Pre germinating seeds

[Kazedwards]

Has anybody tried pre germinating tomatoes and peppers. I started all of me seeds on 2-28 and I still have several that have not come up. 6 of them are tomatoes (some of the tomatoes I have resown about a week ago) 5 are peppers. Most had 4-6 seeds planted. I'm starting to get a little impatient. I had them in a jiffy starting tray and they started to get that fuzzy white mold that happened with high humidity. I also so a few very small worms in one of the containers. I have moved them to ziplock bags since. I was thinking I might try pre germinating some of the varieties that haven't come up yet.

BTW the seed starting mix was jiffy organic seed starting mix with organic plant tone 5-3-3 mixed in at the appropriate ratio. I also got the starting mix wet before planting the seeds.


-Zach

[henry]

I geminate all my pepper and tomato seeds in coffee filters, I put the wet coffee filters in zip-lock bags. I keep them warm in a small cooler with a two quart jars of hot water which I change twice a day. germination is normally between 4 to 7 days.

[Fred Hempel]

Henry,

Do you ever have a problem with excess fungal growth of any kind using that method?

Do you sterilize your seeds?

[Barb_FL]

I don't add any plant food/fertilizer when germinating.

Was your mix too wet?

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

Henry,

Do you ever have a problem with excess fungal growth of any kind using that method?

Do you sterilize your seeds?

Fungi like common mold spores will germinate where there is moisture and a food source. Their food source is dead organic matter. They are primary decomposers tough fibers like cellulose and lignin, if you germinate on paper which is made of wood fibers they will grow and eat it up.
I've observed over the years that common fungal molds will only grow and break down dead seeds for food. I've never seen them grow on or consume a live seed. They seem to know the difference. If you have mold growing on a seed I guaranty it's a dead seed.

[henry]

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

Henry,

Do you ever have a problem with excess fungal growth of any kind using that method?

Do you sterilize your seeds?

I have never had fungal growth of any kind and I do not sterilize the seeds it is a very dry zone here very few plant problems other then the shortness of the growing season.

[ilex]

I germinate in rockwool in standing water. No fungus.

[Kazedwards]

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

Henry,

Do you ever have a problem with excess fungal growth of any kind using that method?

Do you sterilize your seeds?

I did last year but I was cheep and used egg cartons as containers. This year I bought new trays.


-Zach

[ginger2778]

Sounds like you are having an issue with fungus gnat larvae. They eat the seeds and tiny roots, even small thin tender seedlings. I suggest wetting the Jiffy mix with Dipel, or Thurcide soaked water. That is BT, it will give the little Bastids an infection, and they die die die! Perfectly safe for humans and tomato plants, just deadly for most any kind of larvae.

[carolyn137]

With my seed offers I send very few seeds, it depends on the seed age,and year after year the ones who get no germination have been those who have put wet towels in baggies or same with coffee filters,had mold grow that killed everything.

I even noted that in my seed offers and strongly suggested NOT to pregerminate seeds that way at all.

If those of you who have had success year after year do get good results great,but I know many more who do not and that since I've been doing very large seed offers here and there since about 2000.

Carolyn

[Kazedwards]

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

I don't add any plant food/fertilizer when germinating.

Was your mix too wet?

I might have been. I kept about a quarter inch of water in the bottom of the tray.


-Zach

[zeuspaul]

I germinate in a bowl of water. Change the water once a day to keep it clean.

This year I skipped pre germination because the only advantage is gaining a couple of days. You have to be a little more careful with germinated seeds.

Next year I think I will soak for a day and then plant just before they germinate.

[pmcgrady]

I germinate in 72 cell trays with MG potting soil, then replant in newspaper pots I make,with more MG potting soil, not had mold issues, just log issues (picking all the sticks out of the potting soil)

[jbond007]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

I germinate in 72 cell trays with MG potting soil, then replant in newspaper pots I make,with more MG potting soil, not had mold issues, just log issues (picking all the sticks out of the potting soil)

I do the same - only difference is Black Solo Cups instead of newspaper pots for pot-up.

I've used Jiffy 4" Peat Pots in the past and they grew mold on the outside.

[Kazedwards]

Tonight I started fresh seeds of all that I was waiting on. Also move them to a warmer part of the house.


-Zach