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Hi I'm just looking on some tips on filing seeds? I'm testing some that I filed in a plastic bag with moist paper towel. I also put some that I didn't file in a different bag for a control. I just filed the tip until I could see a tiny green spot. Is that too much to file, or should I be filing the sides too or what?

1/14/2003 7:59:51 PM

Covington, WA

You want to file around the edge of the seed, but not the tip. Take it down to white, but green is too deep. It really doesn't take much. You are just trying to rough up the surface a bit so they are more absorbant, the young plant can split that seed no problem, even if you don't file it, your only trying to make it a little faster and easier for it.

1/14/2003 11:03:39 PM

ok, i'll try that and see how long they take to germinate compared to the unfiled seeds i started.

1/15/2003 4:04:13 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Check out the direct seed starting method in the How To section. I've been doing it for a week and germinated 6 test seed, average time at 36 hours.

1/15/2003 5:59:06 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

i just did a test run with my last year seed,filed and soaked in warm water(2 hrs).placed in a damp paper towel and put in a plastic baggie in front of heat vent in the house..they split open in (26 hrs)with there 1 inch root

billy

1/15/2003 7:55:35 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Got 2 more, direct seed method, to split into cotyledons in 19 hours. That's 6 seed total using Ailt's method, 100% germination.

1/16/2003 7:01:04 AM