Seed trays, storing seeds, etc.

[TomatoDon]

Hi all,

I planted 100 more seeds today to have ready for my late crop, and will soon be ready to store my leftover seed. What is the best way? Just store them in the package they came in, kept in a drawer or closet? Refrigerator? I've heard different ways.

As always, I had some mistakes, but I may have corrected one. I bought seed trays (these had 72 cells per tray, and these fit in a bottom tray) and planted quite a few of these with different vegetables. One problem is the cells always dry out faster than you think they will. And with one tray nesting snug in the other you can't very well add extra water to the bottom and see what's going on. Another problem, I left them out one night and it rained and filled the whole tray and my seedlings spent a few hours up to their necks in water. I caught it in time and they made it fine though. Still, I knew I had to come up with something better.

To solve both problems I did this. I cut one section of the cell tray off, which contained 18 cells. This left me with 54 cells, which is plenty. Next, I drilled a few holes about 1/2 inch up from the bottom in the solid tray that the cell tray sits in. Now, with the smaller sized cell tray I can position it in the middle of the solid tray on the bottom and add water to the "pan" and not directly on the seedlings. I can add up to a half inch of water and it self-waters from the bottom up pretty nicely. If I leave them out and it rains while I'm gone it can only fill a half inch, and then it runs out the drain holes.

So far, it's working well, and it didn't cost a thing to solve both problems. Works much better this way. IF any of you have tried something similar I would like to hear how you do it.

Don

[garnetmoth]

thats pretty clever Don!

As far as storing seeds, I have 2 Sterlite bins with snap lids, and I save the silica gel dessicant from shoe boxes, purses, etc. If I remember at the end of planting, I snap the lids, and throw in some silica gel packets.

to "recharge" silica gel, they can be put in a cooling oven on a cookie sheet, or on a driveway on a dry hot day.

[gardengalrn]

Don, the storing of seeds usually prompts lively and passionate discussion here Some have really neat and inventive ways, some very organized and some not. I'm looking at some point to come up with a better method but for now I use the small plastic zip lock bags, like the size of coin envelopes. I like to see how many seeds I have without opening it. These are bagged up into larger bags of similar groups, "purples," "yellow/orange/white," etc.
Something that I've found in planting seeds is to stick to one type or family of veggies per container. For example, plant only tomatoes in one container and your cukes/squash in another. I like to leave that dome or covering on as long as possible because it helps to keep the soil moist and warm but once you see sproutings, you need to remove it. So consider germination times and growth habits when you plant in those trays because I learned the hard way that some young seedlings grow WAY faster than others.

[TomatoDon]

Thanks! Right now everything, what's left of it, is still in the original packs. I do have a lot of the small ziplock bags that I can try. Someone said to put them in the refrigerator, but I'm not so sure about that.

My results were many times better this year than last on raising seedlings. Last year was a bomb. This year I had perfect stands of some, and in the next compartment of 9 cells I might not have but one to come up. Same soil, same environment, same planting technique, etc. Seems Porterhouse was one of those. Some did really good, and you are right about some out-growing others.

I have nearly 70 planted in raised beds so far. I have a drawing identifying each spot and variety! And I put some tags out again by them. I planted about 100 more seeds today in the way described above, and will do about 50 more, and that will be it. I'm trying some more NAR and the SUdduth strain BW. I wish I had an easy way to grow 150 more (why? I have no idea! lol) but there is just so much pruning and staking and tying with that many. They say Carolyn's sprawl method doesn't work good here in humid climes. Maybe I'll give them away.

You aren't too far away in KY. Do you have seedlings up and growing now?

Thanks!

Don

[gardengalrn]

No, I have a barren garden this year We are moving in a few weeks so had to reseed it. Sounds like you have a lot of tomatoes going there! I've had the same experience with certain varieties popping up consistently before the others. I've never had much luck sprawling plants here in KY, either. I never really meant to try it but there is always the few I've stuck on the periphery of the garden that I cared enough to save but not stake, LOL. Good luck with your garden!

[Granny]

gardengalrn, I just laid out a wad of cash to have the garden rototilled to get rid of the stuff that the previous homeowners seeded over the garden in order to sell the house.

[gardengalrn]

LOL, if it were left to me I would have started them a nice little garden. We had been told that unless it is an established flower bed, it was better to seed it to grass. I did dig up my lilies and a blueberry bush that I plan to take with.

[TomatoDon]

The seed tray watering method is still working good. This morning the tops were getting a little dry, so I added more water to the tray, and in a matter of minutes you could see all the cells glistening with moisture again. It just wicks right up into the soil mix. I hope to have seedlings up any day now.

Will keep you posted.

Don