From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Spanish Ontario

It.s that time of year again to test seeds will be trying to germinate 2 seeds from my 756.5 last year By the way i started sat mar 8 Filed and soaked 2 seeds in mild peroxide soulition for 6 hours put in damp paper towel then in a zip lock bag then on top fridge mon morning both sprouted planted in 4 in peat pots this morning both are started to push the soil up

3/13/2003 9:29:41 AM

Spanish Ontario

should have read started to push soilup thursday morn

3/13/2003 10:28:36 AM

syracuse, ny

everyone insists on putting seeds in the paper towels, when they're gonna sprout anyway with
the other things we do for them---i'm one to not talk, as i haven't yet sprouted anything that way! though i've read a million times that it works, it seems an extra and possibly damaging step, with all the fine little root hairs getting
clobbered with being put into soil after growing freely...

it is good to experiment, don't get me wrong, and interesting to see the real sprouting happen! but you could have a little quicker sprouting by giving them a little.....
warmth--how warm is it on top of your fridge? this is a rhetorical question, not asking you directly---the top of my fridge is not warm...maybe some others'are...never used it...
TRY a constant source of 90 degrees F. and skip the pre-germination, but keep using the 3% hydrogen peroxide...YES, THE 3% from Wal-Mart, undiluted...!----as i feel it keeps things clean---i compared one time, and WITH HEAT, the H2O2-soaked for ten hours seeds sprouted at the same time as the unsoaked...the unsoaked were completely dry...this took about 72 hrs. 3 days-soil bumpin'up....more wackiness there!
(by the way, sometimes the tip of the seed itself will protrude from the seed casing, because of swelling from water uptake, giving the appearance of a seed on the move...uhhh, if it's like a half-an-inch long, then you've got somethin' happ'nin'!)
but the soaked in H2O2 ones will sprout slower with no heat!
depends on what you wanna do in mid-December, too! these would be my suggestion(s). 3 days with heat,
or 5-8 without heat...experiment! use H2O2.... 'pal

3/14/2003 2:35:59 AM

Montoursville, PA

Right on target and while the common sense thing is on the line why not plant in six or eight inch peat pots or gallon ice cream containers in the first place. Give yourself a day or two of extended time if bad weather is the issue when you arrive at two true leafs and should be headed for the garden.

3/14/2003 9:25:38 AM

[email protected]

Just got seeds up with a soilless mix in 60 hours so I think the towell thing is more for fun than effect?

Kids love watching things grow like this & let's be honest, there's a little bit of kid in all of us. Or else we probably wouldn't be doing this! LOL

But I see no reason to chance damaging the radical root hairs if it's not necessary.

Just my opinion though.

Steve

3/14/2003 12:24:25 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Yea, my PGR works well..but the hydrogen peroxide seems to work equally as well on newer seeds.
The true test will come with OLD seed, I just got some from 1990 and a H2O2 test is on now...PGR next..results to follow.

3/14/2003 6:44:16 PM

churchville, ny

For the last 12 years I have started my seeds in an old refrigerator. With a low wattage light under, but not touching the pots, I can maintain a constant 85 degree temp. with the door closed (you do not need any light for germination)-it works great. I scarify (file) the seed and most germinate in 3-5 days.

3/14/2003 7:32:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

Since I am introducing BioBoost to my patch I will soak seeds a few hours in a 5% solution with a Joel Holland kelp soak and a fungicide to be determined. The patch will be prepaired likewise. When set into the soil the seedlings and the soil will have similar ballance. No big surprises for the new and tender roots. Thunked that all up by meself except for Joel's kelp soak suggestions.

There will be some organic N added to support my soil test but that goes in a week ahead of seedling set and will be well watered in so there are no hot spots for my newly hatched pumpkins. They do hatch don't they? :)

3/14/2003 10:45:59 PM