I started my seeds on January 1, a day even I can't forget!!lol!
My question is:
I''ve seen it mentioned several times that fresh seeds are better, which make complete sense, and that seems to be true with the seeds I have from 2006 over the seeds from 2005, as I'm getting 100% germination on the freshest seeds. They are started in peat pellets, under a plastic dome, and the pots show no signed of molding or algae, like I had winter 2006. I treated for fungus gnats by using mosquito treatment rings, (disolved the best I could in water, then lightly watered in) and the initial watering was with a 10% hydrogen peroxide solution. So far, so good.
So, some of the seeds may take up to 2 months or more to germinate, if they ever germinate. Are these seedlings going to be weak compared to the seeds that germinate quickly? Or is parentage more a factor of the equation here, of weaker seedlings?
And does parentage figure into the time it takes to germinate for some crosses, despite freshness?
BTW, what do you set the distance of seedling-to-light at?
Thanks!
Brenda B
Germination
I haven't found the slow germinating seeds to be any less vigorous than the ones that germinated quickly.
I've got my lights close, but not touching my seedlings.
Thanks!!
Have you seen the last of the frost?
Brenda B
Brenda, the system I used on my seedlings was to number them as they germinated. I started them in community pots, and as soon as I saw growth I would move to a 4" pot and name it LA X EP 01, LA X EP 02 and so on. I found it interesting that as they developed, many times #10 would be much larger and stronger than #01. Also, several times I thought they were all done, and I would use the soil in the starter pot when potting up some non-brug plant. Weeks later I would be surprised by a brug seedling growing in a begonia pot. Lesson being that when you think they're done, sometimes they're not.