Trials and Error

Attempt #1
My first attempt at growing plants from seeds were cornflowers. I love the stunning colour of the blooms of the cornflower plant. It is rare to see a seedling plant at Bunnings so they seemed like a good option for my first try.

I used cheap potting mix in seedling trays with no protection.


It was a delight to watch the little seedlings pop their heads out of the soil, some with the seed husk still attached. They grew up quickly, straight and proud.

Then disaster struck in the form of a destructive kitten. I came out one morning to find 10 or so seedlings had been uprooted. Not eaten... just uprooted.

So I was much more careful about where the seedlings were left around the house. The one day I was negligent, the other kitten jumped on the box, knocking dirt and seedlings into the carpet.
The few remaining seedlings were planted out the front and back. Now, a few months on, I have 3 plants at the front and 3 at the back of the house growing.

Attempt #2

My second attempt at growing from seeds was cheap Caspicum seeds, Heartsease flowers and Catnip. Not one single seed of the Catnip germinated. Only two seeds of the Heartsease sprouted. Most of the Capsicum flourished.

To protect these little guys from destructive kittens I bought a Yates mini greenhouse seedling protector. This helped out the Capsicums but still no further growth from the catnip or Heartsease.
Then I went on honeymoon and our house/kitten sitter forgot to water everything. When I came back most of the capsicums had wilted beyond repair. The tray was put outside to get some sun and aphids got in and ate the leaves off the remaining capsicum seedlings.

Total failure.

Attempt #3
I bought a 2nd seedling protection greenhouse and planted a variety of seeds, including Dwarf Peas, Marigolds and Forget-Me-Nots.

The peas grew faster than I would have imagined and were transplanted into a planting box with pea-sticks (aka sticks from the trees in my front yard!). They no longer seem to be thriving so well, though they have started flowering in the last few days.


This could be due to the fact that peas are supposed to be planted where they are to grow rather than in seedling trays.

The Marigolds and Forget-Me-Nots are doing well enough though their growth seems laboured compared to the speedy zoom of the peas.


Attempt #4

During my last Bunnings visit I was distracted by the seedling mix. I considered why people would use a specialised mix instead of just potting mix. It seemed that seedling mix was finer, alowing tiny and weak roots to penetrate the soil more easily. The potting mix I had been using was closer to compost with large pieces of bark and organic matter in it.

So I bought a coir-peat block and spent some time yesterday afternoon expanding this and filling some seedling trays with the smaller-grained stuff.

I planted out Diggers 7 colour capsicum mix, leftover Heartsease seeds and some Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce seeds.

I'm excited to be trying something new and will be interested to see how successful it is.