Germination tricks and tips

Appaloosa909 · April 4, 2009

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 · April 4, 2009

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 · April 4, 2009

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** · April 4, 2009

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

Jackster · April 4, 2009

Quote:

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 · April 5, 2016

Quote:

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** · April 4, 2009

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 · April 4, 2009

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 · April 14, 2009

Reign, what is the blue stuff?

kevokie · April 17, 2009

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 · May 19, 2009

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

TZ-OH6 · May 20, 2009

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 · May 23, 2009

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.

April 4, 2009	#1
Appaloosa909 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 18	Germination tricks and tips 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

April 4, 2009	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	The only other variety I find very slow and challenging is Mexico Midget. I wonder if they are related? __________________ Craig

April 4, 2009	#7
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	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. __________________ Craig

April 17, 2009	#10
kevokie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 157	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. __________________ Kevin "A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins."- Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking

May 19, 2009	#11
brog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lilburn GA Posts: 278	Kevin How much blue stuff and how long do you soak them __________________ Bill

April 4, 2009	#2
Reign Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NY Posts: 130	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.

April 4, 2009	#8
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	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

April 14, 2009	#9
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	Reign, what is the blue stuff?

May 20, 2009	#12
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 848	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.

May 23, 2009	#13
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	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.