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Cincinnati,OH

Hey what is your opinion on soil temp? I'm trying to sprout some AGs. My soil temp is 68 F . I'm using sterile seed starting mix and one of those styrofoam trays with the open bottom and the mat that wicks water up under it. I tested some "junk" seeds earlier and they came up in 10 days. It's been 12 days and nothing yet. Could my mix be too wet?
How can I appease the AG voodoo god?

4/25/2003 6:21:12 PM

syracuse, ny

you want your mix to be about as wet as a wrung-out sponge, but don't let it get too light-brown! and, i will drill this into you, my 'just good advice'-you want a SOIL temp. of 85 to 90 Degrees max. F. you will see stuff coming up in 72 hours....
that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, they like it! 'pal

4/25/2003 6:30:06 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

I think the magic temp is around 85 deg's for starting seeds and the soil should be damp...not wet


billy

4/25/2003 6:37:05 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

sorry pumpkinpal wasnt try to out do ...it was that i was typing and watching "nascar qualify"

4/25/2003 6:42:47 PM

Frankfurt, Germany

Sasquash: if your soil is too wet, the seeds wouldn't germinate at ll, unless its dry something up and get warmer. (or they rot befor that happen)

Last year i had several seedlings that didnt germinate in 15 days, and then i gived up on them, stoped watering and forgot about them, only to find a week later a lot of them yet germinated! - and i absolutly agree about 85°F

dichter

4/26/2003 4:11:21 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Looks like I need to bump that temp way up. Thanx guys

4/27/2003 3:01:09 PM

New Brunswick

I start my pumpkin and squash seed by lightly filing (with a nail file) but stay away from the pointy end. Then I soak them a few hours in luke warm water. Take two pieces of paper towel Wet and wring out in warm water. Lie one piece flat on a plate. Lay your filed seeds on top and cover with other piece of paper towel. Slide plate and all in a plastic bag and close bag. (not airtight just kind of fold plastic bag under) Place in a warm place and make sure to keep fairly wet. Your seeds should sprout in three days or so. Take them out carefully as they sprout, and place each one in soil preferably in its own 4 inch peat pot. Keep soil moist but not soaked. Hint...when I first start the seeds I place them in their bag and place on top of my Tim Horton coffee maker. It seems to keep them at just the right temperature for sprouting.

4/30/2003 11:00:04 AM