Anybody know?

Anybody know of a good book that gives good information on how to get the best germination from all the various kinds of seeds? The Territorial Seed catalog gives some information but it is pretty limited.

I am using "Creative Propagation, A growers guide," by Peter Thompson, Timber Press, $25.00 in paperback.

This is a densly packed book. No color photos. Clear line drawings. Gives highly detailed instructions, and assumes you already have a modest amount of gardening experience.

It deals with solving numerous types of propagation situations. In example: I live very near one of the most beautiful trees in the city of New York, a 50 year old species flowering cherry. Luckily, I was permitted to take cuttings from this living landmark. Following instructions in this book, 16 of my 20 cuttings successfully over~wintered and five of them actually flowered in the first spring.

Highly recommended book.

Happy reading and happy New Year.

Adam.

The two standard reference works are The New Seed Savers' Book by Nancy Bubel for flowers and Seed to Seed for vegetables (this last one also gives instructions for saving seed from your own garden for future use).

There are many others, but almost all horticulture writers refer to these. Christopher Lloyd co-authored an outstanding one but I can't think of the name of it off-hand.

Thompson & Morgan's Internet site gives wonderful instructions for starting many plants from seed, too.

Good thinking LupineLover..., these books are on my birthday wish list. We'll see what Sunday brings ;~).

Adam.

Lenjo, I've found some informative sites on the web concerning seed starting. First, here is a site concerning seed care and storage: http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/stse/store.htm

Here are some sites concerning germination information:
http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html
http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/starting.htm

Here is some good info from Dave's Propagation Forum:
http://davesgarden.com/t/178676/

Here is a good site for seed identification: http://theseedsite.co.uk/db4.html

Here's another one - Tom Clothier's site has a lot of detailed info, mainly for hard-to-grow perennials, trees and shrubs, as well as biennials and annuals: http://users.anet.com/~manytimes/page52.htm

Thanks, Go_Vols, I forgot that one!

Son, Bernie Jr. said he gets all his info from Stokes Seeds catalog. He is getting close to the listed germination % on most things. It is called "Stokes, 2003 Growers Guide". It is FREE!
Bernie

CountryGardens: Funny that I just posted the Stokes website on another thread a few minutes ago! http://stokeseeds.com/cgi-bin/StokesSeeds.storefront

One other thing; the best way to get things going. Place your tray of seeds in a clear plastic bag & tie it shut.
Will have plenty of moisture to germinate. We use a 5"x5" tray & a 1 gallon baggie.
This picture is a part of our 2250 geraniums planted yesterday.
Bernie

I am printing out this thread and all your posts, great information, thanks a bunch. Adam that is really neat to hear about your cuttings of the cherry tree. I have had some success with cuttings and you are absolutely 100% correct about the gratification from successful cuttings.
I spent my day today repotting and potting up cuttings and other plants in the greenhouse. Boy, I think now I have a serious case of spring fever. But spring is not here with all this dark and dreary rain we are experiencing. Thank goodness for seed catalogs.

I checked out some of your links, you guys are good, really good, I 'm impressed with all the great info. Thank you, thank you. I did get a heating cable and thermostat for Christmas, can't wait to get it wired in.

A great little booklet is "Growing Garden Seeds," by Robert Johnston, Jr. Only 32 pages, but an incredible amount of information cramed into it.

It's available from Johnny's Select Seeds (www.johnnyseeds.com) for about 2 1/2 bucks.

Bernie, I went back and found I had a Stokes Seed catalog and you were right, they have a wealth of information on germination. Thanks for the tips.

Bernie, are you a serious geranium lover or a wholesaler? 2250?????? from seed????? wow! I am impressed!

Thanks for the reference, Brook. I checked out Johnny's online and found the booklet. It is $1.25, and I'll bet it would fit right in the envelope with the seeds I'm going to order. Here's the page: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/accessories/detail2.html?edit_id=1106&cat_id=54&parent_id=52&prodname=Growing%20Garden%20Seeds&name=Saving%20Seeds&top_name=Accessories&topcatid=4&subcatname=Books&page=1&url2=http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/accessories/prodlist2.html?cat_id=54&parent_id=52&name=Saving%20Seeds&topcatid=4&top_name=Accessories&subcatname=Books&page=1

We will sell most in a 4 1/2" pot either at our garden center or the Farmers Market.
Bernie

Johnny's catalog is a wealth of information also.I keep mine just for reference purposes.Each seed type is discussed and germination instructions are included there .

My son said he will put together abook some day. He says you can't beat good old experience!
Bernie

Hello All:
Just got from the library,
The Plant Propagator's Handbook, by Peter Thompson
Haven't gotten into it yet.Had to get into this site first.
Seems like I'm addicted to Dave's!!!Would any of you recommend this book?
sandy

YES!!! Great book; great techniques. (I also am addicted to DG :)

hELLO LUPINLOVER.

fUNNY THAT YOU MENTIONED THE BOOK, The New Seed Starters Handbook by Nancy Bubel

It looks like a very informative book.
Easy to understand.
Sandy

Lupinelover: Is this the book by Nancy Bubel you were referencing? I really need a good book on seed saving

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0878577521/qid=1045111111/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7511869-5302428?v=glance&s=books

Great thread.

So Bernie, if you would be so kind ................. when do you take the bag off? When you first see green coming out of the soil?

Looks like you do not worry about any light shining on the bags. When do you give them light?

thanks so much

Bernie, how in the world do you have time to check all those trays every day???? great set up, I like it. what do you do with most seeds that need light for germination?

Nancy Bubel's book is good; so is Susan Ashworth's seed to seed. Right now I'm reading through Sam Bitteman's 'Seeds' book - it looks promising.

Sue_WA, try Abebooks.com and half.com (or eBay) for these books - you can often pick them up for half their retail price (or less.)

Every seed is different. We have one place where temp is near 80º & no light. Same area with light from a plain old 100 watt bulb. Under the Flouresent growing lights, it's about 65º there. Then no light in same temperature. Bag keeps moisture in, but lets light through. Trays are moved to growing area as soon as they germinate. Depends on kind as for removing bag, some come off right away. Most things are germinating within 2 to 5 days!
ßernie

did you start them in the 5x5 trays specifically because they fit in the gallon baggies or was that a happy coincidence? I would think that as many as you grow, 5x5 would be inconvenient, but I guess not!! LOL!!

We used 1 gallon milk jug bottems for years;(same ones over & over). These are actually 801 inserts for the 1020 tray system. That way you can carry 8 at a time etc. Usually sow 100 seeds to a tray. Best way for transplanting out. Trays are numbered to keep track of things.
I see people planting more than one thing in a tray or whatever, no wonder there are problems with germination & controlling temp. No two items are the same!
ßernie

Go_Vols, thanks for the tip on Abebooks, I had never heard of them before! And I had forgotten about the Sam Bittman book! Seems I wanted to read that a while back.....I will see if I can get that from the library! I'm looking for a good reference book that I can keep in my own someday.

Hello Sue:
Yes , that's the book and that's where I bought it.
If you'd like anything copied I'd be glad to do it for you.

Please watch E-Bay.
Check some of the posts and you'll see why!

Sandy

Thanks Sandy! I will check eBay too.

May I entrust you good folk with my Ultimate Germination Secret?

(True, someone might have mentioned it earlier, but I was too lazy to check...)

Put some damp fresh perlite in a plastic box, like a margarine tub. Sprinkle on your seed. Cover - very lightly - with damp perlite. Seal lid.

Put in your airing cupboard.

This will germinate EVERY seed. Even parsley comes up in 9 days. Sea kale will emerge in three months (as opposed to three years.) And, no - for once - I am not joking.

If germinating cool temperature seeds like lettuce, DON'T use the airing cupboard. Put the tub under your bed instead. Average room temperature of around 60o-65oF (or as low as 50oF) is fine. Above 75oF, and lettuce will _not_ germinate.

If germinating warm crops like tomatoes, peppers or squash - your airing cupboard is fine. But DON'T let the temperature exceed 95oF, max. That kills almost all seeds.

Trust me. The perlite box is magic. It works.


PS: I forgot to mention, when time comes to transplant, toss the whole tangled mess onto a sheet of newspaper. Then pick out the seedlings by their leaves. Don't try to pull them out of the perlite. You can't.


This message was edited Friday, Feb 14th 12:50 PM

thanks John!!!

Did this work for petunias?
ßernie

*whisper to John_Yeoman: What's an airing cupboard?

John knows stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1856230155/qid=1045330069/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-5568725-1353718?v=glance&s=books

Adam.

Kathy,

i hope this helps... http://bang.dhs.org/if/raif/pre1997/msg06890.html

Oh, you primitive denizens of an unplumbed land!

An airing cupboard? Why, everyone knows that's the place wherein you dry wild fungi stolen from your neighbours' lawns under cover of darkness, sprout burdock seeds to scatter as vitamin-rich seedlings in your salads, and make yogurt.

In short, 'tis where the boiler lives for your hot water system, wherein you dry clothes. (Or rear newly-born kittens.)

You can also make sourdough starters there...

Uhm..., er..., John..., hot water heaters live in the basement (cellar, dungeon, catacombs, or whatever you folks dwelling on Maggie Thatcher's unfinished sceptered paradise are calling it this week).

Adam.