Alternative seed starting method

[Douglas14]

I don't know if something similar to this has been posted here in the past. This is a seed starting method I use for competition giant pumpkin seeds, which can be tricky to germinate. I think I'll try it with tomato and pepper seeds this year.
I take a fairly large insulated cooler...like you might take on a picnic...the one I use is about 1.5 ft. X 2.5 ft. I fill a one gallon plastic milk jug with hot tap water, and put it in the cooler with my newly planted seeds, in their pots. The inside temp. stays around 85-90 degrees F. I put new hot water in the jug every 7-8 hours, or so, to keep it nice and warm inside the cooler. Just a suggestion that some of you may want to try.......Doug.

[the999bbq]

nice suggestion indeed, and another way to reuse the energy when your eggs, potatoes, ... are boiled and the water (+ the energy) usually finds it way directly to the sink... (it's easier from the tap, but it is eco-friendlier to recuperate of course ;-)

[bcday]

The optimum soil temperature for germination of pumpkin seeds is 90ºF. Other kinds of seeds have different temperature requirements, and not all of them need to be that warm.

Optimum temperature for germination of tomato seeds is from 70-80ºF. At 85º germination percentage starts to drop off and at 95º it drops to below 50% as well as taking a few more days.

Peppers can stand it a bit warmer, 75-85ºF. Above that, you will still get germination but at a lower percentage and it will take a day or two longer.

Don't make the water in the jugs TOO hot!

http://tomclothier.hort.net/page11.html

[Granny]

Originally Posted by the999bbq

nice suggestion indeed, and another way to reuse the energy when your eggs, potatoes, ... are boiled and the water (+ the energy) usually finds it way directly to the sink... (it's easier from the tap, but it is eco-friendlier to recuperate of course ;-)

NEVER throw away your potato cooking water. That and whey from cheese making are worth solid gold if you bake bread - better texture and the finished product lasts longer. Just substitute that potato water cup for cup for the water called for in your favorite bread recipe.

I happen to bake bread a litte more often than I boil potatoes, so I freeze the stuff when I am lucky enough to get it.

[the999bbq]

granny, that's too easy not to try out ;-) I'll keep you posted on the bread

[Douglas14]

Bcday,
Thanks for your input, I just assumed tomatoes and peppers would germinate quicker at 90 degrees F. Thanks for the link, to set me straight. I think I'll just germinate these seeds at room temp., as I've usually had good germination percentage doing this in the past.

[gardengalrn]

Doug, thank-you for the suggestion. I've never had to use a heating mat to germinate seeds but since we've moved into this (somewhat) drafty older home, I'm wondering if it would be worth my while. I'm not so worried about the tomatoes but some of the really finicky stuff that I'm trying this year from seed such as various flowers and herbs. Some I'm having to start as much as 12 wks out so in small batches your suggestion could be helpful.

[Douglas14]

gardengalrn,
Yes I think it could be a helpful method to use in a "drafty" house. You may want to research the optimum germination temps. for the seeds your germinating. And modify the temp. of the water in the jug accordingly. I use a small inexpensive digital thermometer in the cooler, to gauge the temp. Keep in mind, the temp. in the cooler will drop off slowly with time. That's why I change the water every 7-8 hrs. or so. Good luck!

[AKButch]

Originally Posted by Granny

NEVER throw away your potato cooking water. That and whey from cheese making are worth solid gold if you bake bread - better texture and the finished product lasts longer. Just substitute that potato water cup for cup for the water called for in your favorite bread recipe.

I use potato water for baking bread also and it's really great when you need to make a batch of sourdough starter.

[Granny]

Originally Posted by Douglas14

I don't know if something similar to this has been posted here in the past. This is a seed starting method I use for competition giant pumpkin seeds, which can be tricky to germinate. I think I'll try it with tomato and pepper seeds this year.
I take a fairly large insulated cooler...like you might take on a picnic...the one I use is about 1.5 ft. X 2.5 ft. I fill a one gallon plastic milk jug with hot tap water, and put it in the cooler with my newly planted seeds, in their pots. The inside temp. stays around 85-90 degrees F. I put new hot water in the jug every 7-8 hours, or so, to keep it nice and warm inside the cooler. Just a suggestion that some of you may want to try.......Doug.

Sounds just like the way I make yogurt

[mayax68]

How do you make sourdough starter from boiled potato water?

[ddrsheden]

I'm also a member of thehotpepper.com and they suggest using heating mats for peppers. Some inovative ways to make heating pads are using water bed heaters or buying the cheap heating pad at the pharmacy (small size about $15). I'm trying to start some hot peppers now using a pharmacy heating pad.

[Granny]

Originally Posted by mayax68

How do you make sourdough starter from boiled potato water?

I see nobody has answered you yet. I don't use potato water for my sourdough, but I have used it for Salt Rising Bread. I suppose if you already have sourdough starter going you could just use the potato water instead of plain water when you feed it.