I've started three different groups of seeds since the first of the year. I have duplicate seeds from the same hybridizers in all three groups.
My first group sprouted in a few days, less than a week. All the seeds were soaked, and after that, half were peeled and the rockwool was soaked in the soak that comes with the rockwool - I put them in the tin foil loaf pans with plastic tops. Lots of sun, early on for this group of seeds, then zero sun. Shop light too. Continued germination has been so, so.
The second group is promising and I believe will sprout, but not sprouting yet. Just a few peeled, not soaked, and put in small tupperware containers, to conserve space, and into plastic sacks, blown up. Almost zero sun for this group. My shop light blew up before these were planted.
The third group was soaked two days in the cork, then every single seed peeled, and then the peeled seeds were soaked again, and finally planted yesterday in well soaked rockwool (again, in the soak that comes with the rockwool), in tupperware containers, in blown up plastic sacks, and, believe it or not, they are sprouting today. I knew they would sprout quickly because when I was peeling them, they were coming to life, I knocked off one set of teeny tiny white leaves, not realizing what they were. Rain and very cloudy and no shop light, only natural light, such as it was.
Many of the seeds in all three groups are the same, like there is Rosamond x ?, etc, in all three groups. FWIW, I guess you know how I will be planting future seeds. I really could not believe the difference in the groups. I missed you guys today while DG was taking a nap!
This message was edited Feb 1, 2005 10:00 PM
About seeds.
Congrats on the quick germination. Hope you have lots more babies come up and tons of blooms from them this summer.
Well, thanks, Brugie!!!!! It has surely taken me long enough to figure out what to do, whew! I really did not understand, until I did it, that soaking the peeled seed would speed things up. The best thing I've learned is to 'just do it'. But, I know you remember when you started that it's kinda scary to think you might kill everything before you ever get started...I feel much more comfortable this spring. Thanks to you and all the great guys and gals on this forum!!!
We all go though it, don't we? Every year gets better but it doesn't mean there can't be failures. You can only do your best. You are doing very well Sherry. How many seedlings do you plan to have this spring?
Sherry, you learned the biggest lesson of all "just do it." There is lots of information and ideas but we still have to try things and see what works best for our personal self in our location of the country. I am glad that you are getting more comfortable and relaxed growing seeds.
Thanks, Shirley, I don't have a clue how many seedlings I will have, not nearly as many as most start their 2nd season with, but I know I will go out and buy new brugs too. And, I think I'm learning that a few really nice brugs is better than a whole lots of iffy ones, ya know??!!
And, thank you, BrugNanny - I think my brug motto will be 'just do it', which has served me well, I do not know what that 'fear' was all about, failure or killing the brug, I guess. I'm having fun and loving growing the brugs and my family absolutely loves the beautiful, fragrant brugs, which is even more fun. You are correct, it's what works for you. In my case, with the seeds, I had a closed mine about how it should be done, and I didn't 'succeed' until I branched out...who knew??!!!
wow has anyone else had withdrawl today, I haven't been able to get Dave's all day
You have grown so much Sherry in such a short time.
You are right........be selective and that goes for hybridizing also.
Experiment and see what works for you and you will find your comfort zone.
And remember.....that fear of losing seeds or a cutting of something special will always be there. I have this problem of over pampering special things and sometimes it has been a death sentence to them.......lol I still have to tell myself to just leave them alone and if they make it that is good and if they don't then it was not meant to be. It sounds that you have a new found joy in your accomplishment of experimenting.
Frannie.... You've said it all so perfectly ! That certain element of fear Never leaves completely- does it? (smile)
SherryL....You go Girl !!!! You've come a very long way in a very short time. IMHO: No matter how much you know..... there is always so much more to learn...
There is always another way to do anything. Your aluminum pans were a great idea for germination....You've got me trying them too :) :)
This message was edited Feb 2, 2005 9:30 AM
Daves is moving so slow for me, I think I'm going to go shopping. Catch you all later. I need that air pump and stones. LOL!
Well, Renee & BrugNanny & Brugie, many thanks!!! I really haven't grown all that much. But, everything that I've grown, with exception of quite a few seeds that did not germinate, yet, is doing well. Last year, I did kill my Maya, broke my heart, and several rootings didn't do too well - and the jury is still out on the brugs I left in the ground to winter, and the bubbler rootings, won't be a success until they are planted - however, I have tried just about everything and have 'slightly' more confidence this year. As for hybridizing, I know this might be weird, but I'm really not interested, yet. I failed to produce a pod last season and that is my primary goal this year. Right now, I'm really enjoying my seedlings, thirsty little devils, but not growing by leaps and bounds. When my seedlings get just a little further along, I'll take some to the grands, my aunt and the hubby's mom. If they can grow them, I'll plant them when the time comes. That will be fun!!!
Yes, Doris, wasn't yesterday something without Dave's. I'm not sure which addiction is worse, Dave's or the brugs!!! Have fun shopping Brugie and tell us what you bring home!!
PS - I made a mistake about the first seeds I planted - my rockwool disappeared, so they were planted in very tiny pieces of rockwool, with some dirt. Maybe that's why all haven't germinated, they were planted Jan 3...despite zero sun and my broken shop light, I am seeing fuzzie wuzzies, so I think given 15 mins of a tiny bit of sun that they will sprout. I bet it's weather like this that causes problems with seeds...