Seeds Germination from Summerhil Co-op

toofew---
Have you done the mini-blinds cut up for labels? You can choose how long-how wide, etc.
If you don't have any old mini-blinds, you can buy a WHOLE new blind for about $3.50 at HD. Get a pair of sturdy scissors and chop away.....

Onewish--
I have found that after you write the name on the label with a marker-- tape a piece of clear tape over it and it won't fade or wash off as quickly.

Gita

I'm using those nice vinyl plant labels. Nice thing about them is that you can "erase" the writing on them with a piece of fine sandpaper. That way I don't have to try to find the right labels year to year. But those Brother labels do look nice.....

I use mini blinds too.. my honey has this big cutting tool... it can go though about 10 in a shot.. nice & clean too

I use pencil on small plain white plastic labels. The pencil does not come of in moisture or anything. For the outside of some small containers I use old labels I had for my old pin printer, years ago, I write on those with pen then just put some adhesive over. It is nice to be able to write, not just the names of the plants but sow and transplant dates on them too, if you are staggering plantings of the same seeds. Not just a code, and then having to got to your notes to figure out your code...still, I am new at this....

from one "newbie"...

Labeling... I did a summary article last spring on labeling methods... you might find some useful tips here: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2306/

Great article Critter. Thanks. :)

Does anyone that uses the brother use their regular laminated tape? Bought the PT1090 at Staples on Monday, they have an instant rebate on it that makes it 14.99! It came with a roll of the laminated tape, that I'm using while I wait for the industrial tape to come in the mail. Couldn't wait to start playing :)

One nice thing about using pencil, is that it can be erased and reused. I suppose it is only good for the very small backyard gardener, and I agree that those fancy labelmakers are nice. Still, I have so many labels to use up so I think I can bear to use what I have for now.

Pencil is quicker than label makers! I have a Dymo labeler (similar to the Brother) with a lot of vinyl tapes that I might try putting on Marketplace... It got really good reviews for lasting labels, but I think my "full sun" is just brighter than most other gardens (the back yard faces SSW, so there are places that get direct sun from sunrise to sunset), and after a couple of years the labels started fading. I was thinking I'd keep it for "other" uses, but let's face it, it's generally faster to just write labels by hand, and my handwriting is legible, so...

I'm still using the Avery clear laser labels that I mentioned in my article... I've mostly used black lettering on them, but I might try some color photos of my daylilies (especially the seedlings I'm growing out that don't have "real" names) and see if that lasts equally well. There hasn't been the slightest bit of fading on those labels.

No tuberous begonias, no pentas, no ptilotus. I have some begonias and pentas in damp filter paper in plastic bags to see if I can get any. So far, looks like only the white pentas has 1 sprouting. No more ptilotus seeds so none for me this year. My cats decided the jiffy's that the impatiens are in make good toys, so I opened another pack to plant more, and there was a seed with them that's really obviously not impatiens. Like something large in the carrot family. Only one of six seeds germinated of arctotis. Crummy germination of a couple of geraniums, Sonata petunias, verbenas. Rhodanthe that had great germination wasn't from Summerhill as I thought earlier. Generally great germination from all other vendors' seeds I've started.

grrrr, I had 'ok' germination from my arctotis and pentas, maybe 60 %.

So, am I not the only one who's not impressed with the germination rates from this bunch of Summer Hill seeds? Some things did ok, but with the prices they charge for small quantities of seeds, I expected better. I had better germination rates from seeds I got in swaps here on DG....ones that have been sitting around for 2 or 3 years! (I discovered too late that I already had a couple of things I ordered)

No, I haven't had very good germination on some of the seeds I received from the coop either. I just haven't posted about them.
I have grown seeds for years and this is my best year ever on seeds germinating. But...................Not with Summer Hill Seeds at all!!! The cheaper brands like Lily Miller, Ed Hume, Livingston, all have better germination.
Most all of my seeds were like 50% germination or lower. Some I would get like 1 or 2 seedlings.

Carnation Cascading clove drops - poor
Centaurea Choco - like 5 seedlings
Cosmos - Double Click & Rose Bonbon were ok but just over 50%
Dahlia Black Beauty - pretty good germ, like 60%
Geranium Blk velvet & Rasp ripple - Blk velvet was ok, Rasp ripple was very poor
Impatien Tutu & Envoy Passion - about 50% of Tutu & 20% of envoy
Lantana Camara - only 1 seedling and I really wanted to grow this one
Nepeta pink dreams - only 1 seedling
Penstemon choco drop - only 2 seedlings
Pet pirouette red - none
Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy - this one actually did the best except for the dahlia
Salpiglossis royale choc - only a few seedlings
Verbena tuscany orchid frost - just a few seedlings
Zinnia whirligig - just a few seedlings which surprised me as zinnias can grow anywhere

I have to agree with Woofie here. I spent $37 and I am not getting anywhere near the amt of plants that I should be at all! Too much money per seed pkg for too little amt of seed!

I really would like to be compasated for all the poor germination seeds.

Carol

My seeds from last year and this year have all been fine for germination (except Stevia, which was maybe 40%, but that one is notorious for low germination rates).. I would definitely suggest letting Summer Hill know if you've had problems this year. I know they pride themselves on offering quality seeds... it's the quality and the good selection that keep me coming back to them, and the co-op prices help too! :-)

These are the percentages of germination of the Summer Hill seeds I've planted so far:

Browallia Blue Bells 0
Lavatera arborea Variegated 0
Passiflora Incarnata Purple 25
Cup and Saucer Vine 30
Morning Glory Sun Smile Violet 50
Abutilon Bella Pink 50
Euphorbia Kilimangaro 50
Penstemon Electric Blue 50
cypress vine white 50
Geranium Tornado Bi-Color Duet 50
dichondra silver falls 50
Dichondra emerald falls 75
Asarina scandens 'Sky Blue' 75
Dahlia Cactus Flowered Mix 75
Zinnia Zahara Rose Starlight 75
cypress vine pink 75
Petunia Pirouette Red 80
Geranium 'Black Velvet Red' 90
Carnevale di Venezia morning glory 100
Petunia Sophistica Antique 100

Maybe those of us who have had problems with the germination rates of the seeds we bought we should get together and let Summer Hill know which seeds were a problem?

Woofie, that's a great idea.

Hey ya'll! I think a group approach with varieties and percentages of germination would be the best approach as well. One representative would be easier and more efficient for you all and Robin, I'm sure.

I'm sorry if anyone is disappointed in the germination. I haven't planted anything yet (spent a month in the hospital w/ super bad pneumonia--much better now--just working on getting the muscle tone and stamina back) so I don't have any info regarding my own purchase. Honestly, my seed germination is spotty and 1/2 and 1/2 no matter who I buy from--more than likely due to my "TLC". ; )

oooh hope you feel better!!!

Oh gee, dmac, sorry to hear about that bout with pneumonia. And I know, it takes a while to get back on your feet. I spent just a week in the hospital last Dec. and it seemed like it took forever to get back to normal. (or what passes for normal, tee hee)

I would think that we'd be doing Summer Hill a service if we could let them know that certain varieties of seed had really poor germination rates. Don't they get some of their seeds from other vendors? I think it would be helpful to let them know which ones did well, too.

my bad ones are
NG impatiens - Divine Orange - 0%
NG impatiens - Divine Violet - 0%
Petunia - Dolcissima Firenze - 2%
Petunia - Flambe Salmon - 0%
Impatiens - Carousel Salmon - 2%
Impatiens - Jungle Gold - 2% (and they did great last year)
Geranium - Raspberry Ripple - 50%

all the other geraniums are great though!!!


This message was edited Apr 5, 2010 9:54 AM

Did you have any of the Summer Showers White geraniums? Those did crummy for me, all the others were good to excellent.

no I didn't ... here is the list that germinated.. on the day I sowed them

http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/vbc/onewish1/84623/

woo hoo... 1st bloom... but I have it marked as Petunia Dolcissima Flambe Salmon... but it doesn't look like that.. nice anyway