6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Much less expensive Gerbera seeds at sunrise seeds
Here is a link that might be useful: Gerberas at Sunrise seeds
I would agree with the others on most accounts. Keep in mind some seeds actually prefer to not have bottom heat. I believe cool season crops like broccoli can actually be hindered by it. That said, bottom heat does speed germination for a lot of seeds ;)
Also make sure to get the lights on right away after germination to prevent the seedlings from getting "leggy" (or stretching to find light).
This is my first year using heat mat and lights. Sowed in 72 pack cell tray. Separated cells into 9 cell packs so I could move off heat when different varieties germinated.
The Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' and 'Coral Nymph' germinated in TWO DAYS!
About 60% 'Lady in Red' are showing full tiny cotyledons at soil level and 30-40% 'Coral Nymph are just breaking surface with tiny green things.
Best to move them off heat mat and under very close lights (no dome anymore) IMMEDIATELY or wait til morning so they're good and clear of soil?
Not going to move to larger container for a while since they're so tiny.
I had light on over domed cell pack even though not needed for germination. Chalk it up to newbie nerves.
Didn't think I'd have to make this move so soon since germination instructions said they take 4 weeks or longer @68F and if no germination try 4 weeks @39F.
Thanks for help is anyone sees this tonight!
The spent flower needs to stay on the plant until a seed pod forms and ripens in order for you to have mature seeds to harvest.
Photo of seed pod and seeds here -
Here is a link that might be useful: Pod and seeds
no. Not dahlias. But thank you.
I believe the word star is in their name. Pink Star or something. I thought it was something like, Clarkia, Lewisia, Nemesia...something in an ia ending, but it's none of those.
And Unwins claims they dont' know of such a seed. Strange how I have their seed pkg.
I haven't tried starting my parsley seeds yet; for the past few years I throw 'em in the garden when it warms up (both Italian & curly). They have overwintered temps down to -35C and about 4 feet of snow and come back up the next year just fine. This year, I ordered some seeds from Franchi Sementi - it looks like it's called Gigante - a flat-leaf Italian variety. Here's what it says on the back of the seed package:
..."75-80 days from direct seed. Prefers full sun and a loose fertile soil. Beging sowing in early spring, if direct seeding, 4-5 seeds every 12". Either thin or gro in a clump. Slow to germinate (up to 2-3 weeks), so keep moist and be patient. If using transplants, start 6 weeks before set out date, 5-6 seeds per 4" pot covered with 1/4" soil mix. Try starting second crop in late July."...
By the way, here's what I love about these Franchi seeds - a package was only $2.95, and it contains 4500 seeds per PACKET!!! That's right, 4500 seeds!! San Marzano roma tomatoes? Same packet price, and there's a minimum of 350 seeds per packet - yikes again! Tremendous bargain as far as I'm concerned...anyways, good luck with the parsley! Patty
That's great news! I've got black turtle beans (brought home from a vacation in Cancun last year), gigantic Lima beans (from a Caribbean food store), canneloni beans (Safeway), etc., that I am now going to try growing. This question had occurred to me yesterday as I was soaking some of these Lima beans for bean dip. Great way to save on buying these kinds of seeds!
Yes, leggy plants, given adequate light, will generally recover. You won't lose that initial long, leggy stem, but they'll curve upwards and start putting on leaves. Assuming they're not too far gone.
I had this problem with my cosmos last year - my first time growing from seed. What helped a lot was to move the seedlings into a different container and gently, very gently, curling most of the leggy stem downwards near the roots and burying the whole thing in soil so that only the topmost 1-2 inches of the plant are bove the soil level. Just have to be super careful to not snap the stem in the process. Of course provide extra light from this point on to prevent reoccurence of legginess. When I went to plant these seedlings out, the stems buried under the soil had actually grown nice big roots and the cosmos went on to grow to their 4-5 foot height on strong stems and bloomed profusely