6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
If they are growing "fuzz", zgarden, then my best guess is they are too wet as the fuzz is fungus growth. That would also explain the stunted growth. Are they getting enough light, enough air circulation (try a small fan)? Try drying them out, cut back on the watering, and improve the air flow and I'll bet they perk up. Good luck.
Dave
Wow! Thanks, you guys, this was great. A lot of opinions and now I think I have a more thorough understanding of the concepts. I am glad that other new people found it of use, too :)
I am really excited because my heirloom tomatoes popped up today. And that was after just five days after planting. Zounds, as Dr Zed would say :) My cucumbers are still down under- they're kind of old seed that might have been heated out of viability, but we'll see. But this is so much fun that I want to try some more- if only my mail order seeds would make it across the border, already. I might have to try something from the garden centre in the meantime :)
I feel like a groovy Earth mother! Zowee..
I planted my broccoli, cauliflower, gooseberry, and tomato seeds once they germinated in the filters. I carefully plucked them from the filter and put them directly on moistened soil-less mix then covered lightly with more soil less mix. That then went under the lights. Plants popped up and are very happy.
HTH
Here is a link that might be useful: Here's some instructions with pictures
HTH covered it well - transplant as soon as they sprout (they won't live long on the filter) and use any soil-less mix you want.
If you want more info I have linked numerous "baggie method" discussions for you below. There is also a FAQ here on how to do it.
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: Baggie method discussions
'Blue Spires' is a Cultivar, therefore starting from seed may not come true.
Gardens North does sell the species PEROVSKIA atriplicifolia.
Here is a link that might be useful: Gardens North
i think i'd wait a little longer, i know the problem!! mine are 2 ft now!! and i'm going nuts with these babies!! LOL i for some reason didn't expect them to grow so fast!! LOL but we have 2 more snows coming so i can't put them out just yet and all my plants have taken over my kitchen and diningroom!! unexpectedly!! LOL
When I planted my sweet peas I figured most of them would die because I never started them indoors before and never
had lights on them.I also figured I'd still have time to replant them if they did die.To my surprise,not a one died.Now the problem is getting them to survive once there outdoors.I think I'm going to take a chance and plant them outside in a couple days.Hey! It'll be a inexpensive learning experince.
Probably too soon, but you could certainly move things up by at least a week this year. if it's really too crowded, experiment with the cool season flowers and veggies to see if you get tougher plants by hardening them off sooner. but keep a careful eye on temperatures. Personally, I'd rather fiddle with lights than schlep dozens of trays in and out every day :)
Thanks Dave and Rachel, I feel better. I'll just stick to my current juggling and schlepping routine then :)
Dave, great tip on the mylar. I have one of those shiny emergency blankets laying around; I'll add it to the back and top shelf.
happy growing
Most of your commercial seed starting mediums contain slight traces of fertilizers especially ment to get seeds/seedlings off to a good start. To have a truly "organic" blend, you'll have to make it yourself. Here's a basic peat starting mix for you: 2 parts coconut coir or peat moss; 1 part vermiculite; 1 part perlite, 1 part dehydrated steer manure; and 1/5 part dolomite lime. The lime is used to raise the pH of the naturally acidic peat, also provides calcium and magnesium, Espoma brand of pelleted is excellant! To prepare the blend, start with the peat and dampen thoroughly. Add next ingredient, mix, dampen and blend again, continue til you have it all together in the amount you need. It is highly advisable to wear a mask when making the medium to avoid inhalation of dust(s) associated with perlite and lime (if a powdered form is used). Making your own will not be cheap: think you'll find costs of everything, overall, will be very close to purchasing something already made up.
If you want to try a commercial blend that contains micorise (helps in root formation), a 16 quart bag of Pro Mix Ultimate Seeding Mix can be gotten thru www.greenhousemegastore.com for $12.95 plus $5 s/h. This is the BEST I've used yet, and you can't find it everywhere! Item number is: SO-PM-USM so you can find it faster if you want to look at its contents.
Hope I've helped a bit...GOOD GROWING!
Plain old Jiffy Mix has nothing but peat and vermiculite in it. Check out the previous discussion linked below - many tips in it. Plain old peat plus vermiculite or perlite is about as "organic" as you can get. ;)
But I'm surprised you couldn't find one online - Gardeners Supply, Gardens Alive, Parks, Gurney's, etc. all carry various types. metro Mix is organic as all it has added is a wetting agent.
Dave
Or just use homemade compost - many discussions here at GW about it (see link at top of the forum page called Peat vs. compost.
Here is a link that might be useful: Best seed starting mixes
We have a little one foot tall avacado tree in a pot started the same way you started your's, from what I remember we left it in the water until it had some leaves and roots, the seed split but still clung on a for quite a while, but when we put it in the soil it was without the seed. So I think it's ok if the seed splits, just as long as you make sure the whole plant doesn't fall in the cup, and by the time the seed falls off completely hopefully it will be big enough to go into a pot. I'm no avacado tree growing expert but thats what we did.
Hope that helped?
Good luck to you : )
I have had 'Munstead' reseed gently a couple times in my garden. It certainly wasn't anything that would take over my garden and I was glad of the extra plants which I dug up and moved around or potted up for my spring plant sale.
The seedlings could have easily been disturbed by cultivation and killed if I had not wanted them.
I had a glut of wallflowers germinate when light was excluded. I had them in my garage with the door closed when I lived in the UK. I have now returned home and tried to germinate wallflowers in my coldframe with zero per cent success. However I have had a very favorable result in germinating tomatoes, onions and peppers in my heated propagators on the ledge in my drawing room.
While the wallflowers I sowed did not succeed I did find a self sown wallflower in the gravel of my path which I transplanted to the bed. Just shows nature really does know best.
Zinnias transplant from seedling pots to sale size pots readily with very slight check in growth. Starting in seed mix and transplanting to potting mix I find to be the best choice. Al
Here is a link to the breeders culture sheet for Zinnia Profusion. You should find all the info you need!
Here is a link that might be useful: Sakata Seed