Indoor seed starting - your successes and failures

Some have only their first set of leaves and they're yellowing - a few have made it to 2 sets of leaves and it's the 2nd set that are yellowing. Does that tell you anything?

Do you have the soil too wet? That may cause the leaves to turn yellow. I run a fan. I made the mistake of using popsicle sticks and it took a while to write out plastic ones. Glad I changed them. I haven't lost any seedlings, but if I left the sticks in, I think it would have caused problems.

Once the 2nd set of leaves form, I start fertilizing once a week with a diluted fish fertilizer (about 1/4 strength). That really make a difference in growth and color.

I suppose the soil could be too wet. I'm starting to get some algae growth on some flats, but not the ones with the yellowing leaves. I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out how much water to give them, because with this seed-starting mix the water seems to get fully absorbed in the top and I'm concerned that it might not get down to the roots unless I give it enough. It seems too early to start watering from the bottom, because I don't think the roots are down that far yet. - ????- just don't know.

Thank you all, am starting to plant seeds in home and your advice has 'really' helped.

Update on ungerminated pardancanda and belamcanda that I put in the fridge for 1+ weeks when they wouldn't germinate - back under lights - some on heat mat, some not - they are now gradually popping up - hooray!

The icelandic poppy seeds that I scattered on top of the given-up-on gerbera daisies are sprouting. Boy are they teeny and plentiful.

Gaillardia pulchella doing well - 2 batches both sprouted quickly. Think I've given up on gaillardia aristata - 2 kinds planted 3 weeks ago - no signs of life. Wonder if they needed more stratification than a few weeks in the fridge/freezer.

Crocosmia lucifer is popping up thankfully - whick means the seeds I sent in the piggy swap are good.

Also planted 3 weeks ago - echinacea - 2 types seed from hybrids - no signs of life.

Sounds good!!! Throw those aristata back in the fridge for a few more weeks; you might be able to snap them out of it.

Think I might, but there's not much room in the fridge right now.

How about outside. Cool enough?

gee, Joanna, what an inspired idea! Where the hell is my brain anyway? - We're supposed to have storms the next few days - either rain or snow, but the little 4 and 6-paks might fit inside a couple of 2 gallon water jugs that I scarfed from my neighbor's recycle and haven't used for wintersowing yet. Think I'll try it. Thanks.

Hi! I did some seed planting and sprinkled perlite on top to help prevent damping off. Will the perlite burn the new seedlings??
Also posted on other site, but need ALL the help I can get !
Thanks.

I planted some Amaranthus on Saturday - and they have already germinated!

Wow Seandor, morning glories, violas, wave petunias, ornamental grasses planted last week, none up yet. I did put a light coating of perlite, hopefully to prevent damping off.
Are you going to the Round Up in Halifax? Would be great to meet you there!
Had pansy greens, viola greens all with some buds or flowers on, and crocus and daffodil bulbs breaking ground yesterday! Made me think of Spring, Sun, Warm weather.
Did I say ground? Have 12 inches of snow in Warren !!

Which Halifax? I know of Halifax in Nova Scotia - is there another one?

Thanks for starting this thread, and offering advice!I'm hailing from Northern CA with a few questions:

1) I started several six-packs of seeds indoors with organic seeds from Territorial Seed Co in southern Oregon (sweet basil, thai basil, three pepper varieties, two heirloom tomatoes, parsley). They all appeared as specified in the 'days to sprout' listed as stated on the packets, very healthy, with their first hypocotyl leaves showing strongly. Then, about two weeks after sprouting, most of the cotyledon (first two leaves) are pointing upward, closing together. My indoor environment is approx 70 degrees, but may not offer enough light - 4-6 hours bright indirect light a day, total 8 hours of indirect light a day. Should I take them outdoors to increase light exposure, at the risk of temperature exposure? What's more important?
2) When planting by a moon calendar, is the 'favorable planting date' listed in the farmer's almanac the day to start seedbeds or does that refer to TRANSPLANTING dates?
Thanks in advance,
Jenny

Morning Seandor, we got sun!! Glad you found the Round Up page!!
Just checked and my black millet seed is starting to sprout...was scared starting plants from seed, but it will be less $$$....
Used plastic strawberry container from store, washed with bleach and soap, used seed starting soil and put a little xtra perlite top of soil to hopefully discouraged dampening off...

Jennyappleton - I think your seedlings need lots more light. Can you set up light fixture if its too cold outside? Or maybe put them outside in a protected place and bring them in at night?

I don't know anything about moon phases and planting

Jenny, I ditto what kitchenshop said. Don't know what your temps are there, but the peppers will be more sensitive to cold than the basil. I'd try to get them under lights asap.
Seandor, yes there is a Halifax, MA. I haven't been there, but looked it up several months ago when I was thinking about going to a plant sale at some botanic garden there. It's somewhere west of Boston and probably east or southeast of you. Check mapquest.

Ah! Well it turns out I do know about this roundup - but alas - we will be on holidays then. I really would rather be at the roundup - so take lots of great pictures. ^_^

Hey. I'm looking for some feedback from some experienced seed germinators. I'm working on a project as a student that involves a flat packaged polyethylene container that is designed to function first as a greenhouse and second as a planter, which eventually leads to hardening and transplanting. My blog is http://theopenlair.blogspot.com/

I would appreciate any feedback. Please check it out. My containers for the germination that also change into the pot are designed to be flat packed so that you can easily store them away without all the bulk and clutter.

jennyappleton,

There is a forum here at DG called Gardening by the Moon for that kind of information, under the listing for general gardening.

Sure glad this thread came up. I forgot what I had seeded when last year.

I bought seeds from Park's and simply planted them in Jiffy cubes on the heat mat, all grew. I had one pure pink seedling that reseeded in the garden with a vengance, little fans everywhere, and always bloomed the same pink.
Every year I like the challenge of growing something I have never grown from seed before. This year I started Gerberas (large marigold-like seeds), blue salvia and cirsium (a Japanese thistle in reds and pinks.) All germinated readily along with an old favorite, Malva sylvestris (zebrina and Mystic Merlin.) These malvas may be considered "old-fashioned" by some, but they are as easy to grow and as quick to flower as zinnias or marigolds, and I have had plants with dozens of gladiolus or delphinium-like flower spikes in rosy pinks, mauves and purples. Stunning in the vauze, and as a bonus, a bug magnet, the honey bees fought the bumble bees and other insects for the pollenation rights. I like the ease and sterility of Jiffy cubes.
I have a blog here and some seed trades if anyone is interested or nosy.

joanna - I thought you kept very strict records...

I start out with good intentions then get too busy and forget to "record" the info.

Ah, yes...I have a lot of "good intentions"...YIKES! You would not want to know...

BTW, I have some extra 4'oclock seeds if you want them. They are so easy. One year, several years ago, I just put some seeds in the ground near the end of summer, on a east-facing wall and they just came right up and formed a very nice hedge! Hardy any trouble at all. I was really quite pleasantly surprised as I was living in a rental home at the time and there were no plants at all there. I remember them from my childhood, as I used to suck the nectar out of them...very tasty. I hear that they are poisonous, but I guess I never ingested enough of them to get any adverse reaction. So if you want some let me know.

CHEERS!

Evelyn

all the peppers,tomatoes and herbs have been moved off the heat mat/grow lights to make room for another couple of trays of seeds. Good germination on all except the chives,seeds are probably too old and stevia,3 out of 36 cells came up,2 died.

now under lights on heat(2/21):
>Variegated jewels of opar...maybe 1/2
>ruella elegans...low germ...so far but they only just started sprouting
>bartlethina sordida(could be spelled wrong,can't read my own writing)...none,seeds from trade and it looked mostly like chaff and inmature seeds
>Jasions laevis...none
>Pachystegia insignis.. little over 1/2
>mimosa pudica...1/3 but just started sprouting
>calandrina grandiflora...3/4

>variegated rue..1/2
>vaiegated horehound..1/3
>variegated borage...all

Salvias:
s.subrotundra...most
s.semiatrata...only a couple but they just started sprouting
Limelight..1
s.clevelandii...none
s.canariensis...all
s.reptans....all
Hot Trumpets...3/4
Brenthurst...all
Purple Volcano...1/3
Caradonna....3/4
s.regeliana..1/3
s.jurisicii...5 out of 6 cells

now out in the cold greenhouse,it's a whole new ball game,there's little green heads everywhere.

Other annuals such as petunias,torenias,impatiens,vincas and others are one next weeks schedule in the GH.


I have a more complete WS list in my journels.

P

So far I've successfully germinated

Cosmidium burridgeanum
Magnus Echinacea
Happy Lights Antwerp Hollyhocks
Dutch Black Hollyhocks
Gazania Kontiki Stars 'n' Stripes
Kingfisher Daisy
Pom Pon, Rigoletto, & Black Beauty dahlias
Some dahlia seeds I harvested from my Sunshine dahlia
Mix of daylily seeds
Pink Calla Lily
Pin Up Flame & Pink Petticoat Begonias


Now the problem is keeping them alive until the frost subsides. I haven't been consistently place them beneath my ceiling fan to harden them up a bit and earlier this morning I placed my cosmidium and hollyhocks underneath it and the wind blew a few of the seedlings over and they aren't getting back up. No me gusta.

Here's a picture of one of my dahlia seedlings from the seeds I harvested.

pretty cool. Great record keeping.

Janet

Lobelia 'Blue Moon' - sowed 2/27 - up
L. 'Blue Moon - sowed 2/27 - up
Diascia 'Apricot Queen' - sowed 2/27 - up
Tomato - 'Blueberry' - sowed - 2/27 - up
Tom. 'Sub-Arctic Plenty' - sowed 2/27 - up
Tom. 'Aunt Ruby's German' - sowed 2/27 - up
'Giant Tree Tomato' - sowed 2/27 - up

These are the ones under heat. None of the others are up yet.

Okay, as you can see, my little sprouts are growing beautifully. Now all I need is some sun and warm weather. I need to plant out, my beds are ready, my sprouts are ready, but it is snowing again today. I'm having some zone envy when I look at the pictures of the veggies that they are already picking in the warmer areas.

Anybody else with me on this?

slopesower...me, too!

I put some outdoors, on the cold back porch...I guess you could call it wintersowing...as well as the ones in the bedroom, downstairs bathroom, DH's workbench and on a shelf w lights in the basement.

Much to my amazement, the alyssum, calendulas, lupine (2 kinds) and cosmos are the ones on the back porch, which is now 35 degrees, and they are looking quite perky!

Tomatoes in the basement, downstairs bathroom, oh, and some of the petuntias are still doing OK there, but they are so tiny...I think I should start some more as I have lost a few of those.

Here's a picture of the shelves on the back porch...

evelyn-I wintersowed also. I have about 100 jugs on my back walkway and about two thirds of them have sprouted. The sweet peas are about to peek out the top. I think that the slow ones need some weather that is warmer than we've had. We keep getting teased with a few days of sun and then down goes the temp. It's 35 degrees here now also and spitting snow all day.

I got impatient and planted a few broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, and cabbage sprouts in the garden last week and I am anxious to check on them to see how they are doing. I keep reading that they can handle the cold. I planted too many of everything so I have some spares.

Isn't it fun though?

Where is Running Springs?? We live in the Sierra Foothills, just southeast of Placerville. West of Lake Tahoe and East of Sacramento..at 3500' elevation...I guess most people don't believe it when we say that it snows in CA...and it was in the 80's on the east coast last week...go figgur..

Well, sorry, I got off-topic, as the topic is our successes and failures from indoor sowing...

Well, my first failure, was learning how to sow seeds indoors...the only thing I ever sowed indoors before was tomatoes, which, I suppose can be sown anywhere that eventually becomes warm.

For my first experiment was alyssum. I started some old seeds from 1989...a bunch came up. then I took it of the heat and took the cover off as well. I suppose you might know what happened...2 seedlings survived, and one is now in a cell pack, so the whole thing was really my lack of experience, as this is all new to me.

Then I sowed some tomatoes from 1987..now they did well, as I have 2 6-packs of them growing, as well as many others.

So that was a success. Now the petunias...well, they are more of a challenge for me. (So tiny!) I have several now, off heat and under lights, but still very small, and I have lost a few do to either drying out or damp-off, but I suspect drying out. I will have to keep them under wraps longer and wait until they get bigger before transplanting them into individual cells.

How do you keep those tiny seeds moist without keeping them wrapped (in bags or domes..etc)?

Okay - on Saturday I soaked seeds for dwarf morning glories (Convolvulus tricolor ), Zinnias, tithiona, in a solution roughly 90% water and 10% hydrogen peroxide. I left the seeds overnight in the solution and Sunday morning I planted the seeds in seed starter, then put the containers on lighted racks, with heat pads underneath. The containers had lids loosely attached.

Anyway, within 24 hours the dwarf morning glories, the tall zinnias and the tithiona had all sprouted - even though the packages indicated they would take between 5 to 18 days to germinate!

Go figure!

Maybe they meant 5-8 days, without your TLC...:-)

I'm having great luck with the leather flower clematis, but can't get a snapdragon vine seed to come up. And funny, I thought it would have been the other way around.

evelyn-We live in the San Bernardino Mountains at an elevation of about 5700 feet. Some of our community goes as high as 6200 feet. We live in a pine and oak forest with snowfall into May and then we get warm summers.

As to success and failures-I had really good luck inside with both veggies and flowers. My petunias, violas, geraniums. and coleus are big, green, and ready to plant out. I even have two blooms on my snapdragons.

Two flowers that I have struggled with are cleome and astilbe and I even have tiny sprouts on those. The only ones that show no signs of life are Black Cohosh and Blue Lace Flower. I've never tried them before.

I'm also really happy with the germination of my alpine strawberries.
I want to plant!!!

I'm giving some credit for my great germination to Pro-Mix planting medium. I had to hunt all over to find it and had to drive over an hour to get it. But, I think it was really worth it. I have had pretty good luck in the past with seed starting soils from Home Depot and Lowes, but I'm loving this. I will buy even more next year.