Soaking seeds first?
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lesa
Garden Master
I use that technique with morning glory seeds. They have such a hard shell, I don't think they would ever germinate otherwise. Regular veggie seeds, I have not soaked. What were you thinking of soaking?
Durgan
Attractive To Bees
With the quantity of plants that meet my requirements I now sprout many seeds to insure germination. Here are my techniques.
Planting Corn
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QPDGU 31 August 2012 Corn Produced. About 75 cobs of quality corn corn was produced. Pictures for 15 and 19 of August are shown.The stalks have been removed and placed on the compost pile.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VOCIQ 24 July 2012 Corn Patch
Pictures indicate growth.There are thirty two plants in a 4 by 8 foot area. It portends a nice harvest. No bug damage and the colour is excellent. It is beginning to tassel.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HINXL 24 June 2012 Corn Growing well
Two seeds did not germinate.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PJPNL 14 June 2012 Planting Corn
Four eight foot rows of Seneca Arrowhead Hybrid sweet corn was planted.Spacing was one foot at a depth of one inch.Rows are about two feet apart. The broccoli plants in the chosen area were removed and the bed prepared for the corn by adding compost and rototilling into the underlying soil.The corn seed was spouted between two wet paper towels for 48 hours. Annotated pictures depict the process.
Planting Carrots.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YNYYF 2 July 2012 Digging carrots
If carrots seeds are planted carefully digging is almost a pleasure. Always loosen soil around carrots, since the tops are very weak and break off if pulled too hard.One width of the fork presents a bunch of perfect carrots if care is taken when planting.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?JVLZX 2 June 2012 Carrots Growth Germinated under a board.
The board germination method is justified by the successful growth. Germination was very high and no thinning is necessary.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ADGPB 5May 2012 Carrots Germinated.
The carrots germinated in 20 days using the board method. Germination at first look appears to be high. It has been very cool during this gestation period. But 20 days is fairly typical for carrot seed to germinate. Eleven days germination occurred once.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PPRND 16 April 2012 Planting Carrots.
A 25 foot row of carrot seed was planted. Method is to mark the row, rototill, flatten surface, place seeds along row three across insuring no seeds touch,(if seeds touch the stalks will be intertwined) water, place supports and place board over the row.The supports under the boards allows space for the shoots to grow without distortion. This method insures the soil surface temperature does not get too high (above 80F) and the seeds tend to remain moist. If it rains the seeds do not get washed out of position. Germination is almost 100% using this method with little care required. Either take care and the effort when planting, or one has to thin later, which is difficult and time consuming.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VMMSQ 30 May 2012 Germinating Seeds
Here is how I germinate many of my seeds. The overall objective is to have high germination rates, and to have little or no root disturbance until planted in the final growing spot.
The reasoning behind this method is: The pots are of adequate size. The plastic bags keep the humidity high and they need no further water or care until germination. The bags are removed immediately upon the first sign of germination, and the pot placed in bright as possible SUNLIGHT. Most seeds only need moisture and the proper temperature to germinate. Most do not need any light. There are one or two exceptions. I have absolutely no confidence in any artificial light and consider them to be a waste of money. My germination rate approaches 100%.
Planting Corn
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QPDGU 31 August 2012 Corn Produced. About 75 cobs of quality corn corn was produced. Pictures for 15 and 19 of August are shown.The stalks have been removed and placed on the compost pile.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VOCIQ 24 July 2012 Corn Patch
Pictures indicate growth.There are thirty two plants in a 4 by 8 foot area. It portends a nice harvest. No bug damage and the colour is excellent. It is beginning to tassel.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HINXL 24 June 2012 Corn Growing well
Two seeds did not germinate.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PJPNL 14 June 2012 Planting Corn
Four eight foot rows of Seneca Arrowhead Hybrid sweet corn was planted.Spacing was one foot at a depth of one inch.Rows are about two feet apart. The broccoli plants in the chosen area were removed and the bed prepared for the corn by adding compost and rototilling into the underlying soil.The corn seed was spouted between two wet paper towels for 48 hours. Annotated pictures depict the process.
Planting Carrots.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YNYYF 2 July 2012 Digging carrots
If carrots seeds are planted carefully digging is almost a pleasure. Always loosen soil around carrots, since the tops are very weak and break off if pulled too hard.One width of the fork presents a bunch of perfect carrots if care is taken when planting.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?JVLZX 2 June 2012 Carrots Growth Germinated under a board.
The board germination method is justified by the successful growth. Germination was very high and no thinning is necessary.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ADGPB 5May 2012 Carrots Germinated.
The carrots germinated in 20 days using the board method. Germination at first look appears to be high. It has been very cool during this gestation period. But 20 days is fairly typical for carrot seed to germinate. Eleven days germination occurred once.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PPRND 16 April 2012 Planting Carrots.
A 25 foot row of carrot seed was planted. Method is to mark the row, rototill, flatten surface, place seeds along row three across insuring no seeds touch,(if seeds touch the stalks will be intertwined) water, place supports and place board over the row.The supports under the boards allows space for the shoots to grow without distortion. This method insures the soil surface temperature does not get too high (above 80F) and the seeds tend to remain moist. If it rains the seeds do not get washed out of position. Germination is almost 100% using this method with little care required. Either take care and the effort when planting, or one has to thin later, which is difficult and time consuming.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VMMSQ 30 May 2012 Germinating Seeds
Here is how I germinate many of my seeds. The overall objective is to have high germination rates, and to have little or no root disturbance until planted in the final growing spot.
The reasoning behind this method is: The pots are of adequate size. The plastic bags keep the humidity high and they need no further water or care until germination. The bags are removed immediately upon the first sign of germination, and the pot placed in bright as possible SUNLIGHT. Most seeds only need moisture and the proper temperature to germinate. Most do not need any light. There are one or two exceptions. I have absolutely no confidence in any artificial light and consider them to be a waste of money. My germination rate approaches 100%.
catjac1975
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I soak many different seeds. You can even sprout the finer ones in wet paper towel such as tomato, pepper. Though with those I don't see a need. Beans, corn and other large hard seed germinate faster if first soaked.
Durgan
Attractive To Bees
I have a trellis of morning glory alongside the deck and they self germinate with a vengeance every year. Sure don't have to soak them.lesa said:
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LPRWZ 15 July 2011 Morning Glory (Ipomoea)
There is a trellis along the deck to support Morning Glory. These plants self seed and supply some shade and the flowers are pretty during the early morning. In my Northern climate the plants are not invasive.
vfem
Garden Addicted
I just soak my beans and corn. Beans for only a few hours, corn for up to 2 days before I put those in.
http://fromseed.blogspot.com/2012/04/getting-better-germination-rate-corn.html
http://fromseed.blogspot.com/2012/04/getting-better-germination-rate-corn.html
897tgigvib
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I used the paper towel in a baggie method for Tomato seeds years ago, and it really works out well.
Some kinds of Morning Glories like Moonflower need a good nick and soak. Other kinds like Grandpa Ott's slowly and erratically sprout without it.
Some kinds of Morning Glories like Moonflower need a good nick and soak. Other kinds like Grandpa Ott's slowly and erratically sprout without it.
ducks4you
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I am competing with myself and ALL of my other hobbies/interests/responsibilities. When I choose to soak seeds I need to have a 2 day plan. If you soak them correctly, then let them dry out, you'll probably kill them. Unless the package suggests it, it isn't always necessary. I've had wonderful success planting tomato seeds for years without soaking them. This year my sugar snap peas had better success bc I nicked them and soaked them, so that's one that needs it.
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897tgigvib
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Howdy Sec!
Using the baggy and paper towel method is actually one of the methods used to test germination percentages of batches of seeds because it can work so well, especially when the optimum temperature, light, and moisture conditions are in controlled environments. They make special enclosed sets of drawers with precise temperature, moisture, and light settings that some seed companies and universities have and use. Those things cost thousands of dollars.
But for normal folks nearly the same thing can be done with baggies, paper towels, a shoe box, some way to label them, a thermometer, and the top of a refrigerator or some place the right 78 or 80 degrees or so to set the shoebox with the baggies on.
It is quite the deal folding the paper towel so gently, creasing it, opening it, setting the seeds far enough apart, folding it back, lightly pouring warm water on it, setting it in the baggy, I like to leave the baggy loosely closed...checking almost daily...trying not to do that...have to have things ready!
then transplanting them is intense! they are bare, raw to the world! the smallest most tender touch is needed. some roots stick to the paper towel. Use scissors and leave the towel piece with it.
It is intense to do it, and enjoyable...
Using the baggy and paper towel method is actually one of the methods used to test germination percentages of batches of seeds because it can work so well, especially when the optimum temperature, light, and moisture conditions are in controlled environments. They make special enclosed sets of drawers with precise temperature, moisture, and light settings that some seed companies and universities have and use. Those things cost thousands of dollars.
But for normal folks nearly the same thing can be done with baggies, paper towels, a shoe box, some way to label them, a thermometer, and the top of a refrigerator or some place the right 78 or 80 degrees or so to set the shoebox with the baggies on.
It is quite the deal folding the paper towel so gently, creasing it, opening it, setting the seeds far enough apart, folding it back, lightly pouring warm water on it, setting it in the baggy, I like to leave the baggy loosely closed...checking almost daily...trying not to do that...have to have things ready!
then transplanting them is intense! they are bare, raw to the world! the smallest most tender touch is needed. some roots stick to the paper towel. Use scissors and leave the towel piece with it.
It is intense to do it, and enjoyable...
