My first attempt at purchased seed germination! SUCCESS

Gosh you wouldn't think a person would get so excited about a little sprout!

I purchased some pansies from Park Seed and followed the directions + somewhere I read about pansy seed liking darkness. Funny, the package never said anything about putting the germinating seeds in the dark. Anyways, its been 3 days. I wasn't expecting sprouts for another 5!

Here's what I'm growing
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=1502&PrevMainPage=advsearchresults&OfferCode=R1H

What kind of soil did you use?

I know that excitement, i'm trying this for the first time and planted some coleus. I was like HOUSTON! WE HAVE GERMINATION! when I first saw little greenies. :)

This message was edited Jan 5, 2005 1:54 PM

I got very excited about my little sprouts! I just recently had my first success at germination and planting seeds as well....congratulations!

Maureen

Isn't it fun.LOL.Jody

I used Jiffy mix, premoistened with hot water.

Jiffy is my favorite,I even love the feel of it on my fingers.LOL.Jody

Great, do they have this at Walmart? Comes in a bag? I've seen and used peat pods before.. are you talking the same thing?

Kathy,

I purchased the Jiffy Mix (in a small 5? pound bag) at Atwoods. Wal-Mart in my town does not carry Jiffy products. I also bought the peat pellets AND peat pots but I have not used them yet.

Osteole... I also bought some of those Pandoras Box pansy's from Parks. Along with some terra cotta varieties. I really loved those Dolce petunias they have, however, I can't have everything I want. LOL

Violas and pansies are an excellent choice for beginning your journey into seed germination. They come up easily and they are such sweet little seedlings. They can be worried out of the soil and transplanted quite easily after they get some of their true leaves, but you've got plenty of time until then. It was very wise to purchase seed starting mix. It is very disheartening to get your seedlings up and running, then have them fall pray to 'dampening off'. Keep us posted!

weezingreens,
I have pansies trying to come up around my tree in the front yard.I planted two there this summer,they seem to selfseed easily.
Osteole,
I turn on a small fan to circulating air around the seedlings a few times a day and make sure they have lots of sunshine or grow lights,by all means don't over water.Jody

Does anyone know of a good germination time table somewhere? Now that I have seed and am venturing out into this, I realize I need to know how long before I can expect to see germination.

Jody,

I will utilize your fan tip. Since the seeds have germinated can I put them under lights now?

Kathy999,here you go.
http://www.ourgardengang.com/Seed%20Germination%20DB.htm

opps put to many 9's

This message was edited Jan 7, 2005 5:15 PM

Here's Tom Clothiers Germination database. It isn't wordy, but you can find most anything, germination time included: http://tomclothier.hort.net/

Osleole,
Oh yes put them under the lights,right now,at least 12 hours a day.
weezingreens,
I forgot all about that one.I do have it book marked.
Jody

I have timers on my light racks and they are set up for between 16-18 hours from the time I put the seeds under them until I haul them out to the greenhouse. I have several timers going, so it makes it easier if I don't have to go around changing them all periodically.

Like Judy, I have all kinds of seeds if anyone wants to practice their techniques. I highly recommend the domed lidded flats for propagation indoors. They create a great mini greenhouse effect during germination and the early seedling stages. After they get their true leaves, I start propping the lids up to let them get a taste of the room air. Finally the lids come off and I begin water from the bottom.

I do the same.Jody

I have promised myself I'll learn how to use the DG Journal option this winter. One of the things I'd like to do is have a step by step of what I do each spring to get my seedlings ready. I would begin with seed storage, then my planting schedule, then my sowing method, then care under lights, then transplanting from tray to cell pack, then out to the greenhouse, then outdoors to harden off. I'm sure my methods might differ from someone else, but the principles are pretty much the same for those of us who start plants indoors.

When you figure it out,please tell me how you did it.I'd like to do the same,like a journal.Jody

There is a tutorial for setting one up. I just haven't got that far... before I was too busy, and now I'm just too lazy. Our dark winter days put me in hybernation mode!

I just got a new digital camera that should make close ups much better, so I hope to take some good pictures of seedlings this spring. In fact, if I rob the cookie jar and invest in a macro lense, I can take some hum dingers!

Oh you lucky girl macro.lol.

Well, that's what the book says! I have to get a screw on lens adapter and the lense. I can also get a wide angle. Guess I better get a job to pay for all this! LOL!

Thanks all for your "germination time table" links, you guys are really helpful. This is so much fun, the only other seed planting I've ever done is straight into the ground with little sucess. (and I understand why too) Glad to have so many educated and experienced people to ask questions to.

I like starting seeds indoors because you can control the conditions and watch the results without having your nose in the dirt and your posterior in the air.... the neighbors keep using it to show movies. You ought to try some marigolds. They're cute little devils too. Anytime you want some seeds to practice on, just let me know. I've got lots of extras that are mixes, etc. They are good to practice with.

kathy999,
I wanted to ask why you can't have everything you want.lol.

The first seeds besides veggie seeds I grew where brugs,canna's and lotus.Naturally I picked hard one's.I had to use files, nippers,toe nail cutters.I had to hold the cann seeds with vise grips in one hand and wire cutters in the other.
But they all grew,(I did manage to kill the lotus though It never made it outside.bummer!)
and I've sold or traded about everything I grew last year.So you keep that in mind too.lol.
It's fun trading plants. It can still get pricey with postage.Jody

I wish I had a nickel for every mistake I've made trying to start seeds! Years ago, I started them all at the wrong times, the next, the cat used my flats as a litter box, and yet another time, I left a flat of planted seeds on the washer during its spin cycle! I've even accidently misted seedlings with Aspho! Failures are disappointing, but successes are so exciting! I think some folks are seed starters and some are not.

weezingreens,Your hilarious.LOL.Jody

I guess my cat had a sense of humor too!

My cat uses the ones I have outside,too.She even walked on top of the plastic covers and smashed them down.She thinks every where I dig is a new spot for her.Or sometimes she just follows me while i'm digging,she's just noisey.LOL.Jody

Cats love freshly dug soil... actually dogs do too, though they are more likely to lie in it than make a deposit.

Well I had fun tonight! Me and Bessie (my truck named after my grandmother, cause she may be old but shes very dependable) went to Lowes to look for some seed starting formulas. They had it, almost did an irish jig right there in the aisle. Got me 3 bags. Came out.. it was snowing to beat the band. One of those real pretty snows with big flakes. At lease if I'm locked in tomorrow, I have some soil to start with! :)

Aren't they pretty when their big like that.
I asked my Dad to get me some potting soil today,he did.
I have rose cuttings on the way and some in the frig from yesterday's mail.
My house it being taken over by rose cuttings.lol.
Been trying to do some winter sowing.
When I feel good enough to do it.
Jody

My mother's name was Bessie... just like the Borden's cow! My old trusty pickup is named Bruno.

Ha! I love my old truck. I bought it new in 1983, it is a stripped down truck, no power nothing on it, no air conditioning, no power steering. It cost me 6,095.00. I named it after my beloved grandmother who past away years ago. We've been through alot of tough times, snow and ice.. and it never has failed me. Its funny but I got emotionally attached to that vehicle just because its always been so dependable. Its a little Ford Ranger.

Weezin.. I've looked at your trade lists about as much as I've looked at Parks Seed's site. I think I know it by heart. You've already sent me seed and I'm a little bit shy about asking for more. But beings you openly offered, might I get a few of those pansies, petunias , and violas from you?
I'm also trying to start a heritage garden, (Stewart - Scottish) and was wondering about that Scots Rose you have, are they easy to start?

Sure thing, Kathy. Just make a list and email me.

Wow thanks Weezingreens.

You guys, I'm freaking out here. About 2 weeks ago I tried soaking canna seed in tap water to see if they would sprout for me. Nothing. Then I read about this peroxide/water formula soaking on here and just today I mixed up some and took new canna seed and put them in the jar with the mix. I just looked and there is ONE ALREADY SPROUTING! I thought I was seeing things!

kathy999,
I held my canna seeds in heavy duty pliers and the nicked them with toe nail clippers the big kind.I then filled an empty egg carton with plain water in a few weeks I had sprouts.lol.Jody

weezingreens,I love log houses.lol.nice house.Jody
If you ever want to part with a few iris seeds please let me know.lol.

Jody, if you're interested in our Iris setosa, I've got lots of them. That's about the only one that grow well here. Just email me.

I have about 20 seeds of that one.Thank you for offering.Jody