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Syracuse, NY

I think you're keeping too MUCH moisture intact; I advise 'no more keeping lids on anything'. I am experimenting with having the underside of a dessert cup in the top of my 16-ounce plastic cups as a mini-terrarium (works GREAT!), butt I'm in need of keeping the SS Mix from drying out in front of heater fans, lol, so, I have the EG method otherwise. I just do my Jiffy-Mix and MAYBE Burpee Brick O' Coir mixed together, as moist as the SS Mix will hold, really, and stick the seed into it at the SIDE of the cup for observation and for multiple seeds to see whazzup, butt in the middle it is also going to happen, per the sideliners. If I feel that the SS Mix is too wet when many-times (5, 6?) doing these micro-cups, I can lay the cup on its side in the sink and let the excess drain away; I found recently that laying the cup onto surgical tweezers as 'rails' keeps the bottom side of the cup offa the sink surface, so the SS Mix doesn't 'blob' or 'walrus' along the bottom side of the cup. Can explain further gladly.

3/9/2025 9:51:10 PM

Syracuse, NY

Another option has been to poke a hole(s) about 1/16 of an inch into the side of the bottom of the cup on a plate or something. SS Mix should be such that when squeezing a 'meatball' of it, only ONE droplet should be squeezed out of it. Seeds go into SS Mix only as deep as to allow the rounded end to show so that any movement can immediately observed. I usually wiggle the seed to make it 'dig in'. Heck, make a slot for it with a guitar pick or a skinny pen. The tap root will show at the bottom of the container even sooner than surficial movement - BOING! 72 hours at 88-92 F* by default before usually ANYthing will happen. MYCO only into the Mix. No need for ANYthing else, even that, probably - I just want that in place for what it CAN do for my plants - A little buddy, if you will. One Half-Cup per batch of SS Mix, which is either 12 Qts or 8 qts Coir By Burpee, butt I do like them mixed together. Coir too 'dusty and loses moisture quickly - JM alone needs more 'smooth flow', offered by Coir. I hope this all helps you. eric g

3/9/2025 9:51:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

That should work. Good luck.

3/10/2025 12:39:21 AM

Connecticut, USA

Nick, let me know if you need house call. I could come down and take a look.

3/10/2025 10:36:43 AM

Portland, CT

Lol thanks Ken. If this batch fails I'll have to take you up on that offer.

3/10/2025 3:33:55 PM

Danbury, CT

Personally, I think 4 hours in a peroxide soak is too much. Have you just tried sanding them? Or placing in a damp paper towel?

3/10/2025 4:45:14 PM

Portland, CT

Yeah I tried sanding them last batch and like 2/10 made it out of the ground. Not sure if thats related. And yeah I could definitely cut it down to 1-2 hours it’s just I went to dinner that night lol. Thank you for your input.

3/10/2025 5:56:08 PM

Grittyville, WA

The H202 may not really be necessary. I started using it because my well water is not chlorinated. Occasionally this would cause issues especially when trying to germinate an old seed. But if your water is already clean and/or with younger seeds then its probably one of those things you could skip.

3/11/2025 8:54:48 PM

Syracuse, NY

Henceforth, if a seed is older (but even that doesn't matter) or has any visible signs (black areas or discoloration otherwise) of trouble or history of not being an easy sprouter or 'who knows how long it had been in the pumpkin' before seed drying and storage for months/years, then it is advisable @ 3% and useful until fizzing stops, observable between two shot glasses in total immersion for oh, all right, up to 3:59, lol. Prolly a good limit, LK, lol. Unless the grower is able to tell you, assume the worst in a seed's history; I have had seeds come back from a buyer long ago where even after my own super-washing, drying and such, none of them sprouted. Food for thought. eg

[Last edit: 03/11/25 10:04:31 PM]

3/11/2025 10:03:48 PM