does anyone know if this method works? it sounds great, but i don't have much gardening experience and i realize if this method doesn't work for me i'll be paying for both seeds AND transplants. growing my own transplants is out of the question because my little ones will knock the pots over the instant i have my back turned!

thanks,
engk916

Greensprouting and chitting are new terms to me.

:)

"Chitted Seed:
Chitting is an operation applied to seeds that are difficult to raise outdoors - they may be costly to buy, so losses should be minimized. Included here are such vegetables as summer lettuce, parsley (notoriously difficult to germinate indoors), carrots and parsnips (avoids thinning), salad onions, melons. Let the seed fall evenly onto moist blotting or tissue paper in a shallow dish. Put the lid on and place in a warm cupboard of 61-64F. Soon the tiny radicals (roots) will form. Before roots are 1/2" in length, sow individually in rows outdoors in soil that is damp and fine not lumpy. At all costs be extremely careful as the tiny chits are very fragile."

Now we've learned what it is, but I have nothing to add :) Sounds much like the first steps of paper towel method which I don't use.

But the timing on it is crucial - determining exactly how many days prior to the proper transplanting time and proper soil temps for planting to sprout your seeds could be difficult. Once sprouted they won't wait for planting for long and a sudden rain that drop soil temps can cost you all those plants. And I don't think it is something that will work for ALL vegetables - tomatoes and peppers specifically.

engk916 - if growing space is your main problem then you need to explore the concept of winter sowing over on their forum. It allows for growing massive numbers of transplants outside in very little room. That forum is linked at the top of this forum's front page.

Dave

I chit or presprout peas and spinach in February. I soak them for only 30 minutes and then place them in a damp paper towel until I see the white roots forming. In the afternoon, when the soil is warmest, I sow the now sprouted seeds just like I sow any other seeds.

I do this because the optimal germination temperatures are much higher than the acceptable growing temperatures. Peas and spinach grow in temps as low as 40 degrees, but they would take weeks to germinate at that temperature and would probably rot before then. Presprouted they take about 7 to 10 days.

I also use the same method to plant beans in the summer. It's not necessary but I get impatient and beans can take a while to sprout sometimes and can fall victim to rot. Never plant beans in cool soil though. It'll set it back for life.

Peas and corn can be soaked in tepid water overnight in a glass jar with cheesecloth or similar material fastened over the top. After the initial soak, the seeds are rinsed a few times a day and the water is poured off. Seeds are planted when they have visible roots and hopefully before roots are so long that they break easily.

I am currently experimenting with bean seeds and find that they seem to tolerate a six hour soak fine. Then they are treated as above.

This allows me to plant beans and corn earlier. And seeds that do not sprout are discarded, making it more likely that I will get plants where I want them with less empty spaces. - Dick