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Mead, WA

Was gifted a lot of seeds I see a lot of postings of selections was curious how to tell if it’s a good seed.sink or float test? I’m terrible at picking out ones that stay and grow I think this is why I’m asking. What type of plant should a newbie start out with? I vaguely recall doing bean in shoe box test as a kid where it grew toward light.

2/3/2023 4:59:52 AM

Syracuse, NY

Sink or float - no. Just hold the seed as though you might your ear lobe as hard as you think it would be that it doesn't quite hurt and it is easy to tell because you would not squeeze THAT that hard and the limit is about the same.
No drop test; the surface you drop it onto can have space under it that can sound misleading, IMHO. A sad seeds sounds like paper when rubbed between the fingers, flicked with a finger or dropped, but there've been PLENTY of times when I decided 'no go' after these checks and in snapping it open, it was a good seed! When I'm in doubt and have nothing to lose, I CAN trim and peel the rounded end off and see where the 'meat' of the seed ends, but anything beyond 1/3 full is usually good to go!
>>>The seed just needs to have some 'lump' to it...and a chance...later---eg

2/3/2023 9:58:18 AM

Syracuse, NY

I've been wanting to come up with a growth direction device that is readily available but of the size needed for an AG plant to begin with that is directly-seeded. I'm thinking of a cardboard paper box but that would get wet and collapse if not supported...but it'd be cheap. Once an AG is sprouted indoors the direction of growth can be generally determined about 5-7 days after sprouting, so, no problem there. I had three plants grow better when directly-seeded last year - and two of them blew up pumpkins! My 178. Ahhh, not far off now---eg

2/3/2023 12:06:57 PM

I would suggest that you start several(5 - 10) at once and see which ones grow. Take the 3 fastest growing ones and plant them about a foot apart in your plot and then cut off the 2 worst performing ones before they throw side vines and get entangled. Most of the time the plant will grow opposite to the first true leaf.

2/6/2023 2:40:39 PM