My basil seeds are refusing to get started. I have them in a plastic tub greenhouse and they've been like this for a couple of weeks. They did the same thing last year, so I'm wondering if the seeds are too old?
Melbourne, east facing balcony open to the sky
by Tough_Homework7039
9 Comments
How many did you put in? They’re very low viability
Also growing season for basil is much later
I read somewhere that a growing hormone (or something that triggers growth) that exists in the seeds fades over time, so older seeds are less likely to germinate, but also read about a technique of using newer seeds (regardless of variety), grinding them up into a slurry and planting them with the older seeds can ‘replace’ the growth hormone lost in the original seeds.
I’ve never tried this. I don’t know if its even true, but i thought it was a really cool thing to try on old rare seeds.
Maybe more Fawty than off
Planted too early, conditions too cold for this particular species.
They’ll probably survive in a greenhouse, they’ll just stay stunted until the weather warms up. Should be good to plant out by the end of the month.
Probably just the day length and tempriture. But in answer to your question, yes seeds viability degrades over time depends on the species as to how fast however. They will degrade in a half life pattern.
Basil needs warm conditions to germinate and I haven’t had a lot of luck. I just buy a few plants and get a ton. Thai Basil self seeds pretty well
Did you sow them too deeply? Just a thought.
Yes
I have some at a similar stage for a few weeks sitting on a windowsill, they’re surviving just fine but not progressing. Once weather warms up are they likely to catch up or does starting too early permanently alter them?