OLD Seeds & NEW Seeds

Does everyone use the domes like Park Seeds have? And what size cells are the most efficient?

http://www.parkseed.com/PD/6456/

I've actually wanted to try those a couple times...Nothing popped up for me but are those the Bio dome with those sponges?

I have a couple... they are good... try this link

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/store/TextSearch?storeId=10101&SearchUnion=Y&CustSearchText=6456&x=0&y=0

So, Kim_M ~ Do you "Deno" everything? Or W/S?

W/S = Winter Sow...Deno =?? LOL I'm not hip to that one..

Sorry, duplicate post!

This message was edited Jun 9, 2010 2:22 PM

Deno ~ Damp paper towel in fridge. Or do you put them in flats then refrigerate?

Ohhhhhhhhh boy oh boy. That's a hard one..I germinate seeds differently depending on what I might think the seeds need to germinate may be. Somtimes even depending what mood I'm in..how fast I want the plant..lots of different factors.

Germination Tips:
Most seeds can be stored in the refrigerator, and can withstand cold treatment. Annual flowers and vine seeds usually germinate without any cold treatment. Although there are many Annual seeds that benefit from cold treatment (like Impatiens capensis and pallida) Very tiny seeds (like snapdragons) can be sown right on top of the growing medium surface for germination. Hard coated seeds can benefit from being nicked and soaked in water before sowing. For example, Morning Glory seeds germinate faster when soaked before sowing. Seeds that benefit from cold treatment are usually Cold Hardy Perennials. They can be winter sown in the ground or prepared indoors.

Keep in mind when sowing seeds indoors the key is: You are trying to duplicate how germination occurs in natural conditions for that particular plant. For preparing indoors, place seeds inside a small bag, or container with vermiculite, add water. Just enough to wet the vermiculite and squeeze any excess water out the baggie, then seal it shut. Then place the ziplock bag/container in the freezer (very cold hardy plants) or in the refrigerator (semi-cold hardy plants) for 6-12 weeks until ready to sow. Therefore they will already be cold stratified and ready for sowing indoors. Always use good seed starting medium (or vermiculite) when trying to start new seeds.

Note: Seeds can germinate in the Baggie in the refrigerator. So keep an eye on them after a few weeks.

I'm tagging this thread-- I stumbled on it & it answers at half of my stock of seed questions! Thanks!
Pat

Great!

Welcome. Enjoy and learn.

Kim contacted me to tell her 2 year old daugter was seriously hurt in a major accident at home. She's in the hospital now and doesn't know when she can contact people or send out trades again.
Please give here time to be with her daughter and come back to you.
She's an excellent trader who always handles correct, so be sure she'll be back as soon as she can and will send out everything she promised and will answer mails you sent her.

Jonna

Wow, thanks for letting us know, Jonna, I will put her and her daughter on my prayer list!

Kim ~ First of all, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Here's wishing for a speedy recovery for your daughter.

Second, I was just asking what methods that you use, not how to do them, but in any case the methods are always informative for anyone viewing this thread.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with the different methods.


Evelyn


This is what most of our spring looked like this year....

Thanks for the Prayers...

My Marigolds!!! I sprinkled all the old seeds I had and low and behold..The only seeds that came up where of marigolds I collected seeds of...LOL!

So what does that mean?

How the seeds are stored?

When you pick the seeds??

Gonna take pictures tomorrow...Scarlet Starlet, Crackerjack Gold, Disco Flame, one I'm not sure of..and a possible Tashkent :-)

How is your daughter, Kim?
How old were those marigold seeds?

Ohhh she is fine. She is healing like I never imagined. I didn't consider that babies heal fast and better then us grown folks... So I was all Crazy for nothing. But she still had 26 stitches inside out...sigh.

These marigold seeds were about 5 years old.

Wow, that's alot of stitches! I'm so glad she's doing well, though.
Congrats on growing the marigold seeds! I tried some, but they were so old that most of them had turned to dust, lol.

Aconitum seeds are moist packed to stop them drying out too much. They are best sown as soon as possible as they do not keep well.
If you want to learn more about them, go to my thread in the perennials section.
Steve.

Yup...I have purchased aconitum seeds that have been shipped in moist vermiculite seed packs. There are a few species that will germinate without cold treatment. I can't think of the species off hand but i have both. I'll go look in the fridge and come back with the names :-)

I am just curious, Kim. Where did you purchase your aconitum seed that they sent you in a moist pack?

Thanks, Evelyn

Ooops I never came back with the names...One that germinates without the cold treatment is Aconitum hemsleyanum 'Red Wine' and the other one is Aconitum heterophyllum.

I can't think of the website off hand...who send their seeds packed in vermiculite. I have ordered from them several times and I can't believe I have forgotten the name. Other people from Dave's have purchased from them too. I remember reading a thread that someone had a hard time with an order from them. Which I have never had any problem with an order. They are in Canada I believe...It'll come back to me and then I'll post it. Sorry

Yes, Kim...I was wondering where you got such special aconitum. I have not heard of these at all. Do you have a place where you have a file of your orders? Or do you keep catalogs in a file box? OK, I can wait...LOL!!! ^_^

I found it! :-) Some of their seed packs don't have their info on it. I found a seed pack that has their name on it.
It's http://www.gardensnorth.com

Great! Thanks, Kim! I'll check it out. I am always looking for some different seeds that are not commonly available.

Do you have the Chiltern's catalog? http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk

I have never ordered from them. But I will browse around :-) Thanks!

I always store seeds with some dessicant in the jar. Many 2x3 Ziplocs plus one paper envelopem of silica gel in a 3-pound plastic jar that held peanut butter or peanuts. And I dry them for weeks before I put them in plastic Zip0locs. But some humidity can migrate right through the plastic baggie, and more migrates through the zipper closure.

Good luck with starting Penstemon of any age! Most need cold stratification, and they still sprout and grow very slowly in my limited experience.

Maybe when some seeds get to be several years old, they will break their dormacy without stratification. I read someone speculating about that. I started some seeds that "need stratification" but got 40-50% germination without it.

Someone suggested that for Salvia (and probably most hard-shelled seeds), they germinate faster and tend less to rot if you pre-soak them overnight in dilute hydrogen peroxide (0.1% = One and a half teaspoons peroxide per cup of water, or
1 ounce peroxide per Quart of water).


>> You may not be able to get vermiculite in Belgium. A lot of stores are no longer carrying it because of the danger to your lungs if you breath the dust.

I've read that that was more a concern of the past, that now all vermiculite sold anywhere is asbestos-free.

Hi Evelyn!

>> Does everyone use the domes like Park Seeds have?

I use the two that I have, then put thin, clear plastic film over the tray. I have a roll of 18" wide film, but you could use a dry-cleaning bag cut lengthwise.

Corey ~ You might find that aconitum do better in your climate than penstemon...just saying...I have a hard time keeping mine alive during the summer. I am constructing a new shade garden, but it is not quite ready yet. They really do not like hot sun, even "morning sun"!

When I purchased my Acontinum, I was advised by the garden center employee to put it in complete shade for this area.

I concur. I have had several but they did poorly since I did not have a good shady spot for them. I look forward to completing my new shade garden. I have several plants that I grow on the north side of my house that really would like more shade as well.

Hydrangeas, ferns, lamium, primula are all there but need more moisture as well. The new spot will be much more accomodating to them. Actually there is varying degrees of shade so I can put some plants in a little more sun and some with less. It sure has been needed for a while.

I won't be starting any aconitum just yet. I want to get that new bed fully established and it will need lots of amending as I have hard clay soil.

My new policy is to try to grow only "easy things" for the next few years. I have so many projects half-finished or barely started that I don't wnat any new challenges.

At least, not until I retire!

Hmmmmm my aconitums get sun and they seem to grow well. I think they prefer rich soil. Which may make a difference in their growth... Mine are in very rich soil.

Just my opinion... But any seed is easy to germinate when given the proper conditions (and knowledge on how to germinate). I had a pack if seeds and sowed half and every seed germineted within days for me. I gave the same seed from the same pack to someone else.. He swore I gave him bad seed because not one would germinate.

Hello Kim. What a wonderfull thread. I started to wintersow a lot of seeds this weekend. The vermerculite method looks great to me. Just have to find some. I know Jonna in Belgium is able to buy it.What a nice seed site Gardensnorth! Will keep following this thread. Keep notes on all the seeds I sow.

Great I hope you have great success with your new seeds :-) Ria... I sent you 2 little bags of vermiculite to try. Please tell me they were in your box? I hope so...

Kim I did receive the bags of vermiculite. When I opened the package I thougt for a second that they were gras seeds lol. Thanks a lot. Did not know that vermiculite could come in such fine structure. I already used one back to cover the seeds with, which needed covering. I did find a company who sells it to the agriculture business not far from here, so I will give them a call to-morrow. I took a look at your site Unique Seeds. You have some nice seeds listed there. Are you going to add some more seeds there? I will keep following this tread. It provides me with a lot of information. I don't know how my DH will react when I start filling the fridge with seeds.

Oh good! I was hoping I didn't forget. Well I started with building a site and it became too much for me to maintain and really get off the ground. So I probably won't be adding too much more...

Evelyn I am not sure with the delphinum. I have never grown one from seed. Every one I've ever had was purchased. I will try some and put them to the test :-) I have seeds of a striking delphinium I collected in 2005. The seeds look the same as the day harvested. As far as aconitum... Most of the seeds I've germinated were not more then a year old. Columbine will germinate under extremely high moisture when old. I put them in a cup of soaking wet vermiculite and place plastic over it. So no moisture will escape and they usually germinate in about 7 days. I let them get a little bigger and transplant in a small pot.
I planted linaria seeds from 2005 harvest this summer. I got 100% germination...surprised me!

Maybe it matters how the seeds are stored also?

All of my seeds are stored at room temperature and dry. We have very little humidity here. Room temps range from about 60° to 70°. I keep them in an underbed storage container, and further separated by smaller plastic bins sorted according to type. I have yet to divest myself of all of them. If I don't sow them all by the end of fall and wintersow, maybe I will be able to sow them in spring.

I say that every year, but spring through summer and until it gets cold, I am outside working the soil, watering, weeding and so on. I hope to get my grandson-in-law to install a watering system to the gardens as that will save me so much time during the summer. I wanted to sow pansies this summer, but it was too hot. I suppose I could have sown them indoors, but did not seem to have the chance to do it. I ended up buying pansies....again!!! (GRR...!!!) They last all winter in color bowls under our windows.

I just planted some pansies today :-) They seem to thrive in cooler weather. Ohhhhhh I keep my seeds in the fridge... yes I have a fridge for my seeds... LOL!