From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Burt NY

How do you get the outer seed coating off the seedlings

I am having a problem with the outer shell of the seed sticki

to the first leaves than rotting off

4/3/2021 9:55:07 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Most often the outer shell of the seed will just fall off. Occasionally it won't. In that case you can gently peel it off. It might help to mist it a bit to soften it up. Wait though to make certain it won't just fall off.

4/3/2021 10:05:05 AM

Grittyville, WA

The seeds will come off better if you plant deeper and press the soil down. Try 1/2 inch depth and press the soil down moderately. Or 1/4 and press the seed starting mix firmly.

4/3/2021 12:29:08 PM

Burt NY

thank you

4/3/2021 12:38:46 PM

Wixom MI.

You can also tear off a tiny piece of papper towel or toilet papper drap it over the top of the seed casing and spray it with water and cover it with seran wrap to keep it moist. This will keep the casing soft so plant can pull itself out of the casing

4/3/2021 8:35:59 PM

Wixom MI.

If this happens offen with you that means you need to plant your seeds a little deeper.

4/3/2021 8:37:59 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Wixom has hit a home run. In my testing using one year old seeds and planting them two inches deep and laying them flat produced 100 percent of shedding the seeds coat. To further my testing I tried in potting soil 3,5,7,8 inches deep they all came up and shed their seed coat. The testing was for checking plant rooting. If you guessed I was a software test engineer you would be correct.

4/4/2021 9:26:42 AM

Wixom MI.

I like to plant my seeds about 1/8" to 1/4" deep

4/4/2021 9:39:58 AM

Vancouver Washington

We noticed that seedling's pulled themselves out of seed shell almost every time after using Brandon's logic that seeds in nature don't land straight up and down. Lay them flat!

4/4/2021 9:47:10 AM

Vancouver Washington

Opp's forgot I was on the tomato board, don't pay any attention to me.

4/4/2021 9:52:41 AM

Grittyville, WA

Good advice for pumpkins and tomatoes mixed here. Dont plant tomato seeds 3"+ deep... they wont appreciate this.

4/4/2021 10:37:58 AM

Gone With The Win

What Wixom Said. I had the same issue few years back.

4/5/2021 9:25:42 PM

Gone With The Win

Toilet paper may be hard to find though. I used Marves book for the paper

4/5/2021 9:27:08 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

When I have had this I have placed a big dollop of saliva on the seed coat. Supposedly the enzymes help to split the seed coat.

4/10/2021 12:22:46 PM

Syracuse, NY

No.
Use your eyebrow tweezers instead, for Heaven's sake, like a real man, lol---eg

4/11/2021 3:05:37 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Thanks a lot. I did not realize I was going into the toilet paper business when I wrote the book

4/12/2021 5:24:55 PM