Learning how to water plants to increase growth in pots, container or garden - especially how to water roots and tubers. Specialities: root growth or tuber growth of lawns, fuchsias, geraniums, dahlias and begonias.

18 March 2010

Progress on seeds after 17 days

Don't mention the Basil.

Our Coriander seed at the side of the cup is a little slower than the rest(see bottom - our plant is ringed in red). Nevertheless, there is something interesting here. Although the root (radicle) has sunk 7.5 cm (3 inches) down into the cup and has now reached the bottom (see below), it's hypercotyl (the bent bit) is only just breaking through the surface, dragging the cotyledons (the first 'leaves') behind it.



Since the surface of the compost is very dry, we can see from the dark colour of the compost below and from the globules of water clinging to the side of the cup (can you see them?) and by the weight of the cup that water will not be required for a while yet. There has been no shrinkage away from the edge yet.

We want to see the compost changing colour before we even think about watering.




Again, we want to watch the light at this stage. The worst thing we can do is keep them in poor light in warm conditions. Watch them carefully for signs of going leggy. This is a symptom of growing too warm in too little light.

I will be placing these in cool conditions soon. This is particularly necessary with coriander, especially as the season progresses, as it tends to run to seed when it is too hot. Cool growing will produce strong healthy crops, at least early in the season.


DAHLIA SEEDS

These are doing well. Not as well as expected, but O.K. Will show you when they have developed first true leaves.





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