Start from seeds

What is the secret to starting seeds in the peat pellets?
I think I followed the instuctions but no seeds have germinated. Directions differ from low light to bright sunny locations. (no direct sun) I also did not know green bell peppers turned red. Naturally some nice peppers went into the compost. Does anyone use compost tea made from composted manure? Having lost about a month I guess we will purchase plants. The seeds were store boughten "as we used to say."

Perhaps if you post in the propagation forum you'll find someone who can help you. There sure is lots of interesting stuff there!

Hi Prcastle,

I can't help you with the seed questions as I have not had good luck with seed starting....

But, I can sure help with the Compost Tea question. I started making my own tea last year and was having a good time with it. I stopped making it during the winter, but am starting it up again now.

Here is a link to a thread I started last year and it has a lot of info in it to help you. If you have any other questions on the tea, please feel free to ask.
http://davesgarden.com/t/388148/

Donna

Perhaps this will be helpful information on Pepper Seed Germination. It is a very good resource.
Gary/Louisville

http://www.zekes.com/public_html/germinate.html

prcastle...it will depend on the seeds you are starting. If they are pepper seed, those are notoriously slow to germinate sometimes. They really require some good heat, and consistent heat.

I don't care for the peat pellets myself, gave up on those long ago. I just use a good potting soil for starting seeds in.

Donna, I bumped your compost tea thread back up to the top. That was a good'n and thought folks could put that stuff to work this time of year if they re-read it.

I personally like the peat pellets for certain things. They do get mossy on top but a spritz with peroxide water every few days seems to keep everyone healthy. I always peel the fine netting off (in the direction of the roots) very gently before planting out in the garden.

prcastle: I usually have a tray with the pellets in little circular holding cells. Pour a kettle full of boiling water into the tray. Let the pellets expand, then cool.Pour off any excess water if necessary. Drop one (or two, if you do 2 seeds with the intention of thinning later) seed into the center of each pellet. Take your scrupulously clean finger, or wear a disposable glove, and gently press seed into place. Cover with dome lid and put under grow lights with only an inch between the light bulb & the top of the dome lid. Wait for a week, don't water any more or stick your fingers in there or anything. You should see signs of life if the seed was viable.

Eileen

I have been using the peat pellets for the last 20 years & I think they're great. I use anywhere from 500-700 each spring. I do exactly what Eileen does.

edited to read: except I just use very hot tap water, rather than boiling water. They expand much faster.

This message was edited Apr 20, 2004 2:35 PM

Why the boiling water? We used some this year, for the first time, to plant some cucumber seeds in. We just threw them in a pan of water, placed them in a 1020 tray when they were expanded, put one seed in each. Set the tray on a greenhouse bench in a sunny spot, kept it wet. Almost all germinated & are growing like crazy!
We've always had trouble transplanting cukes. Thought we would try these so as not to diturb the roots when we stick them in the ground.
They are going in our hoophouse to get early cukes!
Bernie

I use boiling water because A) it seems to expand the peat pellets faster and more fully than cold water, B) the boiling water might kill anything nasty in the pellet - they aren't sterile or anything and C) I don't let the pellets cool all the way before planting - just to where they are very warm. Then when the seeds go in and the top goes on & the tray slides under the lights, the seeds have that extra warmth for germination. And all of that goes under the category of "can't hurt might help".