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Belgium/brussels

Hi !
I am an unexpierenced grower, so don't be angry if I ask stupid quesions...
I had a chat with a heavyhitter, and he said all I had to do is :
First file the tips of the seeds very lightly, then soak in warm water for about 4 hours then start your seed indoors, in a day or two you should see a seedling.
Is that true ? Is that all I have to do to start right ?

Thanks !
Stijn.

1/22/2003 1:28:45 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Don't file the tip! File around all the edges except for the tip. The root will eventually emerge from the tip and filing would damage the root. Take the sides down just till you see a dark ring emerging in the center of the area your filing. Once you see this dark center ring stop, any further filing may possible damage the seed inside. The rest of your statement looks fine. Soak them for four hours or so, then place inbetween a moist papertowl, place in a ziplock bag and put in a warm place. Back of a computer works well and in about two days you should see the root popping out. I then pull off the outer seed coat, put into a "sterile" soil mixture about one inch down in the dirt and place on a propagation mat with a few grow lights. But a sunny window will also work. Hope this helps.

John (5150)

1/22/2003 2:55:36 PM

Western NY

here's an important tip for those newer growers as well as the experienced ones. every year before you plan on starting your good seeds, take some "common" seeds and test out your germinating techniques on the expendable ones before you move on to the important ones. make sure you have everything right before you rot a seed that you can't get back. i only wish i had realized this my first year of serious growing. i now have my method down where i am very comfortable with it, but every year i still start some test seeds to make sure everything is running fine. plus, it's nice to see some seedlings a week or two earlier.

Andy

1/22/2003 3:32:54 PM

syracuse, ny

hey, SUPER--
there are a lot of ways to do it.
what works for me in the winter as i am testing
my own seeds for germinationability, is to fill a little
clear-plastic pudding/dessert cup with SEED-STARTING mix,
not potting soil, pack it down just a little so it's not fluffy--i mix up a 5-gallon bucket of it, 1/2-full, i've still got some mixed up from start of November!--
and just gently shove the pointed end of the seed into the mix, until the seed is about 1/2-inch under the surface and can be covered up.....no filing, no trimming, no soaking....
i then put a piece of clear plastic wrap over the cup and
affix it to the cup with a rubber band around the rim for a tight seal, to retain the moisture, of course...
i then place this assembly into a little 'cubby' i've made
at the opening to the heat register of my bedroom....the temperature of the register in my room, from an oil-burning, fan-blown furnace is 110 degrees farenheit....on and off, but that's the peak temperature...........in 72 hours i have a root,
an actual root, not just a tip, starting to snake around the bottom of the cup. seed breaks the surface about 48
hours later, i remove the seed coat carefully with heavy-
duty tweezers, which have grooves cut into them like any
pair of pliers, with which i can latch onto the seed-coat and peel, twist and/or pry it off, carefully, of course!

note---they may sprout quicker if filed, soaked, and sprouted 'naked'(not in soil yet)--when you DO sprout your
really good seeds it will be in a peat-pot, with seed-starting mix! and you should mix-in regular-strength Captan or similar fungicide! to prevent anything from killing your world-record-to be! there can be a lot more to it, but there'll be plenty more info and questions answered every day on this website--so read all that you can, and always ask about anything you THINK is a good idea, and get some opinions--you've got that name to live up to, SUPER!---'pal

1/22/2003 7:05:18 PM

syracuse, ny

oh, yeah, i had to cut down my response to 2000
characters---i had meant to say that the replies
above mine are from well-known and respectable growers, and the techniques outlined above should ALL be tried, and you
will find one or several together that work the best for you!

1/22/2003 7:14:17 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Supergrower, I always recommend the great books to people just starting out. The pictures and descriptions will help and the reading will bring up plenty of questions! Langevins books How to grow world class pumpkins and How to grow world class pumpkins II...
Make a check list of every important part...can't tell ya how many seeds I've germinated testing and retesting my methods then bury the good ones to deep....Grow em Big Chuck

1/22/2003 7:17:54 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Super - Check out the advanced seed starting method under the "How To" section.

Practice with some common seeds first.
Practice makes perfect.

good luck.

1/23/2003 12:05:36 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

The advanced, direct seed starting method works great, shaves a day+ off germination time. Just be CAREFUL, easy to ruin a seed if you're not.

1/23/2003 7:00:48 AM

Webster, NY

If for no other reason, The advanced, direct seed starting method works well if you see a dark mold spot on the seed. I had two seeds like that. One I started normally and and got the expected results. The other, I removed the seed coat and it germinated fine.

Dave

1/23/2003 7:32:14 AM

syracuse, ny

keep in mind that DIRECT-SEEDING is planting your seed
DIRECTLY in the place where it will always be...like in your pumpkin patch....
the ADVANCED SEED-STARTING METHOD is exactly what the title
says.....for the sake of clarification...

1/23/2003 8:27:04 PM

Webster, NY

You're right, I was thinking of the ADVANCED SEED-STARTING METHOD. Sorry if I confused anyone...

Dave

1/23/2003 9:08:24 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Me too, meant advanced. Works great tho'.

1/23/2003 10:49:46 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

To sumerge the seeds in commercial hidrogen peroxide for ten min after filing and before soaking in water is another good idea.
Don

2/1/2003 5:08:38 AM

Bobcaygeon Ontario

I have been removing the seed shell completely, then soaking the seedling in warm water 3-4 hours and then into a plastic bag with wet paper towel. I have root growth within a day. I have found that even under developed seed will start to grow. I file all the way around the seed ( not too much at the root end) and gently remove the shell. Has anyone else tried this method.

3/23/2003 7:54:11 PM