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Southern Ohio

I cant seem to get any of my seeds to sprout?? I filed and soaked them for about an hour or two then put them straight in to the paper towel and ziplock, checked the temp and the stayed at 80-88 degrees 72 hrs the seeds split open but never sprouted a tap root. I have carefully pulled the seed from the shell and buried under 1/4 inch of heated soil pointed end down, should I give up on these and start my back ups or continue to keep trying?
When filing the seed I only filled the edges and did not touch the pointy end, should i have filed this too and is this my problem? I'm thinking a longer soak time would have helped.

5/9/2011 11:02:08 AM

Upstate S.C.

Jim, NO....DO NOT FILE THE POINT. This is were the tap will emerge. Listen, it could be the seeds. I had three that I am having to replant. A lot of people use the paper towell method, I still prefer the MOTHER NATURE way. File and soak seed, Have your pot and media ready. make you some type of chamber like a ruff neck rubber box and put a light in it. keep the temp around 85 to 88 and plant your seeds in the pots put the pots in the chamber put some plastic wrap over the top of the post and wait....

5/9/2011 11:59:12 AM

Upstate S.C.

What you are doing is creating a green house effect. There is SO MUCH that can go wrong with the towel method. Trust me on this one. Mother Nature created and prefected this method A LONG TIME AGO... Give me a shout if you need anything. Chris

5/9/2011 12:01:36 PM

Webster, NY

I've used both methods and never had a problem with either one of them. My suggestions would be to start a couple of new seeds (by whichever method you like)as back ups. Don't give up right away. I've had seeds go after 8 days, but usually if conditions are right, within 72 hours.

How did you control the temperature. Are you sure you weren't too hot? Maybe too much moisture? Just shooting out ideas.

5/9/2011 4:25:33 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

IMHO, the most common mistake, is too moist...both paper towel, or starting medium should be squeezed to the one drop or less method!!! I have seen the pics Jim, and looks to me that too much moisture was present. Splitting open on the rounded end of seed coat should not happen (or at least, I have never seen it happen)...a tap (root) should emerge from the pointy end, and as it breaks soil the seed coat splits from there towards the rounded end!!! Best of luck, and as Jimmy V said "Don't give up, don't ever give up!!" Peace, Wayne

5/10/2011 1:41:03 AM

Webster, NY

I think Wayne is right on. Good luck...

5/10/2011 7:42:04 PM