I am a a relatively new gardener - have not grown veggies from seed, and not much experience with the New England weather. Couple of questions with that background:
1. My eggplant seeds all germinated but they have been growing really slowly. Just about when I lost hope they have got a third leaf but the stem is really thin and the color of leaves is lighter green that sometimes makes me feel they are yellowing. I googled seedling problems and identified one - over watering. Now the questions is how do I know if I am overwatering? secondly do I need to give them some fertilizer? I am afraid they will burn or something if it is too strong. Is there a seedling fertilizer available? or a ratio for diluting the available ones? I put the seeds in potting mix so there should have been some sustenance for them but it has been too long and I wonder if the small seedling cups full of soil has enough left in it.
Thankfully I figured out that in my area eggplants should not be put out till June 1 so they have some time to grow. Assuming that the initial stunting can be cured . If not should I buy seedlings closer to planting time to save the season. That will be really disappointing.

2. Marigold - I have grown marigold from seeds a lot and it is the easiest to grow that way but this season both the trays have not a single seedling emerging. At what point do I declare that they have failed and sow more seeds. I have no idea why not a single one sprouted. I have kept them in the oven now assuming that the house is too cold for them. Before this I have never used any heating mats or any grow lights and things have been fine. Although this was a bit south in New York City and not in gloomy New England.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Marigolds generally sprout very quickly, so if it were me, I'd go ahead and sow more. Are you sowing fresh seed? Some varieties don't keep well. Although mine haven't done well this year either and I bought new seed this year. Could your oven (never even thought of doing that!) be a bit TOO warm?

No idea on the eggplant seedlings, tho. I stopped planting them when I got jabbed in the finger trying to pluck a fruit!

The putting it in the oven was a last resort actually, I thought the house might not be warm enough for them to sprout. The oven is not on. It is just warm because of the pilot light. We keep the beans we sprout (to cook, not for seedlings) in the oven like that so I thought might as well try it on the marigolds.

Oh, one other question about those eggplant seedlings: are they getting enough light?

woofie said:Oh, one other question about those eggplant seedlings: are they getting enough light?

I am not sure. Providence is a gloomy place. I move them everyday from east facing window to west facing window as the sun moves to catch as much light for them. But there were 3 gloomy days in a row when there was no direct sunlight.