sowing seeds

**tomatoaddict** · April 18, 2007

I live in zone 5 and was germinating some Happy Jack seeds for my Dad.
Only 1 came up and I ruined it trying to pull the seed shell off.
Is it too late to try and do a few more for my garden zone?

pooklette · April 18, 2007

Well...do you have some to spare? And is that a late variety? I mean; if you tried to give it another go and the seed(s) sprouted ASAP, the plants would be maybe 4 weeks old at plant out time. That's not too bad. But...if the seeds took a few weeks to sprout, the poor little buggers would still be tiny when it was warm enough to set them out. Given that our growing season starts petering out in late September, you might not get many tomatoes from a late cropper. If you have enough seeds to give it a shot and still have some left for next season, I say try it and see what happens.

This year, I have a few varieties that didn't sprout no matter what I did. Soaking overnight, pleading, whining...nothing worked. Despite that, I'm still trying. Granted, it's a stubborn effort on my part, but eh - why not.

moulman · April 19, 2007

Well, if you are in zone 5 you still have 6-8 weeks before plant out...... sounds like the perfect time to sow right now.

korney19 · April 19, 2007

Terry, how many did you try to start? I should have said that they were harvested just this past Fall but with everything going on here, they didn't get put away and actually just got pulled off the paper towels the day I sent them, so they are really dry... maybe soak the next batch for a couple hours before sowing... there's still an excellent chance the rest you already sowed will come up if you keep the mix really moist, almost wet, and with a lid on the tray. I did germination tests on many of my varieties and at least 9 of 10 are sprouting, though some are taking 7-14 days even with a dome and heat mat (without soaking them.) So I'd recommend a minimal soaking first or a really damp soilless mix. PM me if needed.

Mark

Tomstrees · April 19, 2007

Nope - sow away.
Grow for it ~

Tom

**tomatoaddict** · April 19, 2007

Okay, I took everyone's advice and just sowed about 12 more.
I did what you said Mark and soaked them first and made the mix very wet with a dome. I thought " what the heck" nothing to lose right?
Thanks to all,
Terry

April 18, 2007	#1
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	sowing seeds I live in zone 5 and was germinating some Happy Jack seeds for my Dad. Only 1 came up and I ruined it trying to pull the seed shell off. Is it too late to try and do a few more for my garden zone? __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

April 19, 2007	#3
moulman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 68	Well, if you are in zone 5 you still have 6-8 weeks before plant out...... sounds like the perfect time to sow right now. __________________ No one ever learned a thing while they were talking.

April 19, 2007	#5
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Nope - sow away. Grow for it ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

April 19, 2007	#6
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	Okay, I took everyone's advice and just sowed about 12 more. I did what you said Mark and soaked them first and made the mix very wet with a dome. I thought " what the heck" nothing to lose right? Thanks to all, Terry __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

April 18, 2007	#2
pooklette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zone 5 Posts: 262	Well...do you have some to spare? And is that a late variety? I mean; if you tried to give it another go and the seed(s) sprouted ASAP, the plants would be maybe 4 weeks old at plant out time. That's not too bad. But...if the seeds took a few weeks to sprout, the poor little buggers would still be tiny when it was warm enough to set them out. Given that our growing season starts petering out in late September, you might not get many tomatoes from a late cropper. If you have enough seeds to give it a shot and still have some left for next season, I say try it and see what happens. This year, I have a few varieties that didn't sprout no matter what I did. Soaking overnight, pleading, whining...nothing worked. Despite that, I'm still trying. Granted, it's a stubborn effort on my part, but eh - why not.

April 19, 2007	#4
korney19 Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Co-Founder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Niagara Frontier Posts: 942	Terry, how many did you try to start? I should have said that they were harvested just this past Fall but with everything going on here, they didn't get put away and actually just got pulled off the paper towels the day I sent them, so they are really dry... maybe soak the next batch for a couple hours before sowing... there's still an excellent chance the rest you already sowed will come up if you keep the mix really moist, almost wet, and with a lid on the tray. I did germination tests on many of my varieties and at least 9 of 10 are sprouting, though some are taking 7-14 days even with a dome and heat mat (without soaking them.) So I'd recommend a minimal soaking first or a really damp soilless mix. PM me if needed. Mark