Germinating Seeds.

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by WinterSown

Poke some holes in the bags as sunlight can heat up the interior more than you want. You need fresh air and the ability to vent off hot air. You can steam your seeds or seedlings. Ventilation is hugely important. The links below is to info I posted many years back, you're doing something a little similar but without ventilation. I can't stress enough the importance of venting, you can superheat the soil or the air without it.

http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/Loot_Bag_Tents.html

http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/Wate...le_Tepees.html

Overdone. It verges on being silly. Right our of Mother Earth Magazine. Certainly never should the container be placed in a location where the temperature can increase to cooking levels. Most seeds germinate in the dark with absolutely no necessity for light. But immediately after germination they need light, some sunlight without excessive heat.

The most important thing for germination all thing being equal is humidity, and my system insures a high humidity. Nothing is done after the bags are closed until germination. The correct germination temperature is understood, usually warmth is sufficient without being too technical. There is enough room in the bag space for sufficient air.

I have absolute confidence in my germination system arrived at by proven success. It is simple and convenient for a small numbers of plants, which fits my criteria. I am also a firm advocate of never disturbing the root from seed planting until placed in the outdoor garden. Hence, I seldom use flats, but my number of plant requirements is relatively small in number, hence not too much labour involved. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VMMSQ 30 May 2012 Germinating Seeds

I have also observed that fast germination is not necessarily beneficial, since the plant shoots up and this tends to legginess. A longer germination time is often advantageous.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?KEXHE 13 June 2012 Tomato Plants Germinated.QED.

[LuvsToPlant]

I agree with most of your ideas on germination...
I would be careful on the "high humidity"....
Most plant environments prefer a humidity level between 50-60%
Seeds that require a quick germination say around 7 days or under should be fine
... but any thing over that...and seeds that could require longer to germinate would only be subject to mold and fungus without proper air ventilation.

[WinterSown]

High humidity is asking for serious problems with your soil, seeds and seedlings.

The point is that there are many ways to have a success with some being far better than others.

[zeedman]

I would agree that you can germinate most seeds in darkness, or low light. I've germinated many of my seeds on a table indoors. The temperature is more important than the presence of light, and room temperature is adequate to germinate most seeds. It's necessary to be vigilant when using this method, though, since the seedlings must be moved into strong light - whether sunlight or artificial - as soon as they germinate.

This method has worked well when I start beans as transplants, since they all tend to germinate at about the same time. It does not work well for older seeds, or those with erratic germination; those I germinate under lights.

Where I would disagree, is that increased humidity is a good thing when germinating seeds. Several times I tried starting seeds in the "mini greenhouse" clear plastic covers that fit over plastic flats. This almost invariably resulted in mold growth, and mild to serious damping off. I might add that I use sterile soil-less mix, and boiled or filtered water, to start my seeds. Only when I enclosed the pots did I experience consistently bad results.

Different species might require different methods to get the best germination; there is no one-size-fits-all. There are many alternative germination methods that could be offered by members of this forum, and here's one of mine.

For difficult seeds, I have had great success filling the pots or cells with starter mix to within 1/2" of the top & packing it down. I lay the seeds on top of this, and pour play sand over the top. Generally I do a whole flat this way, and just scrape the sand level with a board. After adding water, I soak the flat over-night, then pour off excess water the next day. I add water (soaking from the bottom) only when the sand dries out... you need to test this by feel, since the sand will absorb color from the soil mix & appear to be wet when it is not. The seeds have an easy time breaking through the sand, and this method works especially well when germinating old seeds with poor vigor.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SLZQE 24 June 2012 Tomato seedlings growing well
The healthy tomato seedlings are almost ready to move to a larger pot.They have been in full Sun for about nine days.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?KEXHE 13 June 2012 Tomato Plants Germinated.
Tomato seeds planted on 30 May 2012 have germinated and appear to be doing well.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VMMSQ 30 May 2012 Germinating Seeds
Here is how I germinate all 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%.

[Durgan]

Darth Slater. Here are the seeds, that you sent me growing well.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HXSMK 27 June 2012 Repotting Tomato Seedings Procedure
This is my procedure for re-potting.The objective is to transplant to a larger pot to avoid crowding the roots, and to have only one plant in the pot, and to not disturb the roots.The re-potting soil is home made and is the same as the seedling soil. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BCJYP 31 May 2012 Seedling soil. The tomatoes will be grown in larger pots, since my season is too short to plant in the outdoor garden this year.One final transplanting will be required, when the plants are of appropriate size.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SLZQE 24 June 2012 Tomato seedlings growing well
The healthy tomato seedlings are almost ready to move to a larger pot.They have been in full Sun for about nine days.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?KEXHE 13 June 2012 Tomato Plants Germinated.
Tomato seeds planted on 30 May 2012 have germinated and appear to be doing well.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?VMMSQ 30 May 2012 Germinating Seeds
Here is how I germinate all 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%.

[RUNSEEDSRUN]

I bought a lamp for twenty dollars at target. You can get them any where. You don't have to have a light sitting directly on it. How do I know it works . Because I always use it to start beans and Tomtoes inside. I used Burpee coconut soil and then I set it near my heater in December and keep lights near by. Yes it works I have 15 plants from seeds. Dont ask me the names I mixed them.

[RUNSEEDSRUN]

Oh yeah the lamp had five lights on it . forgot that part whoopseeee

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by RUNSEEDSRUN

I bought a lamp for twenty dollars at target. You can get them any where. You don't have to have a light sitting directly on it. How do I know it works . Because I always use it to start beans and Tomtoes inside. I used Burpee coconut soil and then I set it near my heater in December and keep lights near by. Yes it works I have 15 plants from seeds. Dont ask me the names I mixed them.

Light is not necessary to start seeds. Warmth and some moisture is sufficient. After the spout appears, the plant needs real light, and that is sunlight. Artificial light doesn't cut the mustard so to speak.The most dull day is far more useful for plants, than any artificial light.

[Mulligan Man]

Originally Posted by Durgan

Artificial light doesn't cut the mustard so to speak.

My mustard grows just fine under artificial light.

Everything in my garden was started indoors under lights. Apparently it does cut the mustard.