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Elk Grove , California

My biggest problem is germination. I get great seeds from the likes of Pete Glasier, Greg Stucker, Ken Mitchell, etc but I can't seem to germinate them for anything. Any special tips would be eternally appreciated!!!

wiltonca

4/21/2006 11:54:07 PM

So. Maine

How are you going about it now...

4/22/2006 12:29:31 AM

mcminnville oregon

SAND,SOAK,BOTTOM HEAT, /// Its good to practice A week or so ahead , So you remember the things you almost forgot? DBH TAKE NOTES

4/22/2006 1:58:03 AM

Rhode Island

WILTONCA
YOU HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT IN YOUR REQUEST. PETE GLASIER, GREG STUCKER OR KEN MITCHELL.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM TAKE A DRIVE TO ONE AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
BASIC ELEMENTS NEEDED ARE, SEED STARTING MIX, 4" PEAT POT
( POKE A FEW HOLES IN THE SIDE OF POT FOR AIR AND HEAT FLOW ) OR CONTAINER.
KEEP SEED STARTER MOIST BUT NOT SOAKED, CONSTANT TEMP OF 90 TO 95 DEGREES UNTIL SEED GERMINATION AND SHELL IS OFF.
MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF GERMINATION CHAMBERS ARE USED.(WINDOW SILL DO NOT COUNT)
BASICLY A BOX OR LARGE CONTAINER, COUPLE OF 60 WATT BULBS FOR BOTTOM HEAT, RACK SIX OR SO INCHES ABOVE THE BULBS.
COVER OVER TOP THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE FOR TEMP ADJUSTMENT.GET A CHEAP DIGITAL TEMP READ OUT FROM WALMART ETC TO MONITOR THE HEAT.
PAP

4/22/2006 9:17:04 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Go to Lowes, Home Depot, or wherever. Get your self one of those little seed starting trays, black trays with clear plastic domes, one little thermometer, the largest peat pot that will fit in those trays under the dome, seed starting soil, some 60 watt light bulbs and some type of fixture to put those lights in. I use a heat lamp like the type used to keep baby ducks and chickens warm with a clamp on it, but any type will work.

Find a place in the house or garage where you can setup your light with the tray about a foot directly above the light, a place that it will be out of direct sunlight and where the temperature doesn't vary that much. Put the thermometer inside the tray and the dome on the tray, turn the light on wait an hour or two and come back and check the temp, you're looking to get it to maintain 85 to 95 degrees F. If you don't get the temp you're looking for move the tray closer or farther away a few inhes, wait and check temp again. Repeat this until the temp inside the tray will stay in that range.

After you have the temp staying where you want it, its time to file the seeds. I use a regular fingernail file, basicly you're just scuffing them up, not trying to remove large amounts of material. After they're scuffed up, wet a paper towel, ring it most of the way out and fold it so it fits inside a zip-lock bag. Lay the seeds inside the paper towel, put the towel in the zip-lock with the seeds inside and seal it. Then place the bag inside the tray with the dome on. Check back in about 24 hours and you may have one sprung, if not keep checking back about every 12 hours, some will take 24 hours, some will take 3 days. Keep an eye on the temp inside the tray Once you can see a tiny root emerging put the seed, root/point down in the peat pots filled with soil so the top of the seed is under the soil about a half inch. Water with luke warm water and put the peat pot in the tray with the dome on until the seedling emerges from the soil.

4/22/2006 2:49:23 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I germinate my seeds in plastic Folgers coffee cans sitting in an aquarium being heated underneath by 2 heating pads. Cheap piece of siding on top to help regulate things...works for me, I rarely get a no-germination since I've been doing it.
Point is, there's 10 different ways to do most any job, find out what's comfortable for you.

4/22/2006 9:31:03 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Joel Holland has a great video on sprouting too. You can order the vidoe off his web site.

5/18/2006 4:58:47 PM