6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

Hi there,
georgez5il: I did check sales@proptek.com. I love the concept of air pruning and am really interested in trying it out. The sturdy root development shown on their website still makes me drool!! ;)
I read about these "Speedling or Todd trays" in Square foot gardening By Mel Bartholomew. But he also says that besides being expensive they are difficult to keep watered. He further says that they are bulky and need to be sawed in half.
Have you tried these out? If yes, what has been your experience? Has anybody else had any experience with these? Please Share your experiences and ideas.
I am yet to contact proptek people to find out about the pricing and if it is affordable. Since they also sell second hand I have to brace myself.

digdirt : I also checked the links but could not find the exact size. I liked Novosel and great sale too! I desire the same size that you were looking for (2.25 x 2.25 x 4" deep). Where did you find yours? I did not see that size on Novosel either or did I miss? Did you have luck? I would appreciate your guidance.

lilamy : Mel Bartholomew went on to state tht his favorite containers remain the waxed cardboard yoghurt cups! Just like you!!So, I wonder if I am also ultimately going to end up doing the same. Only problem is they will waste space between them under the lights. And I wish to raise lots of seedlings this year. Also lights cannot be lowered to adequate height if I keep the cups in a plastic bin for humidity.
But if I do try this then I will insert paper pots first in my yoghurt cups to facilitate removal and ease transplant shock. I have been saving on these cups.

I would appreciate all the input I can get from the gardening experts out there.

Hi

Google "alwaysgrows.com. They have all kinds of sizes.

bing

Bobdole
I do not think starting watermelons now is good idea. It is one of those plants that usually started directly in the garden. They grow very fast when temps are high, hate transplanting. Once vine starts going is not unheard for it to grow a foot a day.

watermelon when started too early indoors come up looking good. But when they realize they have been fooled they die quickly despite care. Atleast in my experience.
I have not had good luck with transplanting.
Regina

I'd like more information on growing the lettuce and radishes in the plastic container. Did you leave everything in the container until you harvested it? Where did you place your container? was it protected by a porch or out in the open? I know the questions are basic but I'm just starting winter sown process and using cold frames and I'd like to hear from someone who has done this with success.

My bin, unprotected, was on my back deck which faces southwest. I left it out all winter and harvested directly from it. I drilled drain holes in the bottom and vent holes in the lid.

I am in a more temperate zone but lilamy seems to be happy with this method.

Crystal,
Here is my set up. It cost me about $130 - 140 totally.

Lights 8 x $8
Bulbs 2 x $20
Heat matt (ebay) $36
Wood (almost all free scraps that I had)
Misc, nails, screws, wire, switches, etc were just leftover material that I had in my workshop.

Just a couple hours of work to put it all together.

So you buy these flats and fill with starter soil.
Then when the seedling grow will they stand firm? Does the light help in this process? Would they get crowded?
Thanks for all the help. I am getting the hang of it.

I just wanted to add, 30 days moist chill may be a little brief for your maple - 90 days is often suggested. You mentioned putting them in plastic zip lock after soaking, but did you add something moist besides the seeds to insure they do not dry out again before sowing? Just a tsp (for larger seeds like maple, I'd use more like 3 tsp) of moist sterile vermiculite or moist sterile sand will do, when you are ready to sow, sow the entire contents of the bag.
Acer japonicum , Japanese maple , sow 3 months @ 39ºF, move to 70ºF for germination.

As for the birch, if the seeds aren't planted immediately upon harvest as George mentions, they need 60 - 90 days moist chill before bringing back to warmth. Surface sow, some light may be beneficial to germination. Putting them someplace warmer than 65 - 70 will not necessarily bring about sprouting any faster than the average of 30 - 90 days and could even delay/inhibit germination.

Last year while browsing around the local garden center I squished and received a hand full of birch tree seeds from a tree that appeared to be really dead and was marked way down. What didn't fall on the ground ended up in my pocket. I went home and forgot about them for a day or two. When I remembered I tossed them in a pot that had soiless potting soil in it, watered them and by the end of the summer I had over 20 birch trees sprouting. I think you will find birch tree seeds pretty easy and fast to germinate. I also heard they don't come true from seeds but I don't really care, I will just be happy to have more trees around here, whatever they are. :-)

Thanks. Funny thing is, I just bought some Zinnia seeds today.
I also bought some xeranthemums. Any other ideas would be great.
Thanks

Hi Rednekgr, Ck out on 2nd page of WS I asked the same question, as my daughter is getting married end of June. There is some good ideas posted over there. God bless your future marriage.
Tammy

Thank you very , very much.

Why are the few sources I found elsewere so varied. Some say germination in 6-9 days, some say you must use sandpaper.

What kind of growth rate and germination rate have you seen with these?

Do they flower after a year or so?

Thank you again.

I have news!

Of 12 seeds, 2 sprouted after just 5 days, is that a rarity? I scarified and soaked them as well.

Should I be worried that the others have done nothing?

Thanks

Hi neighbour (diane nny3). I'm in Ottawa and bought my first pack of seeds three weeks ago.

Went into "the city" aka Reno yesterday. All had seed displays but only Lowe's had anything worthy of notice.