Seed starting

chancethegardener · January 5, 2012

I have a question regarding the seed starting process: I planted my tomato seeds on the 31st of December. Since weather was very warm throughout the whole December, I decided to put the trays outside in my small greenhouse on the porch with the plastic door zipped all the way down. Temperatures suddenly dropped early this week and we had a freeze couple of days ago. Temperatures seem like won't recover for at least until mid-January. So I brought the seed trays inside where I started my seeds last year. Do you think the seeds will still have a chance to germinate? Or is it possible that they got damage in cold weather that will keep them from starting?

bobberman · January 6, 2012

The cold weather would only hurt them if they were starting to sprout. If you had them in the warmth for over a week and then they froze they ma be done but if not they should be fine!

erlyberd · January 6, 2012

You should know better! I'd restart reguardless. Why take the chance. If they were kept at warm enough temps for 3 or more days I'd think some began to germinate and if they froze they may be done. Sounds like your just rubbing in the fact that we northerners have serious zone envy this time of year! LOL I demand a recount, opps, a restart!Good luck chance

chancethegardener · January 6, 2012

Thank you both for responses.
The seeds stayed outside on the shelf of my tiny greenhouse (the door was closed) for 5 days and nights (I brought them inside afternoon on the 6th day). The list of the temperatures starting from the first day they were out is below:
79 48
79 43
68 46
52 32
61 28
70 28
So on the fourth day we had hard freeze for a few days. I am not sure if some germination started during this time but I think I will wait one more day and restart them again.
erlyberd, i am sending some good karma towards you even though you sound a little bit jealous of the long growing season here

bobberman · January 6, 2012

I think they may sill grow in a warm area. ! The 28 was low but maybe the soil was a little warmer! The cool nights may have slowed the growth and they may not have started growing yet!

erlyberd · January 7, 2012

So your at like day six/seven now? Everything should be up and growing. Most of my seedlings sprout in 3-4 days unless there is a problem with the seeds. We all know we don't need problems this early in the game. Right? Good karma taken! Need all I can get, all your blessings and prayers too! Bad news Friday at Doc visit things are very ugly.

Don't leave it to (chance) man leave it to a proven science! LoL Had to throw that in. At least I have my humor.

I'd reseed everything and give them the best love you can. Get some cheap shop lights a seed starting chamber and that diploma!

Best of luck.

b54red · January 8, 2012

If your low was only 28 and the seed trays were in a greenhouse you probably don't have anything to worry about. I start my seed every year in a small unheated greenhouse and it has only gotten cold enough to freeze them a couple of times in over 25 years and I live far north of you. It usually takes sustained cold with little or no sunshine or extreme cold to freeze things in the greenhouse.

I planted some tomato seed on the 31st and had to deal with the same cold spell. I expect the cold days to delay sprouting for about an extra week. Last year we had sustained cool nights and cloudy days and some of my tomatoes took nearly a month to germinate. With the forecast for warm weather for the next week I think I will be seeing my seedlings popping up in the next couple of days.

chancethegardener · January 8, 2012

Thanks all for your responses. b54red, I have just checked the trays and happily found out that lots of seeds are coming alive, I can see the lovely stems pushing through the soil. I was especially a little bit worried about "Red Brandywine" that I purchased from Heirloom Seeds last year because they claim that their seed for this tomato comes from the original strain and I have planted all of the seeds I had. But I saw one of the Red Brandywines seeds has already germinated

. I will keep you posted.
As a side note, my starting mix is 2 parts Lamber organic garden soil+1 part worm castings+half a cup of Bio-tone starter plus+vermiculite.

January 5, 2012	#1
chancethegardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: WV Posts: 604	Seed starting I have a question regarding the seed starting process: I planted my tomato seeds on the 31st of December. Since weather was very warm throughout the whole December, I decided to put the trays outside in my small greenhouse on the porch with the plastic door zipped all the way down. Temperatures suddenly dropped early this week and we had a freeze couple of days ago. Temperatures seem like won't recover for at least until mid-January. So I brought the seed trays inside where I started my seeds last year. Do you think the seeds will still have a chance to germinate? Or is it possible that they got damage in cold weather that will keep them from starting?

January 6, 2012	#2
bobberman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Latrobe Pa. Posts: 142	The cold weather would only hurt them if they were starting to sprout. If you had them in the warmth for over a week and then they froze they ma be done but if not they should be fine! __________________ Frank the Bobberman & Carpet Installer Inventor of the Bobber With A Brain,. Gadening, Greenhouse, Fishing, Softball, Scrabble. Single looking for a woman with a 100 acre farm!

January 6, 2012	#5
bobberman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Latrobe Pa. Posts: 142	I think they may sill grow in a warm area. ! The 28 was low but maybe the soil was a little warmer! The cool nights may have slowed the growth and they may not have started growing yet! __________________ Frank the Bobberman & Carpet Installer Inventor of the Bobber With A Brain,. Gadening, Greenhouse, Fishing, Softball, Scrabble. Single looking for a woman with a 100 acre farm!

January 6, 2012	#3
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	You should know better! I'd restart reguardless. Why take the chance. If they were kept at warm enough temps for 3 or more days I'd think some began to germinate and if they froze they may be done. Sounds like your just rubbing in the fact that we northerners have serious zone envy this time of year! LOL I demand a recount, opps, a restart!Good luck chance

January 7, 2012	#6
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	So your at like day six/seven now? Everything should be up and growing. Most of my seedlings sprout in 3-4 days unless there is a problem with the seeds. We all know we don't need problems this early in the game. Right? Good karma taken! Need all I can get, all your blessings and prayers too! Bad news Friday at Doc visit things are very ugly. Don't leave it to (chance) man leave it to a proven science! LoL Had to throw that in. At least I have my humor. I'd reseed everything and give them the best love you can. Get some cheap shop lights a seed starting chamber and that diploma! Best of luck.

January 8, 2012	#7
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	If your low was only 28 and the seed trays were in a greenhouse you probably don't have anything to worry about. I start my seed every year in a small unheated greenhouse and it has only gotten cold enough to freeze them a couple of times in over 25 years and I live far north of you. It usually takes sustained cold with little or no sunshine or extreme cold to freeze things in the greenhouse. I planted some tomato seed on the 31st and had to deal with the same cold spell. I expect the cold days to delay sprouting for about an extra week. Last year we had sustained cool nights and cloudy days and some of my tomatoes took nearly a month to germinate. With the forecast for warm weather for the next week I think I will be seeing my seedlings popping up in the next couple of days.