Pre-germination sunlight?

attml · February 19, 2011

Greetings,

This is my first year growing my plants from seeds. I will be planting my seeds in another 2-3 weeks for this season. I took a couple of Matina seeds last weekend and just put them in a cup of Miracle Grow potting soil which I watered to see if I could get germination. I covered the cup with some plastic wrap and set it in the window sill. As of yet I don't have germination. We keep our house pretty cool during the winter 68-70 degrees so I don't know if that is possibly slowing the process down? I was reading some posts in the seed starting forum last night and I saw that one person puts his seed on his cable box because it says warm. My question is if I do the same thing does it need to be in the sun prior to actual germination or can it be in a room that just has some (a little) ambient light but not direct sunlight? I also threw a couple Sungold F1 seeds in a wet paper towel in a ziplock last night and put it on the cable box. Do I to wet that towel periodically prior to germination? Thanks!

Mark

Stepheninky · February 19, 2011

I do not use the paper towel method so no answer on that but you do not need light to germinate the seeds, once they pop up or you see the little hooks braking the surface get them under some light. Don't worry too much about all of them sprouting first either, once you see signs of sprouting put them under the lights.

fortyonenorth · February 19, 2011

Keep it moist, but not soaking wet. If you have just the right amount of moisture and keep the bag sealed, you should not have to re-wet it. If it seems to be drying out, mist it a few times with a spray bottle. With the paper towel method and bottom heat you should see germination within 3-5 days in most cases. You probably get similar germination in flats, but it takes an additional few days for the seedlings to emerge from the soil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by attml

Do I to wet that towel periodically prior to germination?

bcday · February 19, 2011

Tomato seeds will germinate in the dark just as well as in the light, but as already noted, when you see the first little white upside-down "U"s of the sprouts starting to break the surface put them in good light right away. Don't wait for every seed to sprout before putting them in the sun. Some seeds may never germinate, and the first sprouts will get leggy while you are waiting for the slower ones. Besides, if the first sprouts have appeared then the rest aren't far behind even if you remove them from the heat source at that point.

Germination at 68-70 degrees takes longer than it does at 80, but they will eventually poke through. You need to be careful about covering them with clear plastic wrap in the sun because the temperature can quickly get too high under the plastic and cook the seeds. Not that you shouldn't cover them, but just keep an eye on the temperature and lift the plastic a little bit to vent it if it starts to get too warm.

attml · February 19, 2011

Thanks for the replies! Having it on the heat source since last night must have helped things along because I have my 1st u-shaped sprout! I have it on the heating pad right now with full southern sun on it. I am pulling back the plastic wrap every now and then to make sure it doesn't get too hot! How much and how often should I start watering at this point? Thanks!

Mark

Stepheninky · February 19, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by attml

Thanks for the replies! Having it on the heat source since last night must have helped things along because I have my 1st u-shaped sprout! I have it on the heating pad right now with full southern sun on it. I am pulling back the plastic wrap every now and then to make sure it doesn't get too hot! How much and how often should I start watering at this point? Thanks!

Mark

just feel the soil if it is damp leave it alone, if it feels dry water it. Its best not to over do the watering, but you do not want to under water either

danwigz · February 20, 2011

I found a really excellent place for my seed starting "warmer", my computer CPU! I have an enclosed compartment for my CPU and it stays really toasty. I just put in my seed starting tray and let it rest. It works well for small operations at least.

Danwigz

dice · February 21, 2011

One of these cheap moisture meters is easily worth the
price in finding out how moist seed-starting and container
mixes are:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...Q1RY1VZR457994

Usually any big hardware store with garden stuff will have them
for under $10.

February 19, 2011	#1
attml Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 222	Pre-germination sunlight? Greetings, This is my first year growing my plants from seeds. I will be planting my seeds in another 2-3 weeks for this season. I took a couple of Matina seeds last weekend and just put them in a cup of Miracle Grow potting soil which I watered to see if I could get germination. I covered the cup with some plastic wrap and set it in the window sill. As of yet I don't have germination. We keep our house pretty cool during the winter 68-70 degrees so I don't know if that is possibly slowing the process down? I was reading some posts in the seed starting forum last night and I saw that one person puts his seed on his cable box because it says warm. My question is if I do the same thing does it need to be in the sun prior to actual germination or can it be in a room that just has some (a little) ambient light but not direct sunlight? I also threw a couple Sungold F1 seeds in a wet paper towel in a ziplock last night and put it on the cable box. Do I to wet that towel periodically prior to germination? Thanks! Mark

February 19, 2011	#2
Stepheninky Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 682	I do not use the paper towel method so no answer on that but you do not need light to germinate the seeds, once they pop up or you see the little hooks braking the surface get them under some light. Don't worry too much about all of them sprouting first either, once you see signs of sprouting put them under the lights. __________________ tomatoprojects.blogspot.com

February 21, 2011	#8
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	One of these cheap moisture meters is easily worth the price in finding out how moist seed-starting and container mixes are: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...Q1RY1VZR457994 Usually any big hardware store with garden stuff will have them for under $10. __________________ -- alias

February 19, 2011	#4
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Tomato seeds will germinate in the dark just as well as in the light, but as already noted, when you see the first little white upside-down "U"s of the sprouts starting to break the surface put them in good light right away. Don't wait for every seed to sprout before putting them in the sun. Some seeds may never germinate, and the first sprouts will get leggy while you are waiting for the slower ones. Besides, if the first sprouts have appeared then the rest aren't far behind even if you remove them from the heat source at that point. Germination at 68-70 degrees takes longer than it does at 80, but they will eventually poke through. You need to be careful about covering them with clear plastic wrap in the sun because the temperature can quickly get too high under the plastic and cook the seeds. Not that you shouldn't cover them, but just keep an eye on the temperature and lift the plastic a little bit to vent it if it starts to get too warm.

February 20, 2011	#7
danwigz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 150	I found a really excellent place for my seed starting "warmer", my computer CPU! I have an enclosed compartment for my CPU and it stays really toasty. I just put in my seed starting tray and let it rest. It works well for small operations at least. Danwigz