From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Do you feel it is important to file seeds and why or why not?

2/27/2017 2:57:58 PM

Rapid City, SD

have not filled seeds for a few years now....i see no differnece

2/27/2017 4:47:36 PM

Partlow,Va

I now only file the thick darker colored ones, and also soak them longer

2/27/2017 8:33:34 PM

Fuquay Varina, NC

haven't filed seeds in 20 years...

2/27/2017 8:52:15 PM

Albuquerque NM

it helps the seed coat come off a little bit easier.
I only file the thick ones.

2/27/2017 9:19:59 PM

Colorado

Good topic,I like filing and planting on their sides about a half inch deep. seems keeping the seed shell from pushing up real fast(and keeping the seed shell from drying up) is a good combo to help the cots develop and clear the seed shell.

2/28/2017 1:50:45 AM

Deer Park WA

We lightly sand the seed edges, soak in a week peroxide solution for about 1 hour, rinse them and soak for another 6 hours in a week solution of AZOS and seaweed. Then wrap the seeds in a moist paper towel and put the seeds in a plastic baggie inside a cooler with a heating mat(85 degrees) for about 18 hours. Once the little guys sprout they go in a one gallon pot of premium seed starting mix on trays with a heating mat under them. We are with cojoe and lay them on their sides about 1/2" deep when putting them in the pots to help remove the seed coats.Once up they get 12 hours of "sun" (t-5 grow lights) until they are ready to start hardening off. Just how we do it, maybe not the best way but seems to work great!

2/28/2017 2:05:47 PM

valparaiso, in

Not a good answer, but I file my seeds because when I first started that is how I was told to do it. So I have always done it that way. Tradition I guess.

2/28/2017 10:23:29 PM

Syracuse, NY

anything you can do to make it easier for the seed to shed its coat is a good thing, even if it means the coat is left in the seed-starting mix; i actually prefer that it does just that; otherwise, as long as the coat is on, it can dry out and be more difficult to remove when you decide to do it, thereby endangering the seedling with your (MY) fumbly fingers. one SLIP can = SNAP! i get all the danger out of the weigh early-on by SNIPPING the seed all the weigh around with toenail clippers - HAH! not for the faint of heart, and although i do it to EVERY seed, even test ones, 904 Stelts and the 1789 Wallace alike, at least i know that i've done everything i can to enable the cots to come up uninhibited. in case you had not noticed, there is a green sheathing material between the seed coat and the cotyledons, very slippery when moist, which enables them to slide-on-out when the time comes, so i feel that if the majority of the seed remains under the surface, that will add to the ease of sprouting as well. i also plant the seeds EDGEWISE (like you're dunking a cookie in milk) and with the tip and rounded ends level to each other, about an inch deep in the SS mix; i usually use Espoma with Myco-Tone (Mycorrhiza) already in it, and/or Jiffy-Mix for Seed-Starting with Joel Holland's BioGrow Endo Plus mixed into it; regardless of how i warm or heat the pots, 72 hrs. @ 90-95 or so, (and i doubt that even 100 would hurt them, but it must increase exponentially below the seed, so i don't push it) and i am always seeing soil disturbance when i get home (probably the only soil disturbance we LIKE to see, huh?); so, that is how I do it.
>>>Hey, Bill, the answer is YES!!!

3/1/2017 3:18:31 PM

Central Illinois

If the coat is stuck and dry, add a drop of water to it then wait a few minutes before trying to remove it, if its still stubborn add another drop and wait before trying again.

3/2/2017 9:52:44 AM

Syracuse, NY

Great idea!

3/2/2017 2:21:03 PM

President - GPC

Use a spray bottle...ThatZ what Wizzy doeZ, in fact thatZ what I use to water the tiny onez in the peat pots.. haZ good control...

3/2/2017 2:38:46 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Okay I asked this question to see if filing was actually helping. After redoing my germination area I was seeing more seeds germinating with the seed coats attached. So I was doing some testing trying to produce stem roots when I noticed all seed coats where being shed before emerging from the soil. If you would like a report of some interesting testing and results email me and I'll send it to you.

3/2/2017 4:19:15 PM

Mn

I just do what I learned from this fine gentleman on this video at about the 4 minute mark ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voJ26zgR3jM

3/2/2017 4:40:32 PM

Bethlehem CT

Cojoe I do it the same way.

There are many techniques to germinate a seed, but when all is said and done, It comes down to having the correct soil temp and moisture content. When you pay 20 dollars or more for a seed you don't want to mess up.

3/2/2017 5:54:15 PM

Torrance, Ca.

That guy still around Q? :)

3/2/2017 5:54:21 PM

Mn

He's a little older but much wiser now :)

3/2/2017 6:09:25 PM