6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
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
echquiltstorm,
I recently purchased Bay Laurel seeds from a Canadian seed company (IÂm in Canada). They arrived 3 weeks ago. I paid $7 CDN ($6 USD?) and received 12 seeds packed in a sealed air tight envelope. The seeds were shipped in a moist pre-germinated state packed with vermiculite. So far, I have one of 12 sprouting.
My seeds came with a fairly comprehensive information sheet regarding history and germination instructions and care instructions. morz8's post pretty much reflected what the sheet said regarding germination times etc.
If you send me an email at ottawapepper(at)hotmail(dot)com, IÂll forward a scanned copy of the sheet.
Good luck with your Bay Laurel adventures.
Bill
NYgardener- now when you say row covers work really well- do you mean you plant the seedlings out and use the row cover for a couple of weeks, or do you just set them out and drape the covers over them while they are still in their pots?
Thanks for starting this thread Tonia- it has helped me too!
I had my seedlings hardened off pretty well, and then the temps dropped to the mid-30s at night last week, so I brought them back in the basement. After four days inside, I put them back out, and now the temps are in the 80s in the day, and it's been tough on a few of the plants. I was hoping they wouldn't get wimpy again after just a few days inside, but a few did. I moved those to a shadier spot, and hopefully, they'll be fine in a few more days. The place where I harden all these off is under a small plum tree, which gives them morning and afternoon sun but shades them during mid-day.
Hey CBGC,
I commiserate. My "What a Dope: Part 1" posting tells of my mishap with rare Tacca chanterii seeds, an account that surpasses yours in terms of the idiocy it tells of.
morz8's expert opinion is no doubt reassuring to you. As for me, I did manage to recover three of my seeds.
Good luck,
cranebill
My guess - the roots might not be able to grow through the coffee filter. Especially if the seeds are small - the primary root will be smallish as well. You could give it a try but I have a feeling the root growth will be really stunted. I could be wrong, but that's my guess! When I'm dealing with really small seeds (basil, for example), I use a modified baggie method - I fill a little tray with peat/sand mix (because I have it handy - other mixes might be fine as well), moisten it well, place the seeds on top and put that little tray (like for take out food, whatever) into a baggie for humidity. Hope this is useful!
Hi, Tussie. I'm new here as well as a failure at seeds (see the thread I just started called "Coffee Filter Germination"). However, I know where you saw the idea about using the filters. It is in the FAQ section right here in Gardenweb/Seed Starting/FAQS.
What the thread says to do after they sprout is to prick them off the filter and put them into the growing medium of your choice and the author likes using toothpicks for doing this.
I am just getting ready to try this and was wondering what you sprouted and how long it took? Did you have to rewet the filter at any time and did you use any chamomile tea or hydrogen peroxide solution with them so far?
If you like, we can hold each other's hand as we walk down this new garden path of coffee filter seedlings. Check out my list in my thread.
I've grown metasequoia (dawn redwood) which is similar but much smaller... anyway, seed germination may be similar. I store the dawn redwood pinecones in the fridge (or just the seeds) for a few months before planting. Then I use the ziplock baggie method (as ibexdeath mentioned), but I use a seedling heating mat under the baggie. Typically about half of my seeds germinate, and as morz8 said, it is erratic - some germinate quickly, some take a few weeks! Once they germinate I put them in a little pot with peat and sand (my typical mixture since I always have a lot of sand around from horticulture experiments at my univ.). Sometimes I put that in a baggie until the sprout is a little bigger, to avoid the little pot drying out. Then they do well in a windowsill, but I've actually given most of mine away for people to use in their yards :)
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
I have had success growing milkweed from seed and transplanting. I think It is hard to dig a wild one and have it survive because of the taproot.