6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
digdirt...I have been transplanting at the cotyledon stage too, but I only started doing that last week so I don't know yet if I have been successful. Nothing has died yet. I put them in a 1020 flat with 36 cells. Do you think that's ok? anything else I should be careful about? I really love not potting up the plants until I know they've germinated.
The 36 cell are awfully big for cotyledons. Got anything smaller? 72 cell size is perfect at that size.
If not just take care with watering as a cell that size will hold a lot more moisture than they can handle right now. Use the "stick in your finger" test before watering. And transplant them deep - to just below the cotyledons.
If nothing smaller an alternative would be to use the 36 cells but only 1/2 full and then fill up as they grow.
Dave
I'm using promix seed starter and the cells are 2.5" deep, though the mix doesn't come all the way to the top. I don't think they're developed enough for the taproot to be an issue, but if they like consistently moist soil, that would definitely be an issue.
Lupines like cool weather. Is there any way you could get them ~50 degrees? I bet they would take off for you. Mine do well in any soil, but I would get them into a larger pot to keep their roots cooler while they are waiting to be transplanted in the Spring, but don't plant them deeper then what you started them at, they can not handle it.
I hope that hepls
Keriann
I am glad you enjoy the process as well! It is half the fun : )
Texas tends to have alkaline soil and alkaline water. Collecting rainwater would a good source for acid-loving plants (rainwater is slightly acidic, you won't have to treat it).
Below is some info on growing them in Texas.
Sue
Here is a link that might be useful: Growing blueberries in Texas
I agree. Try and keep the light within a few inches. My onions are actually touching the fluorescent light sometimes. For a great onion thread, go to the allium forums and click on 'onions from seed - my progress'. She initially had the same problem as you. And there is a wealth of information there. I learned a lot.
Kim
If you soak them and then nick them with nail clippers, they will sprout in no time. I did that to the morning glories and just put them inside wet coffee filter and baggie and placed them over a warm radiator. They sprouted the next day! Maybe you can try just one and see how fast they germinate for you in the baggie and then you can decide how soon you want to be starting them.
This is the first year I am growing from seed/under lights and my budget is pretty tight as well. I purchased a 4-foot shop light at Wal Mart using 2 "regular" fluorescent bulbs as recommended on this site...working fantastic! Price was right...less than $15. I am now considering adding another one, as I have transplanted some of my starts into larger cups and will soon be running out of room.
I installed this light suspended by 2, 4 feet sections of light chain over a dresser in a spare room...now just have to figure out a way to add another light...I am thinking of mounting them together in some fashion so that they can be moved up and down with the chains. (I am still trying to keep the $$$ down so that I may spend on other gardening supplies later this spring ;-)
I can easily see how this is going to be addictive!
I was searching the web and came across a site that talked about using cool white (more of the blue spectrum lights)and regular flourescent (more of the red spectrum) bulbs side by side to give you more bang for your buck. In theory it would cover the same light spectrum as the grow lights. Since most people use shoiplights with 2 bulbs in them, you just get one of each. $10 for the 4 foot shop light and about 2 bucks for ewach of the bulbs...now you have the equivalent of growbulbs. However Ican't say if it is really any better than just a regular flourescent bulb yet, because I am just now trying it out.
if i plant seeds from these fruits, will they germinate
Probably not. Due to the moisture in them ice crystals have form and the cells in the seed embryo rupture as they thaw. In addition, the fruit were most likely harvested before being mature and ripened artificially as is the common commercial practice. So the seeds inside will likely be immature.
So the time and effort isn't worth it to most of us but if you want to try some you may luck out with a few that will germinate.
Dave
thanks, dave. luckily i haven't bought yet any of those frozen fruits (i don't like to eat thawed frozen fruits!!!). perhaps i might be lucky by finding those fruits in some other stores some day.
btw, in your zone how do you manage to plant tropical fruits? do you grow them in a large greenhouse or are they growing in pots that you can shelter when needed?
even here in calif (45 miles north of los angeles), most tropical fruits wont't survive. every year my bananas die back by december or january and come back again, so for the past 18 years i never had a fruit from a banana plant that i obtained in boca raton. but by a fluke one of the bananas, that i thought totally died out more than a year ago, came back from half the stem and fruited last mid-august. i covered it with black plastic every night and they're still surviving, yet the fruits aren't ripe yet, which makes it more than six months and still not ripe to eat!!!
i purchased a manila mango more than a year ago and it is still alive. i planted it very close to the hollow block wall for protection. all others (macadamia, lychee, jackfruit) perished.
archie
Not missing anything but I would question the info source. The average on all cole crops is 6 weeks before transplanting, 8 weeks max. Small, younger transplants tolerate the stress of transplanting much better than older, larger ones do.
Dave
Mine too Dave--Mine is set to come on at 10C which is just about what yours is set at. My greenhouse is 6'x8' and consists of mostly shelves on 3 sides,with a square on the north end for me to stand and work. I have a pullout rack under the shelves on the east side for impatiens and begonias and a few hooks for hanging baskets in the rafters. It is as airtight as I can get it, but still needs suplimental heat at night.
We live in Northern Ontario and get colder nights than many of you do. In the daytime if the sun is shining it can be below zero outside and I will have to open the vents to let out the excess heat. The reason I described mine is to say that it costs me about $50 for the season to heat.
I open it in mid April and things are all out of it by mid June. Most of my heating is done in the first month. I start most of my seeds in the greenhouse. I do have a cold frame which gets the overflow the last month. because my greenhouse is too small to hold all I plant, but by then I scarcely have to heat anyway
You are lucky you have until June oilpainter - I have to have everything out by middle of May at the latest even with 60% shade cloth on. ;)
Ours is 18x30 with 6 auto vents and 2 big exhaust fans on the ends and when the sun is out come June it is still 110 in there. So the sides come off and the screens go on. Until then, since we try to keep the max temp at 65F we spend far more on cooling than we do on heating.
Dave
TIPS ON GERMINATING SEED.... No pretreatment... do NOT COVER SEED as light required for germination... soil temp for germination 75-78F taking 15-30 days to germinate.. Also apply 1/2 strength solution of fertilizer every week to promote germination. after germination..... 12 hour light / day needed for growth & run on dry side...
Hope you don't mind but rather than re-type it all can I suggest you check out all these how-to discussions over on the Daylily forum here. Sounds like lots of folks are doing it right now.
This discussion covers all the basics with pics.
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: How to grow daylilies from seed discussions
I will see if I can put them by the shed. If I don't put the moonflowers there, will the cup and saucer vines do good there? In a book I got at the library, it says that cup and saucer can climb rough surfaces (in my case the shed roof).
Brad AKA Moonwolf
Say what?