Germination/Updates(2012); My Seed Offer

[carolyn137]

First I'd like to give some updates and then after that share with you how I'd like you to post your germination results for my seed offer of January 9th.

First the updates.

ALERT, ALERT, I Goofed

Podorak Fei is the correct name for that variety. I went back and forth with Podorok and Podorak for spellings on the coin envelopes and didn't include the whole name. So please change the name to Podorak Fei.

......is what I wrote above and Tania gently told me that it's PODOROK which means gift, the gift part I remember and the Fei part meant fairy, so Podorok Fei means gift of the Fairy.

I see many folks calling Fish Lake Oxheart, three separate words, Fishlake Ox heart. The correct spelling, which I did write on each seed pack, is Fish Lake Oxheart.

When a variety name starts with a Z I always cross that Z in the middle. Most folks in Europe do that and my excuse is that it's also done by most folks in academic research here in the US to distinguish it from an S. So just leave off the cross hatch mark and spell it with a plain Z as is Zolotoy Zapas.

Indian Stripe Potato Leaf is the correct name, not Indian Stripe PL or IS PL as I see some folks referring to it.

Finally, if you still have questions about the varieties in the Experimental group you can ask them in this thread. I wrote detailed instructions on each coin envelope as to what you're looking for and that was also detailed in the seed offer itself, but I'm not 100% convinced that folks know how many plants they should be putting out and what to look for which is why I sent many more seeds for those in that Experimental group.

Some data:

I packed up over 500 coin enveopes in a two week period.

Over 90% of the participants chose ONLY 2011 listed varieties which I thought was kind of unfortunate since there were some really great varieties for other years that were completely overlooked. So I have few to no seeds for many varieties, so it's up to you who are growing them to make a seed offer, share with others, etc. Varieties that I'm talking about are ones like the Kukla Heart, Cuore del Drago, Malinovyi Rog, and also Couilles D Taureau and several more. That doen't necessarily say they were faves, but also reflects that I had different amounts of seeds for different varieties.

The majority of the participants were new to my seed offer.

Maybe 30% I had to add postage to the SASE's sent.

For 2013 I'm going to make some major changes in my seed offer having to do with timing. I made the mistake of going to bed that Wednesday evening, the offer was put up at 3 AM on Monday and when I woke up and saw how many had e-mailed me for my home address I just couldn't turn down those folks so the offer was wayyyy above the number I usually deal with and I don't want that to happen again.

GERMINATION RESULTS

Some have already posted some of those and if so please move those results to this thread. Please remember that the seeds offered were produced by several folks as you can see when you read the seed offer list. Yes, many were produced by the guys who normally produce seed for me but there was a lot of donated seed for which I was grateful and noted that in the offer.

I want to know if there were any problems with any particular varieties so that I don't offer or share those seeds again. It happens.

And while I said to sow ALL seeds I sent out and for the 2011 ones I sent 5-6 seeds or so, I already know that some folks didn't do that. So when you put up your results PLEASE refer to the germination percentage for the exact number of seeds you sowed.

Also put the year the seeds were produced and if you used any special tratments. Thanks so much.

So here's an idea of what I'm looking for:

Terhune (2011), 6 seeds sowed, 5 came up, no treatment.

Orange Minsk ( 2008), double sowed ( x number) as suggested on the coin envelope and x/x germinated.

Granny's Heart ( 2011) sowed only 3 seeds, of those 3 came up for 100% germination.

In the past some have said something like 2 up in 5 days, one more at 7 days, etc.

I think you get the idea. it's a great way to see what others got with the same seeds any particular person got from the offer. And I do expect to see a large range b'c I've been doing seed offers since the mid-80's and I know very well with fresh seeds, say, 2011 ones for this offer, that the range can be between 100% and 0%, yes, 0 % and that's b'c no two people sow seeds in the same medium, and all the variables that go into sowing seeds and getting them up.

So go to it and remember that those in the northern climes won't even be sowing seed until around the first of April.

[bughunter99]

Hi Carolyn,

Thanks again for this amazingly generous offer. Technique was Hoffman's seed starting mix, light bottom heat and first watering with an extremely diluted solution of tomato tone. My results are as follows:

Granny's Heart 2011: 3 of 3 sprouted at 8 days. 100%
Hays 2011: 3 of 3 sprouted at 7 days. 100%
Ludmilla Red Plum 2008 3 of 3 sprouted at 7 days. 100%
Terhune 2011 3 of 3 spouted at 10 days. 100%

Maiden's Gold 2011 3 of 3 spouted at 7 days. 100%, one of these seedlings came up light green

Stacy

[tam91]

Quick question Carolyn - with fresh (2011) seed - if I know I will not have space to grow more than 1 or 2 plants of a variety, do you still want me to plant all the seeds, in order to give you the best germination data? (knowing I will have to discard or give away many of the resulting plants)?

Basically, do you prefer I plant what I am able to grow, or plant all of them to get the germination data?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tam91

Quick question Carolyn - with fresh (2011) seed - if I know I will not have space to grow more than 1 or 2 plants of a variety, do you still want me to plant all the seeds, in order to give you the best germination data? (knowing I will have to discard or give away many of the resulting plants)?

Basically, do you prefer I plant what I am able to grow, or plant all of them to get the germination data?

Tam, if you sow 3 seeds and get 2-3 plants that's OK, so just give me the germination data on those 3 seeds.

I ask everyone to sow all the seeds I send, with some restrictions, as I said in the seed offer and here and elsewhere b'c to be honest, some folks are more experienced at getting seeds up than others and that's just the way it is. And I wanted everyone to have the best chance of getting plants going and seed saved.

I expect, as I also posted in the seed offer, that if the plants are true to what they should be, and I'll be putting up another thread in late summer/early Fall about that, to save their own seeds as well, which, ahem, was one of the other requirements I asked for before folks signed up for the seed offer.

[tam91]

Thanks Carolyn. Knock wood, I've had great germination last year, and I just hate to "waste" plants. So since you don't mind, I'd probably plant half, and if they don't come up, plant the other half. Thanks

[b54red]

Carolyn that Fish Lake Oxheart that I got from you last year is one of my favorites now. Even though it was a little more difficult than many to germinate it turned out to be a real winner. It was very early, great flavor, good size fruit and set fruit in extreme heat which really surprised me. I plan on growing more than a couple of them this year.

I am glad that the Indian Stripe Potato Leaf has worked out. I found another oddity in my Indian Stripe seedlings last year. The plant was identical to IS in every way except it made red fruit. I saved some seed from it because it was the most productive fall tomato I had and it was very tasty. I hope the seed will run true like the Potato Leaf one did. If it does I'll send you some seed to trial.

You are a very generous person to share your knowledge and spread the rarer seeds out for others to enjoy. Thank you.

[z_willus_d]

Hi Carolyn,

My thanks and appreciation for your efforts. Here are my results to date. I'm using Gurney's grow plugs on a heat mat for my germination stage.
- Casino (2011): 2 seeds sown on 2/4/12, 1 sprout on 2/11/12, 1 sprout on 2/13/12. 100%
- Cherokee Green (2011): 2 seed sown 2/4/12,1 very leggy (3" twisting) sprout 3/3/12; 1 seed sowed 2/26/12, no sprout yet. Either 0% or 33% depending on the viability of the leggy seedling.
- Neves Azorean Red (2011): 2 seeds sown 2/4/12, 1 sprout 2/13/12; 2 seeds sown 2/17/12, to date no sprouts. 25%
- Terhune (2011): 2 seeds sown 2/4/12, no sprout; 1 seed sown 2/17/12, 1 sprout (looks tiny and sickly, likely will not make it), 1 seed sown 2/26/12, no sprout. 0-1 out of 4, so between 0% and 25% depending on how you count the weak spawn.
- Indian Stripe Potato Leaf: 2 seeds sown 2/4/12, 1 seed sprouted 2/11/12; 1 seed sown 2/21/12, 1 sprouted 2/25/12. 2 of 3, or 66%

I hope this is helpful.

Best,
Naysen

[barefootgardener]

Hi Carolyn, Thank you again for your kind offer.

All seeds were presoaked 12 hours in a weak green/chamomile tea solution. Then planted in Schultzs Seed Starting mix. Kept on top of a pellet stove for bottom heat until germination. Avg temp was 78 degrees. All seeds sown on 2/8/12

1. Kukla's Portuguese Paste 2011- 5 seed sown- 100% germination
2. Fish Lake Oxheart 2011- 6 seed sown- 100% germination
3. Casino 2011- 5 seed sown- 100% germination
4. Malinovyi Rog 2011- 5 seed sown- 2 germinated
5. Terhune 2011- 5 seed sown- 1 germinated after almost 4 weeks..Update: 3/8, One more seedling is popping its head up. So 2 germinated so far.

The first four germinated in six days.

Ginny

[cornbreadlouie]

I plan on sowing all the seeds you sent, I'm just spreading out planting times until the end of March.

Cuore del drago - 2 seeds sown, 1 germinated

Pink currant - 4 sown, 0 germinated I still have a couple left so I'm hoping and praying I'll get at least one going because I really would like to grow this variety

Lucinda - 2 sown, 1 germinated - what little foliage it has so far is beautiful and I can't wait to see it in all its glory in a couple months

Zolotoy Zapas - 3 sown, 1 germinated, which then became my only damping off casualty

I haven't planted any Angora Orange yet but plan to within the next couple days.

My germination rates have gotten a little better each time I plant something, so hopefully I'll be able to get a decent number of each plant.

[tuk50]

Carolyn,Thanks again for the new varieties (to me) and get better and stronger every day dear, its almost mater plantin time. I saw my first red bird this morning in the garden.

fafard seed starting mix used: watered with distilled water; sprouted in attic at a constant 72deg. 24/7.

*green zebra cherry (2009), 6 seeds sowed, 1 came up, soaked distilled water 4hrs.
*malinovyi rog(2011), 6 seeds sowed, 2 came up, soaked distilled water 4hrs.
casino(2011), 6 seeds sowed, 5 came up, soaked distilled water 4hrs.
casino chips(2011), 5 seeds sowed, 5 came up, soaked distilled water 4hrs.
kukla's portugese paste(2011), 5 seeds sowed, 5 came up, soaked distilled water 4hrs.


*note- malinovyi rog- the two that sprouted were very small and weak and didn't shed the seed hull.. after applying a drop of water for three days in a row it didn't release and no leaves showed.
*note- green zebra cherry- the only one that sprouted looks very strong and healthy, it has been transplanted into a larger cup and is as strong as all my other varieties.

[378j5]

All seeds planted on February 2, 2012 in Jiffy Pellets, covered and bottom-heated and given flourescent lights after germination. All now in 4 inch pots.

Casino Chips (2011)...................Planted 2, 2 sprouted 100%
Kosovo (2011)..........................Planted 2, 1 sprouted 50%
Ludmilla's Yellow Giant (2009)......Planted 2, 1 sprouted 50%
Terhune (2011).........................Planted 2, 1 sprouted 50%
Vince P1 (2011).........................Planted 10, 10 sprouted 100%

[VC Scott]

Carolyn:

1. Fish Lake Oxheart 2011- 6 out of 6 germination within 7 days. 100% (One seedling was very small and didn't make it.)

2. Hays 2011: 5 of 6 sprouted at 7 days. 83%

3. Blush: 3 of 5 germinated within 10 days. 60%

4. Indian Stripe Potato Leaf: 4 of 5 germinated within 7 days, a fifth germinated at about day 12. 100%

5. Hoy: Knocked over by kitten and seed starting mix spilled on floor. Seeds may have been lost or buried too deep when replaced. Nothing has germinated yet. I am spreading seed starting mix on plate to see if I can salvage something.

[OneDahlia]

I only started one variety so far, along with my eggplants and peppers, for a slightly early tomato. Will start the rest of my tomatoes hopefully this weekend. I'm only trying a few seeds of each at a time, because I'm new at this ... ie., if I kill all my seedlings by accident, I want to have backups to try again.

Moravsky Div (2008), sowed 3 seeds, over heat from Christmas lights, no treatment, all three germinated -- 100%. They're so cute.

[austinnhanasmom]

THANKS so much for the generous offer!



Cuore del Drago aka Dragon Heart ( 2011) sowed 6 seeds and 0 germinated. A white mold/growth was evident on seeds.

Kukla's Portuguese Heart (2012) sowed 3 seeds and 3 sprouted. 100% germination.

Kukla's Portuguese Paste (2012) sowed 6 seeds and 2 sprouted. 33% germination.

Experimental:
Vince P1 (F5) sowed 10 seeds and 0 germinated. A black mold/growth was evident on the seeds.

Indian Stripe x possibly Daniels (PL) sowed 9 seeds and 0 germinated. A white mold/growth was evident on seeds.


I am sick over my results! I started all of my 2012 tomatoes in the same manner: Moistened paper towels inside plastic baggies. Slight heat under the baggies. These three varieties were the only three, of 51, that experienced this mold or whatever this growth was. Next year, I'll bleach the seeds prior to germination.


Thanks again! i can't wait to grow the Kukla's.


Happy Gardening -


Deb

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by austinnhanasmom

THANKS so much for the generous offer!



Cuore del Drago aka Dragon Heart ( 2011) sowed 6 seeds and 0 germinated. A white mold/growth was evident on seeds.

Kukla's Portuguese Heart (2012) sowed 3 seeds and 3 sprouted. 100% germination.

Kukla's Portuguese Paste (2012) sowed 6 seeds and 2 sprouted. 33% germination.

Experimental:
Vince P1 (F5) sowed 10 seeds and 0 germinated. A black mold/growth was evident on the seeds.

Indian Stripe x possibly Daniels (PL) sowed 9 seeds and 0 germinated. A white mold/growth was evident on seeds.


I am sick over my results! I started all of my 2012 tomatoes in the same manner: Moistened paper towels inside plastic baggies. Slight heat under the baggies. These three varieties were the only three, of 51, that experienced this mold or whatever this growth was. Next year, I'll bleach the seeds prior to germination.


Thanks again! i can't wait to grow the Kukla's.


Happy Gardening -


Deb

Deb, the ones you noted that had mold on them were from different folks in different parts of the country so I don't think it had anything to do with the seeds proper. I think it had to to with the method you used with the wet towels and I know I'm not the only one who tried that and will never try it again b/c the wet moist enviroment is happy time for all sorts of molds that can and do form.