Profit of Doom
Dismember
Getting back into gardening, for the food pantry. Have a shitload from several years ago. How to test?
FARM Testing germination of seeds?
- Thread starter Profit of Doom
- Start date
Border Collie Dad
Flat Earther
Wrap 10 seeds in a damp paper towel and put in a baggie.
Place someplace warm fdor a few dsays up to two weeks, depending on the seed.
Place someplace warm fdor a few dsays up to two weeks, depending on the seed.
Yep... but make sure to leave the baggie open, and *don't* put it anywhere that gets direct sun!
Most seeds will start to show root development within 5 days.
Summerthyme
Toosh
Veteran Member
I would soak seeds in a 50:50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide:water for 2 hours for small seeds, 4 hours for large seeds. Many YouTubes on the subject if you need more.
After soaking then as Border Collie said, in a paper towel and baggie. I set my baggies on top of the frig. Works every time.
After soaking then as Border Collie said, in a paper towel and baggie. I set my baggies on top of the frig. Works every time.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
I have found my heating mats, three flats worth, and 10x20 flats short covers and tall covers. Just need to have good seeds.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
That reminds me, it's time to start my indigo seeds! Doing a CSA again this year so don't need to worry about anything other than my canning garden... green beans, yellow wax beans, and beets, my farmer does a most excellent job of raising veggies, and has way more sunshine on her plot than I do in my back yard.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
Is it practical to actually plant the actual seeds tested, or is this “only a test”?
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
I wish I could find the reel of the gal who is using this germination paper, you put the seeds at the bottom of the paper after you wet the paper, roll it up, wrap a string around it, and x number of days you have sprouts that are ready to go into either pots or the ground.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
Would paper towels work for that?
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
I don't know, but I bet ST or someone else here would know. I just put the seeds in those itty bitty pots and whatever sprouted got planted.
Or on top of the refrigerator. Before I got heating mats for seed sprouting, I used to use a human heating pad, set on low, *with a cookie cooling rack* on top, where I'd place the seeds.
Summerthyme
Sure. l presprout all my vine seeds... melons, pumpkins, etc. That way, I can plant one seed per hill instead of wasting 4-5 seeds, and then thinning them.
Summerthyme
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When I germinate my CBD seeds I place them on a paper towel in a Petri dish and douse them with a mild solution of Miracle-Gro (1 teaspoon crystals in 1 gallon rainwater), Leave open and check daily. You'll be amazed at the quick emergence of the white tap roots. They seek this nutrient rich formulation. It works on squash and zucchini seeds too. Transfer to your pots or garden carefully root down. I use a Canadian peat general growth media. It helps to soak the media with a liberal dose of the fertilizer as you transfer. Protects the roots. Happy gardening!
I just sprouted some old seeds in a tiny glass jar with about a spoonful or two of distilled water and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. It took nine days and I was about to give up when they finally sprouted. It's been three or four days and even more have sprouted. The ones that sprouted earler have been planted and some have broken ground. Adding a tiny sprinkle of sugar to the solution is suppose to work even better.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
We used to use heating blanket. We did a lot of seeds for farmers market. Finally I realized that for the cost of signing up, being inspected, paying for the booth space, we really didn’t make to be worth it. I’m just growing to give away now.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
Ever do any cloning?
Profit of Doom
Dismember
Started in small flat and this is transplanted and ready for garden.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
I've found that a melon averages producing about 400 seeds. So, I have no shortage of saved seeds. I like planting 4 to a hill, because I can then thin out the weakest seedlings. That can't be done with transplanting 1 per hill. And, if someone isn't extremely gentle, transplant shock can happen. Also, I often plant under "plastic mulch", where direct sowing is much easier.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
I generally till the ground, lay black plastic down, pound t-posts in the middle, attach livestock panels, lay landscape logs to hold edges. Cut x’s, dig and fertilize, plant seedlings, lay down drip lines. Then after lunch….
Profit of Doom
Dismember
And so it begins….
Profit of Doom
Dismember
This morning.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
I’ve had some seeds from every batch sprout. Packaged for 2017.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Unless you've kept your seeds frozen or in the fridge, and going by my own results of room temperature storage along with the age of tomato seeds, you may have reached the end of the line with the 2017 seeds, for decent germination. Another year or two, and germination could approach zero. I highly recommend saving fresh seed this year.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
I’m trying a 2013 as well. This was a snap decision to grow for food pantries with what I have. Next year will be new.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
For me, tomato seeds that old have about a 0 - 10% chance of germinating. So, sow lots of seeds. And, germination can take anywhere from about 4 days to 31 days (my longest wait). On another forum that I frequent, someone germinates seeds at 78 degrees, about 5 degrees warmer than the temp that I germinate at.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
About 85
The biggest problem with old seeds isn't that they don't sprout at all (at least then you know you have to replant right away!), but the ones that do often produce weak plants that never do well...
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
Profit of Doom
Dismember
Now that I have sprouts, what should I feed them next?
Telescope Steve
Veteran Member
A weak amount of organic fertilizer is what I would suggest. Small plants don't need as much fertility as larger plants. And it is easy to give them too much which hurts the plants. So follow the directions.
I learned the hard way that cheap potting soil can stunt plant growth. Good organic potting soil should have enough nutrients in it for the plants to grow strong without adding any fertilizer until they start getting some size on them. I have heard that some people grow in containers without needing to fertilize at all.
Flowering and fruiting plants like tomatoes don't need as much nitrogen at that stage. They tend to grow more leaf and less fruit if they have too much nitrogen.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
No fert until they have their 1st true leaves.
If you go with something like Miracle Grow, 1/4 teaspoon to a gallon of water is recommended.
If you go with something like Miracle Grow, 1/4 teaspoon to a gallon of water is recommended.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
First leaves off side of stem, not on top?
First TRUE leaves... the ones that you can tell what type of plant it is, not the seedling cotyledons.
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
bracketquant
Veteran Member
The first true leaves will be the ones above the cotyledons.
And, avoid watering near the stem. Either water from below, or at the edge of the container. Otherwise, you can get damping off, which will kill very young seedlings.
Profit of Doom
Dismember
I had a few seeds where the stems were white and fuzzy, right after sprouting.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Perfectly normal.
You can prevent or cure damping off by watering with (cool, of course!) chamomile tea...
Or put a fan on the plants, to help keep the soil surface slightly dry.
Summerthyme
Or put a fan on the plants, to help keep the soil surface slightly dry.
Summerthyme
Profit of Doom
Dismember
Right now I have a 7 inch dome on them. Open the vents?