Seeds, seeds and more seeds most with no directions

I've gotten most of my seeds from very kind folks, and obviously - there are no directions that come with them, and I honestly didn't do any research before I started WS'ing.

some where - a few weeks ago, I downloaded a HUGE excel sheet of 811 different plants where the gent had very good "notes" for the seeds and how they were sowed.

upon browsing that sheet today, i'm seeing things like "nick and soak" for some seeds.

I have Siberian Iris seeds (purple and Yellow) and didn't nick or soak them -- could that possibly cause them NOT to sprout?
and for my Morning Glories - I only soaked, not nicked.

How important are the "fine details" of preparing seeds for sowing?

or should i just do the leap of faith thing -- like i'm trying to do.

TIA,

Terese

Terese, I've soaked seeds, but never bothered nicking them, and had no problems. Good luck! Tamara

Anything's possible, but the the freeze-and-thaw cycles of wintersowing will take the place of some other ways of breaking a seed's dormancy, like nicking and soaking.

Terese,

My understanding of WS is that the changes in temperature, freezing and thawing, are supposed to mimic the nicking and soaking. Actually, it's the other way around: nicking and soaking mimics the natural effects of freezing and thawing outside. Good luck! I'm still making holes in milk cartons!

xxxxx, Carrie

thanks gang!!

I feel better about it now... especially for the Morning Glories

~~ heading to the basement for the drill... I"m planting too.

Is it time to winter sow morning glories? I am in zone 6a

in all honesty -- with me being a newbie, i'm just whinging it.

I did just check that huge spread sheet i have and the guy had in his notes: sown indoors, 68F°, 2 weeks germination.

so, if mine don't germinate, i have spare seeds that I can do indoors too.

I did a quick search and couldn't find a "time" to sow -- just this in the plant files
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/69511/index.html

I use this list for re-assurance (or just to look things up)

http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/Seed_Lists.html

I hope this is useful. I think the "huge spreadsheet" you are referring to deals with sowing outside in the ground or perhaps indoors in pots under lights and possibly even with a heating mat. For wintersowing you don't have to pay attention to that info, like 68F, xx weeks to germination. You just pop the seeds into your milk jug (or whatever you use) and stick it outside.

Clementine,

yes - i did check Trudi's site while looking for info on morning glories... really didnt find much.

and as for that spread sheet -- i wish i could recall where i found it, or even HOW i found it. Though it does have a TON of info on it.

It sounds like you might have been looking at Tom Clothier's site... http://tomclothier.hort.net/

I've had good luck wintersowing some of the seeds where he suggests switching them between various temperatures in order to get them to germinate. That kind of variation in growing conditions happens naturally when your seed containers are outside!

critter -- shazzaaaaaam........ YUP that was it. Thanks. Now i have it bookmarked.

Be careful using a drill with small seeds....it might be safer if you used a file on tiny seeds.

No worries with M.G.'s. They grow like weeds.

Oh Shirley,

I wasn't gonna drill seeds... if that was what you were refering to... i was drilling milk jugs.

thanks for the comment on the MG's -- glad to hear they grow well.... i have a lot of fence line to fill.

terese

Oh, thank goodness, Terese! I had visions of you holding a small seed between your fingers and the drill bit was hovering over it trying to find the mark. Don't want anyone going to the E.R.! Do try a file, if you must.

Your fence will look beautiful covered with M.G.'s this Summer! They will prove to be prolific! Can't wait to see some pictures when they are in bloom.