Propagation: baggie, 1 by

wrote:
The beauty of starting seeds Deno's way is there is no wasted seeds. You sow only what you need and a few extra.

Last winter, I tested seeds that were from 2002 and had much better germination count using the paper towel method. On tiny seeds, I used dampened fine peatmoss in the baggie and mixed the seeds in it. Once sprouting, I placed the peatmoss/seed mix on the surface of a seeding pan where they continued to grow. Worked great with Delosperma seeds (iceplants) Needless to say, I will not sow seeds directly in a sowing tray of dirt.

I don't put more than 5 paper towel seed bags in one baggie. Nor have I had any problems with the lack of aerobic conditions. I allow the seeds to germinate in the paper towel. Once germinated, I will transplant them to a seeding pan with soil and allow them to grow. I space them 1" apart.

Below is my bee pollinated Daylily seeds. Started on Sept 30, 09 and stratifyed in fridge for 3 weeks in the kitchen towel/baggie, then placed on my East window sill where it was about 50 degrees. Two germinated on Oct 22, the other on Oct 27. I now have 2 Daylilies growing in their 3" pot under lights. The third was an albino which did not survive once it used up the food stored in the seed.

Edited to add that the photo was taken just prior to replanting in seed mix. I used a tweezer and carefully guided the root into a premade hole in the mix.

My old Hibiscus seeds sprouted in 2 days after nicking and soaking first. Amazing!!

Have plenty more seed packages in my fridge that I am waiting on. This is the only way to go!!

This message was edited Jan 3, 2010 11:37 PM