6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

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yiorges-z5il

Sounds like a plan

    Bookmark     November 23, 2011 at 6:42PM
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tamtrible(9)

Actually, "moist" we've got, it's the winter rainy season. I haven't had to water my back yard in weeks. But "chill", not so much, I think we're still running in the 70s.

Do you think water crystals would work as my sterile medium?

    Bookmark     November 23, 2011 at 5:03AM
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morz8(Washington Coast Z8b)

I don't know, really - no experience there. I've only seen them used as a soil additive for plants with roots.

    Bookmark     November 23, 2011 at 10:19AM
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yiorges-z5il

INDEN... SOAK SEED IN ACID FOR 10-15 MIN THEN IN WATER FOR 1-2 DAYS THEN STORE AT 40f FOR 3 MONTHS..... LIGHTLY COVER THE SEED SOIL TEMP 57-78f TAKES 14 TO 35 DAYS TO GERMINATE MAY TAKE LONGER
kct ... SOAK IN ACID 2-4 HOURS THEN LIGHTLY COVER SEED SOIL TEMP 65-70f TAKING 30-90 DAYS TO GERMINATE
i USE BATTERY ACID

    Bookmark     October 25, 2011 at 3:08PM
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compogardenermn(4- Twin Cities, MN)

I've had success with Kentucky Coffee Tree germination by scarifying the seed coat with a Dremel. I planted 3 non-scarified and 3 Dremel scarified seeds and the 3 scarified seeds all germinated while none of the non-scarified ones did. This will be the first winter they go through, so we shall see if they make it!

    Bookmark     November 23, 2011 at 10:11AM
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morz8(Washington Coast Z8b)

Yes, the seed is fine and surface sown, covering the seed pots with plastic wrap and removing that at the first sign of germination is one way of keeping them moist until they can germinate.

A. chinensis comes up like lettuce and just about as fast for me, other types could take as long as 60 days or more to sprout.

I don't think you'd have trouble with the seed, but if you do or if you are looking for a specific variety and cannot find seed for it, buying about 1/3 the number of plants you need, dividing those when you get them home to plant them is another possibility.

    Bookmark     November 19, 2011 at 11:07AM
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phlowerpower(5)

You could try some foxglove and columbine seeds.

I'd also put some spring bulbs in there, for sure. :)

    Bookmark     July 1, 2010 at 4:23PM
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weedlady(Central OH 6)

Just came across your old post when searching for info on growing astilbe from seed... I am curious as to what you decided to do and what the area looks like now,a year and a half later.

I must say your honeysuckle seems to be the alien invasive Amur honeysuckle, an insidious shrub that unfortunately bordered the rear flowerbeds in my backyard when we moved here 3 years ago. This year I finally persuaded my neighbor to cut them all down, so I only should have to do battle (in my vegetable AND flower beds AND the lawn) for another few years with the germinating seeds pooped out by the birds from thousands of "yummy" red berries all over my 1.3 acres.
In addition to the 5-6 full-grown honeysuckles along the property line, there were about a dozen of these monsters on our property that the previous occupants had kept pruned back into low (4-6') bushes. I cut every single one to the ground and carefully painted each remaining stump-end with a good, strong shrub-killer (the only time in my 40+ years as an organic gardener I ever have resorted to an herbicide--just shows you how much I detest honeysuckle). I laboriously dug out half of them a month or so later, but found by waiting another year, the other roots gave me less of a battle as they had partially rotted.
I think you would have a much nicer little garden spot if you were to remove the honeysuckle and instead plant a nice little native tree such as a redbud or dogwood. This would still provide some dappled shade and any bulbs or perennials (or part-shade-tolerant annuals) would thrive as opposed to a few plants merely surviving, which is, I am certain, all you would have as things are.

Please post a new photo if you have one!

    Bookmark     November 19, 2011 at 10:26AM
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yiorges-z5il

PRETREATMENT. use seed within 6 months of harvest.... SOAK SEED FOR 24 HOURS CHANGING THE WATER 3 TIMES then STORE AT 40F FOR 2-6 MONTHS.
Do NOT cover the seed as light required. soil temp 65-70F taking 21-28 to germinate.

    Bookmark     November 15, 2011 at 2:58PM
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milocrab

Sorry, I don't know how to post pics.

    Bookmark     November 15, 2011 at 2:10AM
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Tiffany, purpleinopp GardenWeb, Z8b Opp, AL(8B AL)

Your pic:

The formula for including a pic is:
[IMG SRC="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/geckosmiles/collard_seedling.jpg";]

Substitute for [ ].

    Bookmark     November 15, 2011 at 9:20AM
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

I think you will notice the difference in the amount of light more than anything. The light possible with your florescent lights is only about one tenth of the light available with the greenhouse. Your seedlings should be noticeably shorter with stronger stems. You should also provide a fan to assure good air movement in the greenhouse. Al

    Bookmark     November 13, 2011 at 10:07AM
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albert_135(Sunset 2 or 3)

Monitor the temperature in the greenhouse carefully. Temperatures inside the greenhouse can shoot up quite quickly when the sun is at a just the right wrong angle.

    Bookmark     November 14, 2011 at 3:07PM
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crickettoo

I have some lettuce seeds in a purchased seed starting mix w/o fertilizer. I'm wondering when to start fertilizing. Mandolls stated above that "The seeds themselves have enough food to get things rolling." My question is how long do the seeds' nutrients last? Thanks.

    Bookmark     October 30, 2011 at 4:45PM
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

You don't give a clue where you live and garden. Starting lettuce in a packaged mix makes me think you are planning to grow to harvest in a container. If that is the case I would not fertilize until the shoots were about 2 inches high, and use a dissolved liquid about 9-3-6 which is about what the plant can use. Lettuce needs to grow fast with no check in the growth. You would get more response by starting your own post. Al

    Bookmark     November 12, 2011 at 9:04AM
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kennybellew

Thanks, Art.

I took the advice after see the following posted on a couple of hydroponic sites:

"Do I need to soak my Rapid Rooter plugs?

Answer: For optimal results soak Rapid Rooter plugs in pure water with a light blooming formula (200ppm or 0.4mS), then place back in tray and follow procedure for cuttings or sees. "

And then I used this online concentration calculator:

http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccconc.htm

Not sure if i got it right, but thankfully there must be a margin of error because my seedlings are thriving. It's been only four days, and the lettuce is just over a half-inch tall, and I can see the spinach seeds cracking open. One spinach is even showing green.

    Bookmark     November 10, 2011 at 6:43AM
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art33(6)

They may have suggested a "blooming formula" because it would be fairly high in phosphorous (aids in root development). But 200 ppm of phosphorous would probably require a couple of tablespoons per gallon when using a 0-5-4 formula. Also, of course, you'll have to start using some fertilizer that contains nitrogen or you will soon have yellow lettuce :-)

Good luck with your first time germinating seeds Kenny, looks like you're off to a good start. As I've mentioned I only grow flowers, but I love watching the miracle of seed germination.

Art

    Bookmark     November 10, 2011 at 6:17PM
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Tiffany, purpleinopp GardenWeb, Z8b Opp, AL(8B AL)

Mine did well sowed in place in late March or early April. Lasted until late July.

    Bookmark     October 26, 2011 at 9:17AM
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rjs55555(5b)

If you are like me. I thought I had the same problems, found out it germinated, but the slugs made it disappear as soon as it came up. I can start it in pots but it is impossible in the garden.

    Bookmark     November 9, 2011 at 1:37PM
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

All my hydrangea are started from cuttings. When I saw your post, I started looking for hydrangea seeds, and could not find any supplier or even a reference to them. Maybe someone with a different experience will show up. Al

    Bookmark     November 9, 2011 at 10:10AM
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FshyPlnts(5, 6)

I have grown a number of pineapple from tops in my aquaponic system. From all the research I have done, I have found that pineapples can take at least 20 years to mature and fruit. This can take even longer in colder climates. I am very impressed with how beautiful your plant is growing however! Have you grown any of these plants in the past? Did they fruit well?

Here is a link that might be useful: Here is a really helpful link for pineapples

    Bookmark     October 26, 2011 at 11:17PM
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erict

calistoga, he just wanted to show off! :)

Also, your baby tangerines look like they need a little more light.

And I'm drooling at the apple. I want to try a Prunus specimen now!

    Bookmark     November 3, 2011 at 10:54AM
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marricgardens

Thanks Jeanne. I did get some dried seed pods from a friend last year and started a few but would like to start more. I have seen pictures of the flowers, beautiful! These trees have not only nice, fragrant flowers but nicely shaped and coloured foliage, I'm a foliage person. I've managed to collect about 20 seed pods so hopefully one will be good to use. Marg

    Bookmark     October 30, 2011 at 12:19PM
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albert_135(Sunset 2 or 3)

I observed some seed will germinate almost immediately when quite fresh. I don't know about norther catalpa but you might find it interesting to take a few seed, nick or scratch them and plant them right now.

    Bookmark     October 31, 2011 at 3:30PM
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art33(6)

Ginny, the following is a quote from http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-germinate-poppy-seeds

"Poppy seeds are relatively sensitive to temperature. Poppy seeds will germinate in temperatures of about 60 to 68 degrees F during the daytime. Nighttime temperatures should average between 38 and 45 degrees. If temperatures are much colder or warmer than this, it will result in poor germination and loss of seeds."

Hope this helps,

Art

    Bookmark     October 27, 2011 at 2:03PM
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

I have a greenhouse with a 70 degree heatpad that I use for starting cuttings and seeds that ask for that temperature. For poppy seeds and lots of other native seeds, they start better if I start them outside the greenhouse with only the temperature nature provides. One of the advantages of living in coastal California, is the lack of temperature extremes. Al

    Bookmark     October 31, 2011 at 9:25AM
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