6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Oh wow, I do not plan to grow on that big of a scale. I am planning on growing about 150 types maybe close to 200 I am still iffy on that though. As far as the cells, blahhhh. That is like speaking a foreign language to me. I have used what I think you might be talking about and for me they are very small and time consuming to keep up in regards of watering. I hate to water anything.
Here is my growing media I am currently using. This picture was taken Friday and 20 more containers were added to this since the picture was taken. As of friday there was 82 types in the picture or out of frame of the picture but on the porch. I will continue to add more containers till march.
On the left is a lasagna pan inside a comforter bag.
I ordered a pound of Bluebonnet seeds & lots of individual packets & am very pleased with all the seeds I have ordered from them. There is a lot of info online if it doesn't have it listed on the packet. I have had great germination success with all the seeds I have ordered from them for the last 2 years. Prices are the best I've seen for native wildflowers!
Here is a link that might be useful: Wildseed Farms
You don't say what your seeds are, but your biggest problem starting them in Quebec in January will be lack of light. I would have started them later. But given that you have already sown them, as soon as they begin to emerge put them under a bright light. Special grow-lights are available. Also if you have a ventilator fan - use it. One of the commonest cause of failure in growing seeds early is damping-off, bacterial/fungal rot caused by damp, dark, cold conditions.
All the seeds you mention are best stored cool and dry before sowing.
If you've begun to stratify Asclepias purpurascens/purple milkweed, your choices now are leave it in the fridge until ready to sow, or sow it. If you bring the seeds out of the refrigerator, they will germinate or die. (Once moisture has breached the seed coat and reached the embyro your seeds will die if allowed to dry out again.)
Seeds from the tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica don't require the cold treatment - their seed should be stored dried in a cool, dry place. If you received them dry and have added moisture, you may have to change plans and sow them.
lightly cover the seed Soil temperature for germination 70F taking 4-30 days to germinate. pick a desired flowering date & count back 10-12 weeks to sow seed.
lights not needed till germination. Heating mat very helpful since soil temp needs to be 70F
Hi; i've never done any of this before.
Just wanted to know after you do all that, lets say i have an 80% germination rate on the Wendy's salad dome; what am i supposed to do after?
Like, how many seeds on the dome? is that mean that each seed will become a tree in the future? how do i separate each one? How long after germination to plant it on soil?
Warmest regards.
I collected fallen pods, some were not "open". Inside are (as already mentioned)50-100+ seeds. They are translucent tan in color with the 1/4" dia seed itself a very dark brown. Overall they are "flat" with tissue-paper thin "wings" which is the envelope containing the actual seed. The oval, oblong to round envelope may measure about 3/8" to 1/2" and 100 seeds (not the shell) will weigh less than one gram.
I've tried jiffy-pots with commercial potting soil (MiracleGro) inside a humidor (to retain moisture) with bottom heat to about 80F. I've tried scattering on a bed of potting soil with 1/16"-1/8" course desert sand as a cover. So far, in several attempts, no luck germinating.
Any comments or suggestions?
Joshua Tree CA 40 miles north of Palm Springs
BF
The seeds I have been given are GREAT! I am loving it! I will carefully store what I can not use th is year for next year.
Now I need People to GROW the seeds and Dirt..er soil... to grow em in. due to some challenges ( break job,oil heat and feeding 2 teenagers..LOL) I find myself short of funds..so if you want to donate Dirt cheap...Please donate some well Dirt..LOL. for the Garden Project.
More complete seed list available soon..and the worse the Seahawks do the sooner that list will be up...
Here is a link that might be useful: blog
Chilly here in the Milwaukee area too! Had to respond, I'm a Zinnia Lover! State Fair Mix, Cut & Come Again, Swizzles, Profusion, Zahara...have you tried the Zowies? Just ordered some but won't start till March. Also trying a new mix this year of the Zahara Raspberry Lemonade. Love the pics!
Sarcococca - sow cleaned seed 55 - 65o for germination in 30 - 120 days.
That 55F range is really hard for me to achieve indoors.
I've had good germination with these sowing in late winter - soaking overnight, sowing and placing the pots outdoors where the seeds may get days in the 50s, occasionally 60s and much cooler nights (even exposed to sometimes overnight frost early on). Cover seed by approx 1/8", top with some grit, protect from birds. I pot the seedlings individually when a few weeks old, and leave them in their pots an additional year....
Discussion on the poet's laurel here:
Here is a link that might be useful: Danae, poets laurel
yeah, they will grow. Put them in a container of seed starting mix and put them in the freezer for a week or two, then take them out and grow them at 70 degrees or so till they sprout. They grow frustratingly slow, so when I put mine outside, I ended up mowing over them when the weeds took them over. but they did grow, that's what counts. lol...
I bought cranberry seed from localharvest.com. 50 seeds for 4.95 and they were PRE-stratified. BARGAIN!! They come from a guy named Jim Duffy. Localharvest.com is just a bunch of regular folks and seed comes from them. I found them because I had the same question as you, and I'm going to try that planting method. thanks
I think I'd leave the roots until they've had a chance to become well formed. Possibly when repotting at some point when it's quite a bit older you could consider root pruning then but I think that will be some time away.
Article here by one of our regular members on growing avocado indoors -
Here is a link that might be useful: Avocado houseplant from seed by Trudi
Al,
Can you describe this "gritty mix" you use for seed starting? What's it made of and what kind of plants are good to use with it?
Thanks.
kerwee41 look into the container grower forum for descriptions of gritty mixes. If I use a peat based mix I will usually use a light grit cover as popularized by Ken Druse in his book "Making More Plants". Al