Germination tricks and tips

[Appaloosa909]

I have been trying to germinate Sara's Galapogos seeds from Dr. Carolyn. I only need one plant so I read her instructions and planted 4 seeds along with my 80 other varieties. 75 came up normally on my heat mats, 4 of the "loosers" are older seeds from other sources.
I soaked paper towels with peroxide and put the 5 varieties in baggies (This time 5 Sara seeds) and 2 of the others kinds started to sprout and the other 3(one being Sara) looked swollen so I ripped the paper towel and planted.... the 2 sprouted ones came up.

What next?

Does anyone have another "full proof" method to sprout difficult seeds? I have about 6-10 Sara seeds left.

Thanks so much.
Andrea
Appaloosa909

[Reign]

How long has it been? Sara's Galapogos tends to be slow for me every year. Or should I say...slower than my other varieties. I have staying power and wait it out. I do soak old seed in the blue stuff before planting.

[Appaloosa909]

first planting 3/4
Second planting (into the soaked papertowel) 3/13
into the planting mix 3/20

how long does it take for your Sara's to germinate?

[nctomatoman]

The only other variety I find very slow and challenging is Mexico Midget. I wonder if they are related?

[Jackster]

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

The only other variety I find very slow and challenging is Mexico Midget. I wonder if they are related?

I find peppers and eggplants more stubborn to germinate than tomatoes - when you do your dense planting, are each of your trays dedicated to one type of plants?

[jmsieglaff]

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

The only other variety I find very slow and challenging is Mexico Midget. I wonder if they are related?

I realize this thread is very old, but figured replying here was just as good as starting a new one. Craig, thanks again for the Mexico Midget seeds. You mention MM are slow to germinate--how much slower than typical indeterminates do you find them? All my indeterminates are now up except the Mexico Midget and one other variety.

Thanks!
Justin

[nctomatoman]

Yes for the most part, Jackster, because of what you noticed - I find that I can mix eggplant and peppers, but tomatoes are much quicker, so they tend to get their own flat.

[montanamato]

I have Hawaiin seeds yet to sprout too...I think they are related also, as in a very small currant type cherry...I grew them several years ago and remember they were slow then ...I am getting ready to transplant the other seedlings in that 6 pack and they have not shown yet...

Jeanne

[kygreg]

Reign, what is the blue stuff?

[kevokie]

The pinch of blue stuff is Miracle Grow or some other similar product. The nitrate ion that is found in Miracle Grow or similar helps with germination.

[brog]

Kevin How much blue stuff and how long do you soak them

[TZ-OH6]

Hawaiian seeds can be slow. I sowed 5 seeds this year, and nothing showed up for two weeks, I replanted 5 more and all 10 came up within the next week.

I find that a wet dry cycle usually gets some of the dormant seeds to sprout. I plant my seeds in potting mix and saturate the pot or cell. This stays wet enough for 7-10 days before any sprouts need water depending on the size of the cell or pot. If nothing comes up I let it dry out completely and then resaturate. It usually does the trick and something poops up.

[OmahaJB]

One thing that seems to help some stubborn seeds is after I've had them in my little Jiffy heated greenhouse for 3 or 4 weeks without germination, I unplug the greenhouse for a few days and continue watering a little when needed. Then I plug the greenhouse back in. Usually I'll end up with at least 3 or 4 seeds out of 10 or so germinating that way. I repeat the process until I'm convinced nothing else will germinate. I've literally had seeds germinate after about 4 months from the planting date. About 2 years ago I had some very tough to germinate dwarf project seeds I didn't want to give up on, and discovered this method for myself. Although I doubt I'm the first to ever use it. Also, I like to set the plastic greenhouse lid a little sideways once in awhile (for a few hours) to get fresh air inside, especially if I seem to have overwatered that day and want to dry out the seed starting soil a little to an acceptable level.