First look at 2006 Tomato Germination

**nctomatoman** · February 18, 2006

What a treat - got home from a week in Philadelphia to incredible germination in my tomato seeds!

Planted two flats of 50 cells, between 20 and 35 seeds per cell. Seeds were planted on Feb.12 (Sunday), first looked at Feb. 17 (Friday).

Flat 1:

2005 saved seed - 13 cells - all 13 emerging in 5 days
2004 - 6 cells - all emerging in 5 days
2003 - 7 cells - ditto
2002 - 10 cells - ditto
2001 - 4 cells - ditto
2000 - 4 cells - ditto
1998 - 1 cell - emerged in 6 days
newly purchased - 5 cells; 4 are up, 1 remains (fresh Arkansas Traveller from Southern Exposure Seed Ex)

The above includes 2003 saved Black Cherry. No bottom heat used. I think that this supports that there is very little to no difference between tomato varieties with respect to germination.

Flat 2 -

2005 saved seed - 14 cells - all but one in 5 days, 1 in 6 days
2004 - 8 cells - 7 emerged in 5 days, awaiting 1 cell
2003 - 6 cells - all emerged in 5 days
2002 - 7 cells - all emerged in 5 days
2001 - 3 cells - all emerged in 5 days
2000 - 4 cells - all emerged in 5 days
newly purchased seed - 8 cells - all emerged in 5 days

It will take about a week to determine germination percentage, as there is variation on emergence per cell. Some varieties do tend to just leap out - Brandywine and Cuostralee are two that always exhibit this, even in 2002 and 2001 saved seed, respectively.

I will take some pics and post later on.

February 18, 2006	#1
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	First look at 2006 Tomato Germination What a treat - got home from a week in Philadelphia to incredible germination in my tomato seeds! Planted two flats of 50 cells, between 20 and 35 seeds per cell. Seeds were planted on Feb.12 (Sunday), first looked at Feb. 17 (Friday). Flat 1: 2005 saved seed - 13 cells - all 13 emerging in 5 days 2004 - 6 cells - all emerging in 5 days 2003 - 7 cells - ditto 2002 - 10 cells - ditto 2001 - 4 cells - ditto 2000 - 4 cells - ditto 1998 - 1 cell - emerged in 6 days newly purchased - 5 cells; 4 are up, 1 remains (fresh Arkansas Traveller from Southern Exposure Seed Ex) The above includes 2003 saved Black Cherry. No bottom heat used. I think that this supports that there is very little to no difference between tomato varieties with respect to germination. Flat 2 - 2005 saved seed - 14 cells - all but one in 5 days, 1 in 6 days 2004 - 8 cells - 7 emerged in 5 days, awaiting 1 cell 2003 - 6 cells - all emerged in 5 days 2002 - 7 cells - all emerged in 5 days 2001 - 3 cells - all emerged in 5 days 2000 - 4 cells - all emerged in 5 days newly purchased seed - 8 cells - all emerged in 5 days It will take about a week to determine germination percentage, as there is variation on emergence per cell. Some varieties do tend to just leap out - Brandywine and Cuostralee are two that always exhibit this, even in 2002 and 2001 saved seed, respectively. I will take some pics and post later on. __________________ Craig