Propagation success comes down to a few key details — here are three simple tips to improve your results when sowing seeds and growing healthy seedlings.
1 Seed age, in this case the corn is hardly growing in its second year.
2 Start seeds in small volumes of potting mix. Then pot on. This saves space and avoids overwatering seedlings.
3 Be careful not to overwater cucumbers and melons in plastic pots, especially when young and small.
Filmed Nicola Smith 17th April
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40 Comments
Gratificante em ver o seu carinho e entusiasmo pelo cultivar alimentos ❤eu não entendo seu idioma pela sua feição o quanto você gosta do que faz
Looking fantabulous Charles, the plants are as well 😊.
Lovely vid, squash in the cd60 trays?
I found cauliflower seeds have a 1 year shelf life ive had 0 percent whereas everything else i bought brassica wise was still 95 percent germination
How and where do you store your seeds Charles? I have mine in some draws in my bedroom. The recommendation I've seen several times is a cool dark place. I have the dark bit right but my house in a well insulated new build and my bedroom is pretty warm so probably not ideal.
I'm considering getting some small air tight containers for going in the fridge for certain home saved seeds like lettuce for varieties no longer available to buy. I've found seed company lettuce very variable in terms of germination and growth rate. But I'm not really sure if that actually would help.
My lovage seed had no germination after 4 attempts so glad the parsley seed is exploding with growth. I overwintered kholrabi and purple sprouting broccoli with no covers in raised bed and today I see healthy growth with potential. Very exciting to also see potatoes planted a month ago finally popping through the soil even with squirrel pressure. 😊
So many helpful tips in a short thanks charles ❤
Thanks for the video. I noticed some seedlings outside as well. Do you put them outside on days in which temperatures get too high inside a greenhouse/polytunnel?
I've used old tomato and pepper seeds as well as beans successfully! If you have some space, just sow a lot into a tray and pot on what germinates ❤
The GOAT
Thank you for this. My cucumbers slow to germinate and now see they may be overwatered!
Hah, this is great!I have your 15 cell module trays and I wouldn't have thought to put cucumbers in them. Now I can sow cucumber, squash and sweetcorn at the same time and fit them all in my heated propagator 🎉
I have noticed particular in the past few years seed longevity dropped 1-2 years max. I have started to bin seeds at the end of the season this means I’m getting almost 100% germination, no compost waste or space. This might be because I buy my seeds during Black Friday and Christmas sales, I do save a lot of money, I’m able to try different varieties.
Thank you for the tips and showing how seeds progress. I've been wanting to try growing from seeds this season but did not have a clear idea until I came across your video.
I store my seeds in the freezer. This year I sowed 5 year old lettuce seed and had over 80% germination. Works great if you have the freezer space.
Hi Bixby I'm this a young farmer are trying to do organic, but I find myself plants, some cauliflower and broccoli, but colorful comb, good for the brakes, they bulb and start the flowers. What is the cause of that, can you explain to me if it's because of the the climate chasm in the cabin, and I'm just trying to do it from spokenno Bixby can you share accord with me?I give explain to me how old to go ahead.The plant barely
The jumper 😍😍😍
I sowed all my pumpkin, cucumber and courgette seeds in your cell trays. Fantastic results. They are in bigger pots now. The best thing about your cell trays is that I don't have to search around for a stick to pop the seedings out, I just pop them out with my finger and the roots are barely disturbed. ❤
Love your info…
In Canada have to adapt..thank you😮😂❤
For large seeds, I put them in a wet paper towel in a zip lock back in the airing cupboard. Then once germinated you can move to soil reducing the wasted space on the window ledge. Great for testing old seeds too
Hydrogen peroxide 1 per cent is solution for old seeds germination
My pre-covid basil seed from Italy still germinated and has grown out just fine this season (2026). I was surprised that two-year-old cucumbers germinated fine becase they're not supposed to.
I love you Charles! It's always great to hear your comments on the garden. Advise your video team to record you with higher volume. I can turn you down but it's maximum on my smartphone and I do struggle a little. Keep composting
Those old seeds aren't going to grow in the envelope. This year I'm getting a bunch of them out and getting them going instead of investing more cash. I save lots of seeds but some things I don't have seeds for
Seeds acquired from breeders (tomatoes & peppers – stored in 'seed safes' since 2017) are still viable for me. 🌞💚🌱 Basil, Radish, Cucurbits about 5 years. I will try Sweet Corn this year – Cheers, Charles 👋
Had nearly 100% germination on 5 year old toms this year
Thank you. Always good tips. 😊
I planted beans last week and they’re 4” and I can’t put them in the greenhouse for another 4 weeks at least ,,, I planted everything to early 😂
I want that sweater! Real nice seedlings aswell. Great work.
Your seedlings and videos are top-notch, Charles.
Great, you just answered my question about starting courgettes and then potting on. Also fab over-watering tips !
Spinach, onion, lettuce one season only
Beets, radish, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, peas, can keep 2-3 years
Planting out broccoli (f1 marathon) at the moment Charles (sown 1st April) from your cd60 trays. Think this is season 5 with them. Cheers, from Southern Queensland, Australia. 🇦🇺
Thanks for these tips. I have taken on an allotment and this will help me to grow things well .
Thank you for the nuanced discussion, the details are always so useful 👍
Thank you Charles for all your tips. If I may ask, what microphone do you use – the sound is very clear. 👍
Charles – do you ever use soil temperature as a cue to get plants in ground outside? If you do, what is your target temperature for tomatoes (no hoop house)
Am I wrong for thinking of him as the Mr. Rogers of the gardening world?
Great tips! Thank you Charles! Have a blessed day! ❤
Your content is always so interesting!
"Smaller modules help avoid damping off:" who'd have thought that!