6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

Haven't given up yet, am trying again, wanna get it right!
I used a seed starting mix, covered just a bit over the seed as the pkg said. Waited three weeks? Shouldn't I see something happen by now, other flowers & veggies, sweet basil all came up & are fine. Any suggestions? Thanks!

i heard and tried (the paper towel method of starting seeds), and it worked like magic.i use it for the seeds that i have problems with including purple coneflowers and gaillardia.cuts down on germination time.i then take the sprouted seeds and then put them in pots. let me know how you make out.


I would probably plant them out, where they might get some protection if you have or know of a location. I would then mulch heavily later.
Here is a thread that discusses seeds dropping and germinating naturally. Tell me about winter aconite Evidently little shallowly naturally planted seedling make it just fine in nature. I'd get them planted out asap...not very deep, and then sometime b4 the ground freezes, add the mulch.
Sue...wishing you well...love aconites!





Horned mellon germination 6-10 days. only about 30% of seed will ever germinate. Cucumber 5-24 days to germinate. water requirements keep soil damp not wet.
usually planted direct in area where to be grown the following spring after dry storage not roting

Hey, me again! I guess I got lucky because out of the 8 seeds I planted, 3 are sprouting up! I wasn't sure because it didn't look like what I thought, but I found a picture of one sprouting up, and that's exactly what I've got growing.
Thanks a lot =)
By the way, what is dry storage? I could easily look it up I suppose..but you guys answer it better.


I prefer a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide over bleach before planting for sterilization. I don't think there is a big problem with sodium hypochlorite toxicity using the method you describe, but I might also rinse the seeds after bleach sterilization just to make sure.

Why not just buy a young tree and save yourself 3 years or so? Besides, most citrus are grafted onto a different rootstock, so you may not get a duplicate of your neighbor's tree.
Here is a link that might be useful: kaffir lime trees



I don't know if this will be of any help. I plant my daylily seeds in a mixture of 2 parts of peat moss, 1 of vermiculite and 1 of perlite. I add water and soak it overnight before filling the cups. I buy the big bale of peat moss, so it cuts down on the cost. I punch holes in the bottoms and around the bottom edge of styrofoam cups, and fill them with the mix. (16 oz plastic drink cups will do, too.) I set them in aluminum foil roasting pans, and fill the pans with water. Once the seeds get their second set of leaves, I start adding one scoop of Schultz's Expert Plant Food to a gallon of water, and keep them in that solution until I am ready to transplant them. It is easy to slide out the plants, "soil" and all when ready to transplant.
I just recently bought a mini green house, which is actually 4 shelves, with a zippered plastic cover that fits over it. It was only $30. It holds the pans of cups perfectly.
You could also get some inexpensive plastic storage bins at Wal-Mart, drill holes in the bottom and set them in the aluminum foil pans. Just a few ideas for you.
Don't try and move the pans if they are full of water and cups, as they will bend on you. I remove the cups, throw out the water every few days, put the cups back in and refill with fresh water.
Thanks for the tip!
Do you HAVE to transplant? Or can you just stick the paper pot in the ground, eventually?
Does the last flap of the paper cup have to be secured? Setting it upright and putting soil in isn't enough to keep the flap closed?
Thanks!