6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

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.

Thanks everyone for helping out a newbie! Your responses were all very helpful.

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

Sorry you felt it had to go.
Gardenwwed,Zahzeen and other GW's email me even if they do not post. It's a great cause a huge project and all helpers are welcome.

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

Beautiful!!!!

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!

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

Are you into growing fruit trees and plants from seed?

Tammy, is the link your own for-profit nursery? Advice and support, sowing, moral and otherwise, available here :) but no advertising please

Thanks morz8. So I will just do it in a glass of water as before.
What do you think will happen if I clip the roots a little after they have had a chance to grow? Would that help me have a smaller avocado tree?

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

I am trying Oasis root cubes this year. I like them because they keep my seeds really organized, they are not messy, and they hold around twice as many seedlings in half the space.
http://homeharvest.com/seedstartingrootingmedium.htm

I start mine on a radiator (not too hot) for the first night and then move them under the lights. Except Spinach which I sit by my coldest window because it needs colder temps to germinate. When they get higher than my shelf accommodates, it gets too crowded, or if it warms up enough outside, I move them to the greenhouse. I use a propane heater if it is too cold.

Been looking at something like the Oasis cube. see link

Here is a link that might be useful: Grodan

i do this using one of my aquariums. one in the garage for cold seeds and one inside for cuttings

Well this is how I plan to sow the seedlings that germinated in my fridge. I mean they must be ok in cool temps in order to have germinated in our refrigerators.

I think as long as you have drainage in your aquarium then I think that will be fine. Then maybe some type of cover to keep out the frost and the critters just add a hole in for a vent.

At least this is what I plan to do, my roots are getting long also. I feel as if I lose some of the root I might still be ok. Oh and still not one true leaf, I guess that is from the lack of light.

I ordered one last week. I really want to like it so I hope it works out. I will be starting my stuff much later than I am used to as I always jump the gun.

I have a small one I made, it is 1 1/4 inch round diameter by 1 1/4 inch tall. This is my second year using it. Right now I am starting a few trial seeds in worm castings, so far so good for lettuce and Tatsoi. Anyway I used it last year and liked the ease of transplanting. Just dibble a hole and drop in the block then water. I don't know about all plants doing better with blocks but the small seeded were fun. Make sure you practice, you need the soil the right consistency. Watering was different than 72's for me. I just placed them in flats without starter pots and sprayed sparingly with a small hand unit.

Curt