6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

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yiorges-z5il

The procedure you describe sound like it will meet YOUR NEEDS. go for it......

    Bookmark     January 8, 2009 at 8:55AM
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rachel_z6(7)

that sounds like the perfect reuse for a container, and it's still recyclable afterward. even a great size for the windowsill.

    Bookmark     January 9, 2009 at 6:34PM
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monkey665(6a)

Hi

I use the 72 cell and have left the seedlings in there for longer than 6 weeks and they have done wonderfully. Space is always an issue. I only have some much room on top of the fridge and under the one light. Burpee sells them in a set and I have gotten them at home depot. I do know lowes has them also. I am not sure if they have the smaller sizes. They may be more cost effective buying them locally. I want to say that they may be $10.00.

Good Luck

Linda

    Bookmark     January 9, 2009 at 11:52AM
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shebear(z8 NCentralTex)

Zinnias are not going to like being transplanted. Save some of the seed and throw it out where you want the plants. Bet they do better than the inside ones. My cosmos and zinnias reseed every year. In fact I've had snapdragons do it too.

Might want to try both ways.

    Bookmark     January 9, 2009 at 6:26PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

We'd need to know what flowers specifically you are asking about please.

Actually there are very few who actually require either. But many may germinate faster and better with or without and that may explain some of the differing opinions you are finding. To list all those would be pages and pages long. ;)

Meanwhile check out the Thompson-Morgan Seed Germination databasr linked below as it is considered a very reliable source.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: TM Seed Germination database

    Bookmark     January 9, 2009 at 5:28PM
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jbird_in

Thank you all so much for the information. So much I didn't know...good to find out they need light to germinate. I'm looking forward to these pretty little plants in my garden.

    Bookmark     February 28, 2007 at 12:29PM
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shorebill(7b MD EShore)

I am trying to find seed of cooperi. Where did you locate yours. I am also looking for seed of delosperma John Profittt and sutherlandii.

Thanks Bill

    Bookmark     January 9, 2009 at 10:09AM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Growing from seed in the numbers you are talking about will require much additional equipment other than just the greenhouse so there is that cost to consider.

And you have set yourself several major tasks to learn all at one time -

(1) learning to work with a greenhouse - each has its own personality and problems that have to be solved, its own set of demands, so unless you already have a great deal of greenhouse experience there are challenging days ahead on that one issue alone

(2)learning how to grow from seed - again do you have any experience doing so? I get the impression from your posts that it is no, correct? If so then pick a couple of simple ones to start like squash, tomatoes, zinnias, or marigolds and stay away from petunias, impatients, peppers, etc. You can research every variety online just by Googling "how to grow_________".

(3)growing for commercial production all at the same time?

Most of us who do all that and look back on any one of those learning experiences would advise you to slow down and back off a bit ;) as there is guaranteed frustration and disappointment going that route. So I add my encouragement to yiorges-z5il above - start small and learn first.

This year focus on getting acquainted with your greenhouse and get on good terms with it. You have to teach it who is boss! ;) Learn how to control and balance your light, shade, venting, heat and cooling controls, pests, humidity, storage, supplemental equipment, etc. In the process of doing that try growing say 50 of your needed tomato plants and a small variety of annuals just for yourself. That will be more than enough to teach you basic seed starting techniques, which will need supplemental heat and which don't, germination percentages, how to store seed (never in the GH), watering, staged transplanting, pest control, etc.

Then next year you will be in a much better position to know what you can handle.

Alternatively - install automated systems and plan to hire at least 1 full time or 2 part time helpers - preferably experienced - or put in 10 hours days seeding and re-seeding, watering, and controlling the environment and 16 hour days doing all the required interim transplanting. ;)

Good luck!

Dave

    Bookmark     January 8, 2009 at 1:13AM
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kimmie_72(7)

Thank you so much for that all that info. you are right I do not have a lot of seed growing experience. The only things I have succesfully grown from seed are tomatoes, spaghetti squash, impatients and several different annuals over the years but it was always to much of a challenge for me trying to do it in my laundry room. Last year we did not grow anything from seed b/c it was a very bad year for us with a lot of illness and 3 deaths of very important people in our family. Luckily we do have employees that have experience probably more than me to help and we have our kids which are cheap labor and do not know they need the learing experience.

    Bookmark     January 8, 2009 at 8:01AM
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bencjedi(6 - Central Kentucky)

I just wanted to try some of the colorful bell peppers this year. It was $1.07 for a packet of 'Carnival color peppers' and those cost more online (due to shipping). Only problem is there are 4 or 5 different colored varieties and all the seeds are mixed in the same packet. I tried to separate the seeds as best I could by color\size differences, but not sure if I successfully picked out one of each since the seeds are all very similar. I don't have much room in my garden, so I can't plant very many. Here's hoping I guessed wisely on the varieties, so I get a good example plant from each seed.

    Bookmark     January 7, 2009 at 11:52AM
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jumpin4joy(zone8)

I thought Lowes seeds was high myself. I got a few packs but not many.

    Bookmark     January 7, 2009 at 11:00PM
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morz8(Washington Coast Z8b)

Tammy, it depends on the plant. Some perennials, trees, shrubs will need a moist chill to break dormancy, others do not, and you will find some that do best with a warm moist period, followed by a cold moist period to then germinate when brought back to warm again (much like would happen if self sown).

So different seeds have different germination requirements. Clothiers is a good database, or if you don't find what you are looking for - give us the names of the plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clothiers germination database

    Bookmark     January 7, 2009 at 3:48PM
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nckvilledudes(7a NC)

Tammy, if you winter sow the seeds, that removes the need to refrigerate them. The alternating freezing and above freezing temps will take care of it. Some seeds I winter sow (those requiring winter chilling), some I direct sow, and some I start the traditional manner in pots inside in late winter. As morz8 points out, only certain seeds need this chilling process for germination.

    Bookmark     January 7, 2009 at 4:38PM
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heyitzbenny

Haha my tomato seeds are sitting in their baggies in little newspaper cups I made. They're on the table next to my monitor. They are looking at me. Make them stop!

    Bookmark     January 3, 2009 at 6:57PM
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trudi_d

You can WS hardy annuals now.

    Bookmark     January 6, 2009 at 8:23PM
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

Poppy seeds are easy to germinate indoors. They resent root disturbance so transplanting outside can be a problem. I have grown them in paper pots, one poppy per two inch pot. Plant the pot whole in the garden. Most poppies can be seeded in place in the garden, depending on what zone you may live in. Al

    Bookmark     January 5, 2009 at 9:09AM
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canuckistani(5b)

What type of soil do people use for 'potting up'. I'm guessing a mixture heavy in peat makes it a lot easier to transfer?

    Bookmark     January 4, 2009 at 7:58PM
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dirtbert(z4)

Personally I don't like to use peat. While it is a nice light medium, it dries out too quickly for my liking.
Plus I don't care to contribute to the deterioration of a natural resource that take so long to produce.

I typically just use a premium potting mix.

    Bookmark     January 4, 2009 at 8:49PM
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yiorges-z5il

Soak seed in water for 8 hours then lightly cover...soil temperature for germination 64-77F taking 14-28 days to germinate.

    Bookmark     January 4, 2009 at 9:37AM
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dicot

I've grown a number of them from seed, but some hybrids will revert back to chracteristics of a parent and be less showy.

    Bookmark     January 4, 2009 at 7:09PM
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ohsillyme

You will get foliage this year (great foliage too!), leave them in the garden, they will somewhat die back (I have new growth with this mild winter weather) and bloom the next season.

    Bookmark     January 3, 2009 at 9:27PM
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yiorges-z5il

Some times a seed will require a second cold period to germinate..... does require a soil temp 0f 65-70F & takes 114-60 days to germinate. Are you sure the seed was viable I also store the seed at 40F from harvest to ready to plant.
a paper bag etc will not increase the chances of germination.

    Bookmark     January 3, 2009 at 10:52AM
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yiorges-z5il

I store the seed at 40F for 2-3 months.......
NOW if they do not require a cold treatment it will not harm the seed if you use the cold treatment anyway.
Your pretreatment (scarify & soak) worked so make your choice it appears either will work.

    Bookmark     January 3, 2009 at 10:44AM
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