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Santa Cruz, CA

We are having a lot of fun trying different methods of germinating seeds. So far we've tried: the 115 degree water jug in a cooler, oven at 85 degrees and a electric seed starting mat at @85 degrees. All methods sprouted the seeds within a 24 hour period with the cooler winning out by about 12 hours. Any other sprouting methods out there that anyone uses? We will try the 15 watt light bulb in the cooler and the clear CD holder method. We need one or two more methods for round two. Any help? Thanks!!!

1/24/2006 9:09:38 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I used the hot water in 2004 with fairly good results. I used the 15 watt bulb in 2005 with even better success and a lot less work. That is what I'm sticking with.

1/24/2006 9:39:09 PM

valparaiso, in

last year i started using a mixture of 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermilite, and 1/3 perlite mixed together and put into a coffee can. i put it under two 65 watt spot grow lights, and keep the mixture damp. since then i've had a 100% germination rate.

1/24/2006 10:33:19 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Last year I used a oil filled radiant heater, thick styrofoam cooler set on top, and adjusted temp on heater till temp stabilized in approx. 1.5 gal pots of starting mix inside cooler. It took me several days to get it adjusted to 85F, but once I did it was very consistent. Doesn't the water jug method lead to temp fluctuation...how often do you change the jug? Peace, Wayne

1/25/2006 7:08:11 AM

Syracuse, NY

similar to the reason a police/ambulance siren changes
pitch to cover a wide range of frequencies so that
there can be no chance of missing it, so too could be the
advantage of having a mild fluctuation in temperature
so that just the right conditions are met to cause germination. i would expect that from 84 degrees F*
to at the most 93*F would be about right for optimum
germination temperature, and there was an experiment
done not TOO long ago that determined that 85 degrees was the BEST temperature in general. since water does not gain or lose thermal momentum very rapidly, this buffering
occurs naturally no matter what the applied heat may be derived from; all that should matter is the minimum and maximum, and within this range all will be well.

remember that seeds "out in the wild" see fluctuations
in temperature that are far more dramatic than this.
then again, they are not seeds that have been paid a hundred dollars for, either! well, my nickel's worth....

1/25/2006 12:45:17 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

I use the "wet paper towl in the zip lock baggie on the back of the computer monitor method" works great for me..... 100% last year.

1/29/2006 10:18:55 AM

Joliet, IL

i use a propagation mat (electric grow mat) that has a rack above the mat where i set black plastic grow trays that have tall clear dome lids on them. i have found that this method works great as long as there is some air flow allowance around the area where the system is set up. if tucked into a corner on a counter, the heat can build slowly up over time. i use themometers placed exactly at the seed depth in the soil starting mix and aim for optimum temp of 85 degrees. i have come home from work to find levels will change slightly from time to time, so this year i will be using a thermostat that will be plugged into the grow mat and the sensor will be placed in an interior pot at the seed depth in the soil starting mix and set to 85. this will ensure my temps will stay steady until i can double check temps after work or first thing in the morning. this system is all set directly under a 4' flourescent shop light with grow bulbs. as soon as i see sprouting, my sprouts are transplanted into 6 inch wide by 12" tall plastic cylinders filled with a mix of half patch dirt/half potting soil. they are then placed within about 4 inches of the bulbs: close enough to not let them get leggy, far enough away to avoid burning them as they grow. here they will sit for 1 to 2 days before i then begin to acclimate them to sunlight for 3 hours the first day and then 6, and on the 5th day after sprouting, they will go into the patch inside my hoophouses. 5 days from sprouting the roots are amazingly developed in the containers so it is important to give them a light watering the day before removing the transplant containers. this will help from the dirt crumbling away along with roots while placing them into the patch. the transplant containers are slit up the edges and duct taped together, so when its time to transplant, just pull the tape and easily remove the container.

2/13/2006 12:05:16 AM

Joliet, IL

number one thing about seed germination is the seed starting mix MUST NOT be too moist. i would bet that the number one cause for poor germination is excessive moisture in the soil starting mix, and number 2 would be temps too low or too high.

try some test seeds 2 weeks prior to the real deals and take notes of simple things that were positive and negative in the process, make some corrections and try again 1 week prior if the first trial wasn't successful.

i am bored as hell so figured i would share all this knowledge with some newbies. these are just my methods and are are not written in stone. do what ever it takes, but with correct moisture in the mix and 85 degree heat supplied to seeds that were filed and then soaked from 4 to 6 hours, what ever method you use should work fine...with practice.

2/13/2006 12:05:43 AM

Snoqualmie, Wash.

I have been doing some test. I found a product called "Rapid Rooter Starter Plugs". I put the seeds in the coco peat plugs inside the peat pots with the starter mix under, around and on top of each seed. The root mass is twice with the plugs than without. I think you might find this product on RapidRooter.com. If this doesn't work, let me know and I will send you some, Jerri Johnson- Snoqualmie, Wa. Seeds all pop out in 72 hrs.

2/13/2006 2:06:50 AM

Norton, MA

Have to watch those heat mats though. In 04 I mistakenly used a flat starter (holds lots of trays 1-3" above the mat). I boiled 8 of the best seeds that year at 250*F in 3 hours because I put a container directly on top of the mat, not elevated. I burnt a hole in my rug too. AleX Noel.

2/13/2006 8:35:37 PM

Ca

I just used the wet paper towl in the zip lock baggie method in my egg incubator. I had 100% germination in 24 hours of seven seeds. Deshelling of the seeds was a little nerve racking, but I got the hang of it and I think I will be ready for my 06 seeds.

3/12/2006 1:14:50 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Wow, I can't believe what extremes people go to just to start seeds. I use the wet paper towel in a baggie method as well. For my heat source I use a heat lamp, one like used to keep little chickens, ducks, etc..warm, they're reflective inside and you can use a regular light bulb. I experiment for a day by placing a small thermometer inside the zip lock and place the bag at different distance until it stays at 85 degrees F. This way you don't have to worry about them ever getting too hot, like with those heating mats that could short circut. Just don't place the bag in a location where it will get direct sunlight, or else the temp will go up. Plus the light is cheap and can be used for other things.

3/23/2006 8:54:21 PM

Doylestown, PA

I'm a newb and have a couple questions... how long after germination do you usually wait before moving the pumpkin outside to the patch?
And are there any tricks to the wet paper towel and a ziplock? Do you just transfer it to a soil right after it germinates?

4/14/2006 3:43:48 PM

Utah

Germination- small container inside- transplant outside.
The seedlings get transplanted outside about 10-16 days after germination is started.
Many growers file and soak their seeds first for 2-4-6 hours. I use equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide (3%).
You want to get the paper towel wet then wring it out so it doesn’t have too much water in it. Damp but not wet.
I place my baggies on top of my refrigerator. There is a little gap between it and the cabinet that stays the right temp. You move the seed into a indoor container after it germinates. many use an ice cream bucket or container. Cut the bottom off it ... turn it over ... now the hole is on the top and use the lid as a removable bottom.

You can hold the baggy up to a bright light to check for the root radical emerging from the shell. it usually takes 2-4 days but sometimes for some reason some take longer. An extra day wont hurt but the longer the root is the more likely you are to damage it.

4/14/2006 4:33:09 PM