6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
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.
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. :-)
Marigolds are super easy. I personally like nasturtiums and
snap dragons. These 3 are also really easy to save seed so you don't have to keep buying them. My all time favorite annual is the blue shrimp plant, cerinthe purpurascens also easy to save seed from. While technically an annual is is hardy in our winters. I was going to post a link, but I cant get it to work. Google it.
Hi Shannon:
I don't know what your climate is like, but if you get freezing temperatures, you may want to try Winter Sowing, which is described at wintersown.org. I tried it a few years ago on a dare and was pleasantly surprised. It freed up my basement and I could spread my sowing over the winter months. I have had success with petunias, asters, annual poppies (I even transplant them), Nasturtiums, Calendula, Lavatera to name a few. You might want to give it a try.
Northerner.
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.
Sarcococca - sow (cleaned of pulp) fresh seed 55 - 65o for germination in 30 - 120 days. No pretreatment necessary, but I've had good germination with these sowing in late winter by soaking overnight, sowing and placing the pots outdoors where the seeds may get days in the 50s, occasionally 60s and much cooler nights. Cover seed by approx 1/8", top with some grit, protect from birds. I pot the seedlings individually when a few weeks old, and leave them in their pots an additional year
I used one last year and it worked great. I put the plastic cover on it and put it out on my deck in mid
Apr.. opening it after the sun came around on my deck about 10 am then closed it again around suppertime., finally removing it when the danger of frost had gone.
Hello goats (cristi)
That is a wonderful idea, I have 2 small fish tanks I could easily add seeds to and put in a south side window. I am in zone 5 so I think the south is best here.
Also, I noticed your name, It is not often that I see someone spell Cristi the same way I do!
Thank you for the info =)
Cristi
This is so very cute and funny =), when my kids were younger they were just as curious. Do start over again, give your little ones a chance to redeem themselves and have fun with all the miss haps. Growing seeds can be just as much fun for the little ones as it is for us older kids at heart.
That is exactly why I do mine outside like Shellva. A couple of years ago my son (at the time 3yrs old) decided to play with all of my tomato sprouts. Now, they help me tuck the seeds in their little dirt beds (milk jugs) blow them a kiss goodnight, and once a week we all go outside to check to see if they have awoken yet. My youngest son (now 4) is amazed that they are still sleeping! lol I must say, it is good to be able to garden with them. I let them each sow a couple of containers of edible seeds (tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, peppers etc.) and they are so excited when they are able to actually eat off of their own plants! Plus it then shows them that if they take good care of them they will continue to grow. Good luck with whatever you do.
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.