From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Do you file until you hit green, or just well in to the second tan layer?

5/3/2005 11:59:27 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If you hit green you have gone to far.

5/3/2005 12:08:55 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

Go pretty deep into the tan layer. If you get to the bottom of the tan layer and perforate it a bit, it won't hurt anything (in fact will help get water in the seed case quicker), but definitely don't keep filing!

5/3/2005 12:18:45 PM

I like to file the round end until it almost breaks into the seed cavity. Then I use my thumbnail to make a little slit into the seed cavity. I think it helps the moist air get in the seed for faster germination. Sometimes if you file a little too much, a chunk of the seed coat will come off, exposing a cotyledon. I haven't experimented much with that (although wouldn't that sort of be like the advanced seed starting method?!) but it's never caused me problems.

5/3/2005 12:29:33 PM

Syracuse, NY

yeah, you can pretty much HEAR when the filing is at that point, because the seed coat is no longer in just one piece.
there is a sudden "raspy" sound to it and you know it is time to stop. the AG seed: a whittler's dream!!!

5/3/2005 12:52:03 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

What do you folks do around the tip? I've read some people who say don't file the tip at all. I've alse seen pictures (like in WCGP II) of people filing the tip.

(By the way, Eric, I hope you're watching my diary. I've got your 300 and 275 in my germinator at the moment.)

5/3/2005 12:56:43 PM

The tip of the seed is where the radicle (the first tiny root) comes out of the seed. It's the first thing that emerges. So most people don't like to mess around with things at the tip of the seed. I don't do anything at the tip.

5/3/2005 1:04:46 PM

Syracuse, NY

ayyyy, Mark!!! i checked your email icon
and BOINK!>>>>>>thaaaaaat's who thaaaaaaaaaaaat is, lol!
hey, glad to hear it, now i have a purpose for the day! EG

5/3/2005 1:17:35 PM

Syracuse, NY

marC, lol....

5/3/2005 1:18:15 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I guess it makes sense not to file the tip, or at least to be careful, in order not to damage the radicle. But, I guess some could argue that that's exactly where you should file in order to make the first thing that emerges from the seed emerge a little bit easier. But, as a first time grower, I'm in no position to argue either way. I'm just going to do it the safe way for now.

P.S. Brigitte, inspired by your pink flamingo, I'm working on a mascot for my diary. I was thinking of one of my Transformer toys that I found the other day. But, everybody's got one of those. Maybe my rubber Yoda hand puppet from 1981. Same problem there. So, I'll have to come up with something better soon.

5/3/2005 2:27:01 PM

keep in mind that nature is pretty good at getting life to work. We're just helping the process along a little bit by filing, soaking, all that fun stuff.

crammed, you'll find something. the flamingo thing just sort of happened to me, I didn't really choose it! But now my whole bedroom at home has flamingo stuff, as well as lots of stuff in my dorm room too.

5/3/2005 3:31:52 PM

Syracuse, NY

i just try to get rid of all the semi-shiny coating on the seed, which very carefully includes the area around the tip of it. i also try very hard to make sure that the hole that the seed is formed from is kept clear, although the radicle might not actually come out through there.
i believe the radicle goes directly straight ahead
and splits open the tippy-tip tip of the seed, and then the rest of the seed swells, splitting-open the seed coat itself. then, the..............oh, you know, it SPROUTS!

5/3/2005 3:52:29 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Crammed, My mascot is a bottle of Blue. LOL....

Seed starting is not my best skill. Waiting for my seeds to pop above the surface has been painfully slow this spring. I have filed and soaked with good success but the last few germinations I have picked away at the radicle end until I have it opened enough for the soaking solution to enter the inside.

5/3/2005 10:10:10 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I wonder if barometric or air pressure has some effect on seeds sprouting.

My wireless weather station has never been outdoors. However, it consistently shows the correct weather icon (a sun for sunny, a cloud with rain for raining, etc). I figure that this must have something to do with air presure since the temperature inside varies from outside.

So, maybe the manure-like weather that we're having now in Southern Ontario is affecting our seeds even if they are indoors.

5/4/2005 12:39:41 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Very interesting thought Crammed. Weather has the ability to bring a grower to his knees very quickly. Not to sure about the Barometric pressure effects on seed starting. Many sow seeds by the effect of the moons cycle, so there may be some merit to your suggestion....

5/4/2005 1:39:17 AM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

animals; deer etc, fish all feed on pressure and changes in it. My birds eat wild on a low pressure. I think it has alot to do with it as well as the phase of the moon. Plants should be no different.

5/4/2005 2:46:08 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Most of my seeds popped up through the dirt this morning. I started them on Fri afternoon and Sat. The 926 Hunt was up earlier and was sprouting roots in less than 24 hours. I still have the 1420 LaRue that took 3 1/2 days just to sprout a root. I put it in the dirt yesterday. Things were pretty slow here for the most part.

Phil

5/4/2005 6:22:40 AM