sowing seed

Hi All,

This is my first year growing Morning Glories. I soaked the seed, some of them sprouted and some of them didn't. I planted them two weeks ago, and nothing is comming up. Does the soil have to be at a certain temp. for this beauties to take off. I thought perhaps the squirrels had gotten them, but there is no sign of them digging. Should I try re-seeding, or wait, in hopes that the soil just needs to warm up a bit. Oh yes, and will the seed rot if I water them too much? Thanks in advance for any info.
Tami

Hi Tami - Which ones sprouted and which ones didn't(?)...is there a difference in the type of MG or the species in relation to what has sprouted and what didn't sprout(?)...watering them shouldn't make them rot if the medium is draining properly,but if the water is standing too long while they are germinating,this could be a potential problem...the ideal soil temperature will vary somewhat with the species,but generally if the soil is warmed to 70 to 75 degrees,that should be sufficient for most commonly grown MG's...

TTY,...

Ron

It is also key not to plant the seed too deeply...1/4" is the depth for the seeds.

Joseph

Thanks for your replies, Ron I soaked a mixture of seeds given to me by a member of the forum, It was a mixture of JMG. They are draining really well were they are planted, with no standing water. There is still no sign of them yet.

Joseph I did not plant them very deep. I am soaking a new batch in the morning, and I will make sure that they are no more thatn 1/4" deep.

Thanks again Tami

You can use the baggie method after the seed soak stage, then you can see which seeds are alive when the root emerges from the seed. I let the root extend out maybe 1/2" then carefully transfer the seed into its growing medium.

The seeds can often display a 'mind of their own' and will often only sprout when they(!) feel like it...seeds from species that have not been in cultivation very much can often display a latency period before sprouting,and trying to make them 'jump right up' when you want them to can be 'fruitless' until the seeds are ready...

I would recommend not(!) discarding seeds that do not sprout right away,but keeping them in a flat where they are kept damp and exposed to the natural fluctuations of the environment...I've seen delayed sprouting range from several weeks to up to several years...Nature has built-in survival mechanisms to insure continuation of the species and sometimes there is no getting around it...

The Japanese types will usually sprout readily if very fresh,but once the seeds have been stored for certain lengths of time,the seeds may require a slower start...if the type being sprouted is not very rare,then you can choose to discard the seeds,but if the type being sprouted is on the rare side,then it might be best to allow Nature to take it's course and wait it out...


TTY,...


Ron

I m doing MG for the first time , and i m in zone 5b .I have them in litile dixie cups and they are about 3 in" high under lights. What do i do know? how big should they be before they go out in the wild :) oour frost date is past but our weahter is a bit chilly for an unseasonalbe freak thing .
Any help woud be great
thanks
best
sue

I'm happy to report my seeds have sprouted. So Ron indeed they have a mind of there own. There is still one batch of JMG that have STILL not sprouted.

Sue, I wish I could answer your question but I am so new to these too. Good luck with your MG.

I know MGs thrive when the soil temperature gets above 65 degrees F, more like 70 if you want the seedlings to take off. Be careful on removing the seedlings from the dixie cups. I would cut the cup vertically from the top on 4 or more areas then peel back the paper then gently remove the soil with seedlings to its home in the ground. Just pray the soil ball doesn't break apart.