under-watering or over-watering? Given the photographic evidence do you have any idea which? I use a cheap spray mister and have been for many years, not just on seedlings. Thanks for the John Innes advice.
DeleteCould be fluctuations in temperature or even air pollution, especially in urban areas. Seedlings don't like very cold water either. Tepid water could help. Water crystals are good too. Especially for containers and hanging baskets. The picture looks like the compost is cake like on the surface. Its very mixed weather this year.
DeleteThanks - I will take all this into consideration. The earth looks like that because I am decreasing its weight by drying it out prior to bagging it up and chucking it. I don't want to put wet soil into a bine liner.
DeleteThey are showing signs of ph imbalance, you could start by working a bit of garden lime into the soil keeping about two inches out from the base of the plants so as not to burn them. work it into the soil and then water well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Doc. Bear in mind that this is a 6 inch wide pot and I have been growing them successfully without too much care and attention for over 20 years. I will adjust the PH with a change of compost.
DeleteYou may have hit the nail on the head by reporting that they don't get the sun Tom. Certainly here the weather has not been particularly warm and that, combined with lack of sunlight, may well account for it. Night scented stocks do like full sun I think.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree Weave, but the advantage of growing them closely sown and overcrowded in such a sheltered trough is that they do not grow too tall, but flower abundantly at a height of about 10 inches. Pricked out and spaced they would grow to over 2 feet, which would not do for our window cill.
DeleteUnder these conditions they have done very well for over 20 years. I wonder what the current 3 year problem is.
Deleteif they are very young and suffering, then the last thing they need is feed. They only need that when they are growing properly, and becoming more demanding. A bit like trying to feed a new born baby roast beef when it is ill. The seedlings look like they are suffering from cold and dry wind, prob's at night, which on a Bath windowsill can happen any time of year, but with global warming blah, blah, blah.Try bringing them in overnight, and avoid any artificial heat. If this fails, plastic flowers sprayed with Chanel No 5.
ReplyDeleteI might piss on them to punish them for such a bad show. Cro got it all wrong. I hope you are not blaming bleeding climate change for this. The weather has not changed so drastically in the last 20 years to produce these results with the same treatment as usual, Miss Sophie.
DeleteI wanted to say the same as Gary - before I saw that Gary has already done it.
ReplyDeleteWhen they are very young they hate fertilizer - it is as if they are burnt. (And there may be to much in "normal" soil - and in cheap "normal" soil the compost really odd things, sometimes you find half-rotten wood -- and that might have been sprayed with wood-protecting poison).
I sometimes am successful with sweet peas on the balcony - but not always. This year I have some normally undestroable Busy Lizzies - already flowering - and suddenly their leaves get red as burnt...
Yes, the half-rotten wood is abundant in cheap compost. Something is going on which fertiliser will not cure.
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ReplyDeleteI have only just noticed that I have put GQC and not GQT in the title. I don't deserve an answer. Which one was Mr EM's father?
DeleteSomething I said?
DeleteSorry Tom - I was showing off and later regretted possibly identifying Mr EM. He cares about that sort of thing. Not that he is world famous or anything. (Face palm.)
DeleteAs you have previously grown them year in and year out successfully then you know what to do.
ReplyDeleteBuy yourself a new container, good potting compost for seedlings and seeds from a reputable supplier - it may cost a little more but perhaps worth it in the end - good luck, but start again, and may your evenings eventually smell heavenly.
The hand-made earthenware pot is too good to replace. It is wonderful. I will do all the rest and keep the trough.
DeleteMost definitely keep the earthenware pot. But instead of seedlings, don't be such a tight arse and buy some potted plants. Climate change doesn't effect these so much. ;)
DeleteWhy should I get someone else to propagate Night-Scented Stock for me? I have been doing it for years with good results!
DeleteUntil now. x
DeleteWhich is why this post has been put up. Think of it as a case for Sherlock Holmes.
DeleteTom, I can only wish you good fortune and joy in your reparations. You seem to have been offered some good advice.
ReplyDeleteOne or more of those suggestions has to be right.
DeleteI have no talent for growing things so I won't pitch in but I wish you joy, as I can imagine what a patch of colour and scent and delight they must bring to your view!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. We have missed it for the last 3 years.
DeleteYou right up there with John on a slow day for comment numbers.
ReplyDeleteYes. I ought to ask for help more often. I certainly need to.
DeleteThe Basket of Fruit Award for a lifetime achievement and the runner-up in the Best in Breed rosette for incontinent bulldogs' Olympic slavering event.
Delete(I have disabled comments just for today because I have nothing to say apart from this. x)
Delete(and this )
DeleteWith a bit of luck you'll get the Mumbai hooker in a minute.
DeleteAnd you needn't delete it.
DeleteI will delete the text but leave the title. Why do myself out of a comment?
Delete