6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

Many (most?) professional and serious hobbyist iris growers are also hybridizers. If you are wanting to try to grow the next great cultivar, stop by and talk to one of these people. They'll probably hook you up with plenty of seeds. You could also check with your local iris society chapter. I didn't collect iris seeds this year or I would send you some.

Oh, I forgot, you could also check out the Iris Forum here on GardenWeb. I can pretty much guarantee someone there will help you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Iris Forum

I am bumping up a rather old post here, but I wanted to share some results.

For whatever reason in the past I've not had much success with sprouting poms. I had a store-bought fruit sitting in the back of my fridge for about 3 months and I finally decided to crack it open and give the seeds a go. Effectively they were cold stratified in-fruit.

I tested two germination procedures: I filled two plastic cups with some damp potting soil and scattered about a dozen seeds on top of each. I then lightly scattered a layer of soil on top (about 1/4 inch). On one cup I put aluminum foil as per va_canuck's post (poked a few holes); the other cup was left open. Both where left indoors in indirect natural light. The open cup got misted every day to keep the top layer of soil from drying.

After about a week and a half:
Open cup = 0
Foil lid = 6

Hello,
Pomegranates are wonderful plants, I grew one before but died unexpectedly. The method I used was in this linkhttp://www.muslimgrower.com/discussionforum/showthread.php?t=49, Hope it helps

In my little yard, the squirrels tear up any freshly turned soil. There doesn't have to be anything there for them, they just seem compelled. I have to protect newly seeded spots with some barrier. Onion bags work for a small spot. In flower pots I use gravel or river stone on the surface.

Petrushka - I think your idea may work best, should help discourage birds as well. I'll give it a try - and hang on to the trays to cover my bulbs when I plant this Fall/Spring. Thanks.

davek - same here. I was afraid of turning into my grandfather, sitting on my deck with a BB gun, potting squirrels.

Did you harden off your seedlings before you moved them outside?

Not sure about your exact location but in general I'd think early March to be too early for maters to be outside. Granted Denver is a much different place then Washington, but were getting snow and night temps in the 20's still. If your night temps are consistently still several degrees below 50, those little dears are probably freezing to death.

These are still in door and under grow light. I just temporarily removed for photo shot that was all. I am just wondering, do I need a heat mat for this?
Perhaps, the ambient temperature is still too cold for it ??

I have started wheat, oats, barley, rye in trays and small pots and transplanted them to my home garden outdoors. I haven't tried to let them produce grain while growing in the container. I guess it would be easier with oats since they are a smaller plant. I guess the best is to grow the cereals in a box that is 1 foot deep and about 2 x 1 foot wide.

Beware that cereals like to experience a chilly period followed by a warmer and dry period, with plenty of sunshine.

I have sucessfully grown corn/maize and millets in rather small containers (1 foot deep). The corn were about 6 plants and then I had to hand-cross-pollinate them

Remember that the cereals like wheat also need cross-pollination by wind or your hand, if you expect grain forming. And it will take a few months from seed to ripen grain. Oats are faster, wheat takes longer.

Assuming proper water and nutrients, the size of the containers will determine if you get any grain and how much IF grown outside.

But trying to do it indoors is starting out with at least 3 strikes against you. It is just too much of an artificial environment for the plants to expect any success. You simply cannot compensate for the sun exposure required plus all the other benefits of growing out doors. Sorry.

Dave

I will plant it then and see what happens. These are my first try at veggies so I am probably over analyzing everything. Thanks!

The temperature of any given seedling is between 75 - 80 degrees.

Broccoli seedlings prefer much lower temperatures once they sprout -- around 55-65 degrees. Young seedlings can handle temps down to 40, and once planted outside, they can handle temps down to 25. They get stressed by the higher temperatures, which can cause distorted leaves and weak stems. They also can be stressed by moving back in forth from cool sun outdoors to warm artificial light indoors. Too much stress, and they won't form proper heads when planted outdoors.

Thank you Dave!!

I will start my cabbage indoor today in 6 pack cell. What is the thumb rule for number of seed starting cell and number of seeds per cell? e.g. if I need to grow 6 cabbage in the garden, how many seeds should I germinate to be safe to reach that number finally?

Thank you!!

Sunil

I always plant 3 seeds/cell, all the time, every time. I thin, of course, but I very rarely have empty cells.

Plug flats (what you have there) aren't normally used with trays. They are just dipped to water and then removed and left as is.

But there are some trays made for them - called watering trays or carrying trays - but they aren't inexpensive. Check Novosel Enterprises website and amaplas.com if interested.

Cheaper alternative is one of the Sterlite or Rubbermaid shallow closet storage bins sold at Walmart.

Dave

Thanks for your replies. Dave, just curious...What prevents the potting soil from coming out the bottom as the water drains from the plug flats? When the medium needs follow-up dipping's later it would seem that a little more of the medium would be drained out each time.