Profit of Doom
Dismember
Getting back into gardening, for the food pantry. Have a shitload from several years ago. How to test?
Yep... but make sure to leave the baggie open, and *don't* put it anywhere that gets direct sun!Wrap 10 seeds in a damp paper towel and put in a baggie.
Place someplace warm fdor a few dsays up to two weeks, depending on the seed.
Is it practical to actually plant the actual seeds tested, or is this “only a test”?
Would paper towels work for that?
Or on top of the refrigerator. Before I got heating mats for seed sprouting, I used to use a human heating pad, set on low, *with a cookie cooling rack* on top, where I'd place the seeds.The top of your hot water heater is a good place to keep the seeds warm.
Sure. l presprout all my vine seeds... melons, pumpkins, etc. That way, I can plant one seed per hill instead of wasting 4-5 seeds, and then thinning them.Would paper towels work for that?
We used to use heating blanket. We did a lot of seeds for farmers market. Finally I realized that for the cost of signing up, being inspected, paying for the booth space, we really didn’t make to be worth it. I’m just growing to give away now.Or on top of the refrigerator. Before I got heating mats for seed sprouting, I used to use a human heating pad, set on low, *with a cookie cooling rack* on top, where I'd place the seeds.
Summerthyme
Ever do any cloning?When I germinate my CBD seeds I place them on a paper towel in a Petri dish and douse them with a mild solution of Miracle-Gro (1 teaspoon crystals in 1 gallon rainwater), Leave open and check daily. You'll be amazed at the quick emergence of the white tap roots. They seek this nutrient rich formulation. It works on squash and zucchini seeds too. Transfer to your pots or garden carefully root down. I use a Canadian peat general growth media. It helps to soak the media with a liberal dose of the fertilizer as you transfer. Protects the roots. Happy gardening!
Started in small flat and this is transplanted and ready for garden.We used to use heating blanket. We did a lot of seeds for farmers market. Finally I realized that for the cost of signing up, being inspected, paying for the booth space, we really didn’t make to be worth it. I’m just growing to give away now. View attachment 469435
I've found that a melon averages producing about 400 seeds. So, I have no shortage of saved seeds. I like planting 4 to a hill, because I can then thin out the weakest seedlings. That can't be done with transplanting 1 per hill. And, if someone isn't extremely gentle, transplant shock can happen. Also, I often plant under "plastic mulch", where direct sowing is much easier.Sure. l presprout all my vine seeds... melons, pumpkins, etc. That way, I can plant one seed per hill instead of wasting 4-5 seeds, and then thinning them.
Summerthyme
Unless you've kept your seeds frozen or in the fridge, and going by my own results of room temperature storage along with the age of tomato seeds, you may have reached the end of the line with the 2017 seeds, for decent germination. Another year or two, and germination could approach zero. I highly recommend saving fresh seed this year.I’ve had some seeds from every batch sprout. Packaged for 2017.
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For me, tomato seeds that old have about a 0 - 10% chance of germinating. So, sow lots of seeds. And, germination can take anywhere from about 4 days to 31 days (my longest wait). On another forum that I frequent, someone germinates seeds at 78 degrees, about 5 degrees warmer than the temp that I germinate at.I’m trying a 2013 as well. This was a snap decision to grow for food pantries with what I have. Next year will be new.
A weak amount of organic fertilizer is what I would suggest. Small plants don't need as much fertility as larger plants. And it is easy to give them too much which hurts the plants. So follow the directions.Now that I have sprouts, what should I feed them next?
The first true leaves will be the ones above the cotyledons.First leaves off side of stem, not on top?
Perfectly normal.I had a few seeds where the stems were white and fuzzy, right after sprouting.