how long do you wait?

how long do you wait for seeds to germenate after the expected date of germenation????

I guess that depends on the seed, and expected length of time to germinate (a seed that takes longer, I'd give more time.)

Some seeds, especially perennials, will need a cold period to germinate - freezer, fridge or both, depending on plant. Others may need warmth (like sitting on top of the fridge.) For example, I planted Thalictrum delavayi this winter. Instructions I found said to give the seeds 3-4 weeks of cool (but not cold) temps, if no germination, move to colder temps for a couple weeks. Sure enough, during their third week, they popped up their little heads!

Here's a link to a germination resource:

http://home.online.no/~asles/sowing.htm

Find your seed, note the germination method number indicated, then click on the link to the germination methods page. There you'll find the description of that germination method. Hope this helps....if not, you might post the name of the plant(s) you're trying to germinate, and maybe one of the gardeners can help you with more specific information.

Some germination times are really long, sometimes a year! I just planted some abutilon that said 'Up to three months germination time'.

Well, ideally, three years for shrubs, alpines, perennials, bulbs. At least a year. Nearly always two. Tropicals and things started indoors in a mini-propagator or in paper towels in plastic bags - well after I know they're dead and even if I can see they're rotted, but you never know your luck!

Common things usually germinate more reliably and faster than uncommon ones - that's probably one of the reasons they're more common - better for impatient gardeners.

Thanks Gol_vols for the germination site I have saved it to my favorites and will probably print the whole thing sometime. I have been a vegetable grower for years but this year I'm really getting into the flowers and noticed already the variation in germination times, some short, some very long. It's a real test of patience! This info helps a lot.

This message was edited Friday, Mar 16th 1:05 AM

Hi, Peavy! I don't know how I got so lucky to find Asle's site, but it's been my salvation as I experiment with some new (and temperamental) perennials this year. Another good site is Tom Clothier's:

http://www.anet.com/~manytimes/

Sometimes if Asle doesn't have a particular plant listed, Tom will (or vice-versa)......

Mary, do you mean it takes up to three years to germinate, or are you saying that's how long it takes for some things to really take off?

I've heard the adage about how a lot of perennials really don't take off until their third year, but I haven't heard of many plants that take three years to germinate.....

Yes, three years to germinate! I just checked in three books, and they all said don't throw your pots away for three years, as germination can be erratic. They were talking about alpines, shrubs and conifers, though. Mainly things that are grown as the natural species, not things the gardening companies have been concentrating on. I've had things germinate after a year and a half or two years.

Obviously, things you see more often wouldn't usually take that long to germinate, otherwise they wouldn't be so popular, and the seed companies wouldn't sell many seeds.

Wow! That's way beyond the limits of my endurance! (Sure I could ignore a pot for three years, but keeping it watered, etc? I'd lose track of it after a few months, for sure!) I think I'll stick with my perennials and veggies for the time being, and leave these really tricky plants to those of you who have the patience and perseverance to wait them out!!!

NotMartha, now that you have responses ranging from waiting a few more days/weeks/months to waiting a few more YEARS......(LOL!) Please do tell: what ARE you growing that hasn't yet germinated????

I have noticed that you Americans seem to like to interfere with nature. I was reading a lot of stuff on GW yesterday about transplanting seedlings, and fertilising them, and generally mollycoddling them.

I do NOT water my plants (unless they're flopping over). I do NOT feed my plants (unless they're indoors). If they can't make it on their own, they can't thrive in my garden! I sow the seed and leave the pot outside. I patrol and peek a lot, and stir round in the seedpots with the label, in case they might be the sort of seed that likes to be covered/uncovered, but other than that, I just leave them alone. You don't need patience, you can forget about them, you just need a bit of space out of the way.

If you want something to try your germination patience.

Lady Slippers take 3 to 5 years in the wild. 2 years in a
controlled lab.


Byron

Wow, Byron. I didn't know that. I don't have the patience for all these difficult plants. I get nervous just waiting 2 weeks for pepper seeds to germinate! LOL

BTW Frank, guess what's growing??? ROFL

Mary, do you fertilize your vegetable garden? :)

Terri

I don't fertilise my vegetable garden, because I can't manage to grow any vegetables (not even potatoes!) here. In my last garden, I used to have tomatoes, runner beans, onions, potatoes and brussels, and apples, plums, raspberries and rhubarb. I didn't fertilise any of them. I am trying fruit trees here - I thought if the grass can grow so long and lush, the water might as well go into producing fruit for me instead.

Hi All,
Mary, I'm not sure where you get your seeds. We grow conifers (literally by the millions)for Reforestation of Wa. State and if our seeds have not germed in 30 days, we consider that "lot" to be a failure. I do know that seed can lay dormant, waiting for the right conditions to germinate, but if you are actively trying to "germ" seeds, there isn't any reason to wait three years. Hope this helps

weebus

weebus thats about how long I waited and then i dumped all those seed trays in a bucket-Im going to dump that bucket outside after frost danger has past-and whatever grows-God bless them! =]
now I have more seed trays for more seed experiments!
Thanks everyone for all the info!
dori

Weebus,

I get my seeds from a lot of different sources, but they're mainly flowering shrubs, perennials and alpines, and many of them are generally reckoned to take months or years to germinate. I don't think it's the quality of the seeds, just the particular type. As Byron said, some of them do take years.

I do also grow things which are quicker - palms, other tropicals, geraniums, leguminous plants, for instance.

If I threw out everything which didn't germinate in a month, I'd have a lot fewer plants in my garden.

Notmartha/Dori - you never told us what you were trying to grow....now you really have my curiosity piqued!

go_vols, those links above don't work now, do you still have them bookmarked?