Starting tiny seeds, like creeping thyme

kilroyscarnival · November 15, 2019

I got some creeping thyme seeds, and tried twice to get plants started, but no success.

The other week I started some on a damp paper towel in a bag, and they did germinate but the sprouting seeds were tiny thin strands. I didn't think I could transplant them with success.

After a little more research I decided to start the seeds on top of some fairly fine potting mix, not covered at all, and I've been water-misting with a flairosol sprayer twice a day. I see a few green threads so far, hoping for the best.

This has inspired me to do a do-over on the culantro seeds which were also very tiny and with which I had no luck.

-- Ann

November 15, 2019

Your post sounds much like my experience with several- one being Ornamental Oregano- others such as Petunias. I do online research before attempting anything now, and find that special treatment will improve the results. Some seeds need light, some need dark, some need misting, etc., etc. These challenges are what keep me trying ! Because every so often there is a big success !

rxkeith · November 15, 2019

tiny seeds like thyme, oregano, mint, i lightly sprinkle onto my seed starting medium, and press them into the top, thats it. keep it moist, and in 7 to 10 days you should
have sprouts. you can separate them into smaller chunks once they get to be a few inches high, and tough enough to handle.

keith

greenthumbomaha · November 15, 2019

I start small herb seeds in a shallow cake fashion, similar to keith's method. A strawberry or lettuce clamshell is an example of a good initial germination container. It is easy to scoop out a chunk from a shallow tray, and transplant when the seedlings get stronger. I overseed by a large factor to compensate for any seedling damage at the margins of the cake.

Its early, but I was just making a mental note to start saving lettuce clamshells for parsley and celery seeds.

- Lisa

November 15, 2019	#1
kilroyscarnival Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 614	Starting tiny seeds, like creeping thyme I got some creeping thyme seeds, and tried twice to get plants started, but no success. The other week I started some on a damp paper towel in a bag, and they did germinate but the sprouting seeds were tiny thin strands. I didn't think I could transplant them with success. After a little more research I decided to start the seeds on top of some fairly fine potting mix, not covered at all, and I've been water-misting with a flairosol sprayer twice a day. I see a few green threads so far, hoping for the best. This has inspired me to do a do-over on the culantro seeds which were also very tiny and with which I had no luck. -- Ann

November 15, 2019	#3
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,848	tiny seeds like thyme, oregano, mint, i lightly sprinkle onto my seed starting medium, and press them into the top, thats it. keep it moist, and in 7 to 10 days you should have sprouts. you can separate them into smaller chunks once they get to be a few inches high, and tough enough to handle. keith __________________ don't abort. we'll adopt.

November 15, 2019	#2
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	Your post sounds much like my experience with several- one being Ornamental Oregano- others such as Petunias. I do online research before attempting anything now, and find that special treatment will improve the results. Some seeds need light, some need dark, some need misting, etc., etc. These challenges are what keep me trying ! Because every so often there is a big success !

November 15, 2019	#4
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I start small herb seeds in a shallow cake fashion, similar to keith's method. A strawberry or lettuce clamshell is an example of a good initial germination container. It is easy to scoop out a chunk from a shallow tray, and transplant when the seedlings get stronger. I overseed by a large factor to compensate for any seedling damage at the margins of the cake. Its early, but I was just making a mental note to start saving lettuce clamshells for parsley and celery seeds. - Lisa