Garden Log 2014-15

[khabbab]

If you have to worry about watering then you are sowing too early. I tried this tub scheme once but did not continue it for some reason i do not remember. If bottom watering makes it to 3-4 days then i would say it is good. Too high temp in day and too low temp in night also affects germination which is a big issue these days. The only few seeds i have sown on october 1 are enclosed in plastic bag. I am using 50% coir, 25% peat moss and 25% bhalpatta.

Did you try water storing crystals? They are not expensive and do work for a while.

[Syed Adnan]

Farhan,

For me this technique work wonders ...

No worries for any watering.

[khabbab]

Totally agree with adnan.

[rafique]

Update of some early sowing
Dahlia ,zinia, dianthus crimsonia, dianthus sibrean blues,osteospermums, pansy and verbena.
Dahlia , zinnia ,dianthus and osteopspermums sowed in 15 of sep and verbena and pansy on 1st of oct(not germinated yet).

Sowing media, Bhal plus 10 percent garden fert(local compost). One inch top layer of peat moss evenly pressed with some levelled surface then covered the seeds with thin layer of coco peat and levelled again. Showering/misting in morning and evening. Place in shade where they get bright indirect light and good air circulation.
Zinnia, dahlia,dianthus looking good but osteospermum wilted(i suspect someone in my absence placed the paneeri in sun for some time).












Wilted osteospermum after good germination.

Totally agree with adnan.

Agreed with Khabbab and Adnan sb. This proved the most successful technique for me too in sowing of mid november and onwards cold days.

[Farhan Ahmed]

@Rafique. Request sowing media and exposure.

Plastic can stay only till germination. Story begins after that

[rafique]

Sowing media i usually use is fresh bhal from nursery and locally available compost named plant fert(Easily avaible at most of the nurseries here in Lahore). Mixes both in approximate 80-90% Bhal and 10-20% plant fert. This mixture usually have good drainage. Fill this material in container with some space left from top. Then lightly press and level the surface with some flat/rounded surface(i use jar lid).
Then sprinkle some peat moss(1/2 to 1 inch) on top surface and level again with light press. Then i sprinkle water on surface to throughly wet the peat moss. After wetting spread the seed and gently press again. Then sprinkle fine fine sieved coco coir just to cover the seeds lightly. In the last wet the surface again with fine sprinke. Then place the container in shaded area away from direct sun light.

For the sowing shown above i did not covered the surface because the weather is still very hot. Till now the seedling are placed in shaded area along wall side. I am trying to water the seedling from peripheri for maximum penetration. At this stage spray water alone is not enough because of lack of penetration of water the roots will not move downward and gain stregnth and nutrients.

[muhammadimran7]

Rafique sb i am following your method it is quite simple. what is the difference between peat moss and compost?

[khabbab]

Water from peripheri? What is peripheri.

[Farhan Ahmed]

I think he means to say from side.....in more quantity. The problem is with smaller seeds and thus smaller new born seedlings, they are so small that anything other than spray flattens them.....and we must remember not all seeds germinate at once. its a process....then what to do

[rafique]

Rafique sb i am following your method it is quite simple. what is the difference between peat moss and compost?

A kind of sowing/planting medium which is obtained from moss, while compost is formed by decomposition of wastes usually vegetables, leaves etc. For details you can search net and forum.