6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Not a pine I would find growing here, but you may find this helpful....
"Loblolly pine seeds generally go through a stage of dormancy after seedfall, which lasts longer than that of any other southern pine.
Seed dormancy is related to the impermeable properties of the seedcoat that constrain water imbibition and oxygen uptake; chemical germination inhibitors do not play a significant role. Dormancy is broken naturally as the seeds overwinter on the forest floor. Germination is epigeal.
Natural seed germination usually begins in March when daytime temperatures range between 65° and 80°.
Cold, moist stratification of the seed for 30 to 90 days at temperatures 37° to 41° are generally recommended to artificially break dormancy for direct seeding or for nursery sowing."
The bumblebees and other bugs (some wasp looking thing I've seen on the tomato flowers) seem to pick up a lot of the slack. I haven't had my usual huge crop of honeybees in my garden this year. I saw my first honeybee last weekend, and it was only the one bee, so I was concerned for plants that I don't usually see bumblebees on, thinking the honeybees would have been most necessary for those, but I've already got tomatoes, peppers and blueberries. I've seen mostly bumblebees in my squash and cucumber flowers, so I know those will be okay as well.
We still have bees here (we're out in the country a bit) but it doesn't seem like last year. I've been happy though to see some smaller native bees working alongside their bigger honeybee relatives.
Didn't do much good though. We've got a plum that was loaded with just beginning fruit, then a freak frost came along and destroyed them. :-(
Is all the above advice true for flower seeds as well? I'm looking at a whole bunch of flower seeds I bought up to three years ago and a never got around to planting. I'm trying to decide if I should scrap them and go out and buy new ones, or if I should give them a try. Any thoughts?
I have a quick question in reference to seed planting. I recently purchased a package of creeping thyme seeds. I am planning on planting them in an area of my yard that gets good sunlight and water and drainage, but is over grown with weeds. grass just doesn't seem to take in that area. What would be my best bet for getting the area ready for seeding. thanks in central NJ
I thought this was a great idea although I haven't had time to try it yet.
Bonny
Here is a link that might be useful: instant beds
Hey, thanks, Linda. I've tried winter sowing with disastrous results so the coffee filter thing is my latest attempt to succeed at something with seeds!
Can you tell me more about your method? For instance, do you use tea or hydrogen peroxide after you sow them, what kind of medium do you sow in when using pots, do you refrigerate overnight for regular seeds (not those needing stratification...I'll be starting a new thread later for that), do you seal up the baggie or poke holes in it, and where do you put them afterward? I'm not sure if all of the ones on my first list here are ok in dark or not. Thanks a lot for the tips.
Hi derekh,
I too sowed mine in a 4" pot...and yes they just keep germinating every so often:)
I just prick them out when they get some size...and let the others continue to come up or get a bit bigger. Guess it is up to you what you want to do after that point. I'll probably let the ones pricked out get some size to them and then transplant a few spread out in their new home(for us pots to bring in over winter).
I sow all my seed in 3.5 to 4" pots and prick out...think you're doing just fine. You'll just have to see if this is what you are comfortable doing...it works great for me.
good luck
m
I'm starting from scratch too, I'm using the wintersowing method, most for space!
Here is a link that might be useful: Wintersow Forum
That might work. I've been reading instruction after instruction to cover with plastic. So I have been having good luck and fast germination sowing in McDonald's salad trays (the ones with the black bottoms and clear plastic tops). I mixed a little good potting soil in with the peat, but I don't think you have to do that. I pour hot water over it and let it sit until it cools. If you can squeeze water out of it, then you need to let it dry until it is just nice and damp.
I set them outside in the shade now, but it also works in the house, they just do better starting outside, but you get a later start that way.
I cut 7 slits in the bottom with an exacto knife. When they are sealed shut, water droplets appear in the lid. When they germinate, I take the lids off, set them in a sunnier spot and mist.
Then I can fill the lids with a little water and set the plants in that to bottom water.
I got a bunch of free six pack, nine packs and transplant into those when the second set of leaves appear and let them grow on a bit.
I will be using coir to line things and may try rooting some rose cuttings in that (ground up, not like what you likely have). I don't know how it would be to start seeds in. It would probably work, but can you bury the whole pot? I never wanted to bother with peat pots, too expensive for one thing and don't degrade in the ground fast enough unless you do what you do. Who needs it?
tussiemussies, Check out the link below for the WS/spring sowing forum on GW. Will provide you with all the info you can possibly imagine.
Been WS/ Spring sowing for 4 years and always have overflowing seedlings from the method.
As for doing your snapdragon seeds again. All I did was put drainage holes in the bottom of a 9x13 inch disposable cake pan that has a plastic dome lid to it. Bought them in the market, quite a few years ago. And put good size air holes in the cover.
I filled the container with miracle grow potting mix. made sure the soil was good and wet but not drowning in water. Sprinkled all the snapdragon seeds on the surface of the soil. gently pressed them into the soil with a smooth bottom glass. Then put the pan cover on and put it outside in mostly direct sun. Seedlings are up now in 8 days.
My overall germination rate with WS/spring sowing is roughly 90-95%.
Check it out.
Fran
Here is a link that might be useful: Winter sowing forum on GW
Ann,
Perhaps you are thinking of one of the older celosia varieties. Century Mixed grows 24" - 28" and comes in a range of colors. But not the 4 feet tall that you mentioned. Although there are some feather-type celosias that might grow that tall.
MM
I started seeds yesterday (basil, parsley, thyme and chives) with my daughter and I just put them in the trays on the back deck with no cover (I just don't want to have to worry about removing it and my nights might be a little warmer than yours). They should germinate just fine. Like everyone said, be careful to take the top off when you start seeing germination or when the sun is shining. The humidity will cause the new plants to "damp off" which is so sad after you have gotten them to germinate and I cooked a ton of plants by not opening the top to my cold frame one morning (in February) when it was really sunny and warm.
My first year, I got about 50% germination and the second it improved to about 90%. It takes a season of mistakes to figure out what not to do!
Good luck.
Is this what happened to me? (I found this web site while searching for help with my fading seedlings.)
I swear I'm seriously considering never trying to start plants from seed again.
Last year, I moved into a new house. And although it has some nice, existing landscaping, a year or so left uninhabited (with only the lawns being mowed) left the garden a bit to be desired.
Soon after we moved in, I started a flat of some flower seeds. I think I ended up "cooking" them, as hinted at above. But I wasn't too bent out of shape, at the time, because we were overwhelmed with renovations and what not, and I just couldn't devote that much time or emotion to them.
But, several weeks ago, I decided to start some seeds that I really wanted in my garden (annuals I'd purchased from a nursery, last year). Being new to the whole "growing from seed" thing, I dutifully followed the instructions on the commercial flat kit. I played the role of protective mother, as best I could.
My tiny little darlings popped out sooner than expected (within just a few days of planting them). Still following the directions on the kit, I proppoed open the lid once the leaves sprouted. All seemed to be doing well.
On nice days (15-23C), I'd put the flat out in a partially sunny area during the day, then bring them in at night. I'd gently mist the flat if it looked like it was drying out.
Then, all of a sudden, the still tiny seedlings began to fade. One by one their stems would weaken, and I'd find them toppled over.
Right now, after having had a full tray of what I thought were healthy seedlings, I'm left with maybe 10% still looking viable. But I'm fully expecting them to die off, too.
It's really frustrating because I'd hoped to eventually build a small greenhouse and start all my plants myself. But with two spectacular failures, and seeing how much of my time goes into tending to the seedlings (even if they had survived), just paying the extra $1 for well-started plants from a nursery seems like a good deal to me now.
Anyone else having this much trouble getting even one plant to grow from seed?????