Why won't they germinate?

gus1225 · April 10, 2014

Every year I start my tomato and pepper plants the same and have great results. This year out of 120 peppers I had 100% germination. Tomatoes are another story. The seeds I planted that are leftovers from other years are doing great. The seeds I purchased this year are doing awful. I oredered from the same place as last year. Anyone know what may be causing this?

Doug9345 · April 10, 2014

Did you order many different varieties or only a couple. If you ordered only a couple then you could have just gotten a bad pack. Have you contacted the seed company?

Growing Giants · April 11, 2014

I just checked my heating pad as germination has been bad for me and I found temps reaching 104 degrees. The seeds were cooked. You may not have a heating pad.

tam91 · April 11, 2014

I've had 80-100% germination on approx. 40 varieties. And then 0% on 3, all treated the exact same way. Two of which were just purchased this year. I got 4 from the vendor - 2 worked, 2 didn't. Very strange.

Labradors2 · April 11, 2014

Maybe they got zapped in the mail?

Linda

SharonRossy · April 11, 2014

I'm finding better germination this year in general, but a few varieties only 1-2 seeds germinated or 3 weeks later they've started. Kelloggs breakfast was a no show last year, so I ordered from another source and so far only two seeds germinated, so who knows? I never use a heat mat, but had domes with vents which I ended up removing when white fuzz started from too much humidity. I also wondered about damage in the mail.

ddsack · April 11, 2014

I usually have a few no-shows or single seedlings as well. Thinking back, they tend to be from mailed seeds, but vary as to trades, SSE requests and one seed company that I will not name, since it can happen with others as well.

I started a bunch of 8 and 9 year old seeds of my own that I needed fresh seeds for. I store seeds at room temperature in no special conditions. I oversowed figuring only two or three might germinate. Well Coustralee from 2005 was 100% - 14 of 14, first up in 4 days, last in 6 days! (what will I do with the extra 12 plants?) and Orange Strawberry also 2005, was 100%, all up in 5-7 days, luckily I only put in 9 seeds of that one! But I have no shows for not my own seed for Nepal 2004 - 11 seeds, and Anna Banana Russian, 2008, 6 seeds which were the last seeds I had for those two. Spudakee from 2009 also did not come up, though I had seeds left to replant of that one.

What is weird and frustrating to me, is that those 9 year old seeds came up so fast, and yet three of my new currently in development dwarf project selections from last year are germinating very poorly, only 1 seedling each of my own 5 fresh seeds sown in 9 days. They may yet come up, but I've put a bunch more to soak in MG water, since my short season gives me a short sowing window. The dwarf seeds were from three different plants in one selection line, so it's possible that line just tends toward poor seed quality, which I found to be true in another line a couple of years ago.

I've given up trying to figure out why some come up and some don't - especially when a first batch has 0 or few, and the 2nd sowing of the same seeds can give you nearing all hatching.

clkeiper · April 11, 2014

I zapped some of my seeds last week...ooooops! but not all of them. only the ones that were sitting in full sun up against the brick wall side of my greenhouse ( I wasn't expecting it to be sunshiny that afternoon). depending on where they were setting and if they have sunshine directly on them you could zap off a batch or two not too hard. If I hadn't actually been to the greenhouse in the middle of the day, I probably wouldn't have noticed that had happened and wondered why none of "those" seeds didn't germinate. I opened the container of cal wonder seeds and the soil was steaming.

Doug9345 · April 11, 2014

I agree that there is a multitude of ways to kill one packet of seed and not the one next to it. This year I have to be careful to not lay them on my laptop when I'm looking for a particular packet. If I've had the cover closed the surface seems quite warm.

I know from going through a house fire last year that it was little things that make a big difference whether something survived or not. I'm not going to have finally tallies on my tomato seed for a couple of weeks. My peppers didn't do very good at all, but they were already marginal in 2011. Many of the tomatoes where better protected, relatively younger and are just tougher in general.

Tom A To · April 11, 2014

I zapped two trays of seeds using heating pads and the greenhouse getting to 100 degrees. Doh! That's why I order way more seeds than I need.

gus1225 · April 12, 2014

Stuck a reptile thermometer sensor between the tray and the heat mat - highest temp was 83. That shouldn't be a problem right? At least my sungolds and German Johnsons are doing really well. Both of those are good. I might have to buy some plants which I haven't done in probably 10 years. Our local greenhouse - which is quite large - carries the same 3 tomatoes every year - better boy, early girl, and yellow pear - yuck. Hopefully Walmart has some big beef and sweet 100 - those are at least edible. At least I know I'll have penty of peppers!

loulac · April 13, 2014

using a heating pad without a thermostat switching it off above a chosen temperature is very risky. Why not buy one from -bay ? Some cheap and reliable ones come from China. Check the seller provides its description in English unless you are proficient in Chinese...

luigiwu · April 14, 2014

Loulac, what do i type in the search on ebay? I only get hydrafarm ones when i do 'heat mat thermostat,' ? Thanks!

beeman · April 14, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

Loulac, what do i type in the search on ebay? I only get hydrafarm ones when i do 'heat mat thermostat,' ? Thanks!

The best place I've found for greenhouse thermostats is here.http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/acce...heaters3.shtml Knowledgeable and keen for business.

loulac · April 14, 2014

Quote:

luigiwu asked : "Loulac, what do i type in the search on ebay? "

You can have a look at :
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_saca...ening+Supplies

This is a well known model . Check the voltages, most are designed for 110-220V.
C 110V Digital Temperature Temp Controller Incubation Thermostat

Switch Sensor

If you can’t find directions for use in English see :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mGT4av5n3o
http://www.e-bookspdf.org/download/wh7016-manual.html WH17016. loading is free
http://www.e-bookspdf.org/view/aHR0c...R1Y3QgTWFudWFs

April 10, 2014	#1
gus1225 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8	Why won't they germinate? Every year I start my tomato and pepper plants the same and have great results. This year out of 120 peppers I had 100% germination. Tomatoes are another story. The seeds I planted that are leftovers from other years are doing great. The seeds I purchased this year are doing awful. I oredered from the same place as last year. Anyone know what may be causing this?

April 11, 2014	#4
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I've had 80-100% germination on approx. 40 varieties. And then 0% on 3, all treated the exact same way. Two of which were just purchased this year. I got 4 from the vendor - 2 worked, 2 didn't. Very strange. __________________ Tracy

April 11, 2014	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	I usually have a few no-shows or single seedlings as well. Thinking back, they tend to be from mailed seeds, but vary as to trades, SSE requests and one seed company that I will not name, since it can happen with others as well. I started a bunch of 8 and 9 year old seeds of my own that I needed fresh seeds for. I store seeds at room temperature in no special conditions. I oversowed figuring only two or three might germinate. Well Coustralee from 2005 was 100% - 14 of 14, first up in 4 days, last in 6 days! (what will I do with the extra 12 plants?) and Orange Strawberry also 2005, was 100%, all up in 5-7 days, luckily I only put in 9 seeds of that one! But I have no shows for not my own seed for Nepal 2004 - 11 seeds, and Anna Banana Russian, 2008, 6 seeds which were the last seeds I had for those two. Spudakee from 2009 also did not come up, though I had seeds left to replant of that one. What is weird and frustrating to me, is that those 9 year old seeds came up so fast, and yet three of my new currently in development dwarf project selections from last year are germinating very poorly, only 1 seedling each of my own 5 fresh seeds sown in 9 days. They may yet come up, but I've put a bunch more to soak in MG water, since my short season gives me a short sowing window. The dwarf seeds were from three different plants in one selection line, so it's possible that line just tends toward poor seed quality, which I found to be true in another line a couple of years ago. I've given up trying to figure out why some come up and some don't - especially when a first batch has 0 or few, and the 2nd sowing of the same seeds can give you nearing all hatching. __________________ Dee **************

April 11, 2014	#8
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	I zapped some of my seeds last week...ooooops! but not all of them. only the ones that were sitting in full sun up against the brick wall side of my greenhouse ( I wasn't expecting it to be sunshiny that afternoon). depending on where they were setting and if they have sunshine directly on them you could zap off a batch or two not too hard. If I hadn't actually been to the greenhouse in the middle of the day, I probably wouldn't have noticed that had happened and wondered why none of "those" seeds didn't germinate. I opened the container of cal wonder seeds and the soil was steaming. __________________ carolyn k

April 11, 2014	#10
Tom A To Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pilot Hill, Ca. Posts: 307	I zapped two trays of seeds using heating pads and the greenhouse getting to 100 degrees. Doh! That's why I order way more seeds than I need. __________________ -Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on.

April 10, 2014	#2
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	Did you order many different varieties or only a couple. If you ordered only a couple then you could have just gotten a bad pack. Have you contacted the seed company?

April 11, 2014	#3
Growing Giants Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Missouri Posts: 77	I just checked my heating pad as germination has been bad for me and I found temps reaching 104 degrees. The seeds were cooked. You may not have a heating pad.

April 11, 2014	#5
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,898	Maybe they got zapped in the mail? Linda

April 11, 2014	#6
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	I'm finding better germination this year in general, but a few varieties only 1-2 seeds germinated or 3 weeks later they've started. Kelloggs breakfast was a no show last year, so I ordered from another source and so far only two seeds germinated, so who knows? I never use a heat mat, but had domes with vents which I ended up removing when white fuzz started from too much humidity. I also wondered about damage in the mail.

April 12, 2014	#11
gus1225 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8	Stuck a reptile thermometer sensor between the tray and the heat mat - highest temp was 83. That shouldn't be a problem right? At least my sungolds and German Johnsons are doing really well. Both of those are good. I might have to buy some plants which I haven't done in probably 10 years. Our local greenhouse - which is quite large - carries the same 3 tomatoes every year - better boy, early girl, and yellow pear - yuck. Hopefully Walmart has some big beef and sweet 100 - those are at least edible. At least I know I'll have penty of peppers!

April 13, 2014	#12
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	using a heating pad without a thermostat switching it off above a chosen temperature is very risky. Why not buy one from -bay ? Some cheap and reliable ones come from China. Check the seller provides its description in English unless you are proficient in Chinese...

April 14, 2014	#13
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Loulac, what do i type in the search on ebay? I only get hydrafarm ones when i do 'heat mat thermostat,' ? Thanks!