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Location

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Upa Creek, Mo

When starting seeds with a paper towel, how damp do you want the towel? I have heard too damp will ruin the seed, so is less better even if germination takes longer?

Thanks

11/17/2010 6:49:00 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Have a look at this Luke. Jordan Rivington made a very good tutorial a few years back.

http://www.gvgo.ca/articles/rivington_germ_tut01.html

11/17/2010 7:08:22 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Nice! Thanks Andy

11/17/2010 7:27:09 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Remember, Luke...practice makes perfect!!! I have read several times, that if you can squeeze 2 drops of water out of the paper towel, that is two drops too many!!! Also, temp control is important!!! Peace, Wayne
GROW em BIG!!!

11/18/2010 10:25:55 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

When filing, how close down to the point do I get? I read to not disturb that area. Thanks

11/19/2010 8:45:30 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

The photo's in the tutorial show it fairly well...as a general rule, I would say...when the natural curve of the seed changes into the point...you should have stopped...I would err on the caution side. Like I said "Practice makes perfect"!!! The reason for filing, as I understand it is to allow moisture to be absorbed easier,(breaking open the hard shell,w/out damaging the embryo) so if you only filed 3/4 of the way, it should help. The pointy end is where the root tip emerges, so damage in that area is "NOT" a good thing!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...I also think that once you have filed a few you will see!!!

11/20/2010 2:24:46 AM

Western PA

Luke, I normally try to stay away about 1/8 inch from the tip. If you do hit the tip a little it will most likely be fine.
Carefully try to crack a seed open and you will see what the embryo (I think it is actually called the endosperm), looks like. You will see tip of the embryo is tucked up from the seed tip a little, so if you file the tip a little by accident it should be fine. But try not to file the tip as Peace Wayne said.

11/20/2010 9:33:00 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Well, I was 2 for 2 with germination after filing and puting in the paper towell. Now I need to work on the light set up to prevent legging.

11/21/2010 8:12:38 PM

norway , maine

a light hung low an raised accordingly as well as a fan on low...mad stockey bro

11/21/2010 9:13:20 PM

Bloomington, IN

Luke, just for good measure you might want to practice a second or third time. When I first tried the paper towel method I was 2 for 2. Then second time I tried I failed miserably. If you can get them to germinate each time I'd say you've got it down pat. If you come to find your like me and suck at it, lol, you could do like me and file, soak overnight in peroxide, then sow into moist, pre-warmed sterile seed starting mix. So far I'm 16 for 16 doing it that way.

11/22/2010 9:05:11 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Pump Cholo, I have many of those Lowes seeds, so I'll be trying that method too. Heck, I might even try developing my own method just to keep me sane lol. I just bought a nice heat mat for seed germination and it really does a good job heating the soil and\or paper towell to ~87 degrees. Thanks all,

Luke

11/22/2010 9:30:02 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Luke, luked thru yer diary...congrats on that 1161 germination!!! Nice way to practice!!!!!! LOL Peace, Wayne
PS...yer new Flux Capacitator looks sweet!!!!

11/23/2010 1:32:11 AM

Western PA

I am not sure what kind of light bulbs you have ,but I just use regular shop bulbs (the cheap ones). I need to keep my plants very close (1/2 inch)to the lights, to keep them from getting leggy.Be sure to check on them though, you dont want them to EVER touch the bulbs or they will burn. I would think better quality bulbs would probably help me. A fan blowing on any kind of plant like cheddah said is good for them.

11/23/2010 9:35:00 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Wayne it was that or the 1725 Harp since that is all I had laying around.

Thanks again Zappa and everyone else for input.

11/23/2010 8:43:26 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Luke, yer lucky I don't live near Kirkwood...I woulda awlready thrown you in the river!!! LOL
Still lookin for the plans, for the Flux Capacitator heat mat!!!! You said you were sendin em!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...if you need any more real expensive seeds to test yer girmination process...just email me and I will send em !!! LOL Way, KUL...LUKE!!1

11/25/2010 1:35:08 AM

43.841677 , -79.086692

This is the method I prefer. Have about 60 trials at different temps and different soak times. From my experience 6 to 8 hours should be the max soak time. One time I tried 18 hours (by accident) and 2 of 6 seeds sank and both did not germ. The ideal temp is 87 but higher temps up too 95 have not damaged the seed in my trials.

11/28/2010 11:36:00 AM