Help for Helmet Heads

janezee · May 10, 2012

Because so many of my seeds are sprouting later than others, and they're in the same flat,
the plastic cover has been removed, and the seeds that are coming later are drier.
Spray and spit didn't work for many of them.

So I went into the first aid kit (human) and cut a few pieces of gauze,
small enough to tent over the new seedlings, and sprayed them with water.
Within 24 hours, most of them had either shed their helmets,
or were soft enough for me to assist them.

So now I have even more tomatoes to find room for!

j

RayR · May 10, 2012

That's a great idea! Good thinking.

clara · May 10, 2012

Now I know what I will be doing in case of! Thanks for sharing this great idea! clara

kath · May 10, 2012

Thanks for sharing a great tip, j- I'll try to remember that one for next year.

kath

**carolyn137** · May 11, 2012

Spit has usually worked for me, but in a last attempt I did something similar to what you did and just moistend some cotton, wrap it around the head and keep it wet.

That usually works, but not always.

If I were still raising my own plants from seed I think I might consider chewing on a rubber band to increase saliva flow, putting it in a shallow dish and then soaking the cotton it that b/c it's the enzymes in saliva that are important.

I suppose I might even consider spitting on the spit laden cotten to keep it wet.

kath · May 11, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Spit has usually worked for me, but in a last attempt I did something similar to what you did and just moistend some cotton, wrap it around the head and keep it wet.

That usually works, but not always.

If I were still raising my own plants from seed I think I might consider chewing on a rubber band to increase saliva flow, putting it in a shallow dish and then soaking the cotton it that b/c it's the enzymes in saliva that are important.

I suppose I might even consider spitting on the spit laden cotten to keep it wet.

You folks are so creative- this one sounds even more promising! I do think spit seems to work even better than water and this method has the advantage of making me seem even a little more crazy.

ddsack · May 11, 2012

I use spit and a poke a fingertip into saran wrap to stretch a little depression, which I cut to form a tiny plastic cap for the seed head. The surface tension when the spit bonds to the plastic keeps it wet for a long time.

Worth1 · May 11, 2012

I have to say I used to mess with this but with me being gone much of the time I have found they grow out of it on their pwn.

The embryonic leaves end up looking like they are in handcuffs.

And then the true leaves emerge normally.

No more spit and tweezers for me.

Worth

Crandrew · May 11, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

end up looking like they are in handcuffs.

No more spit and tweezers for me.

Worth

Taken out of context....yeah sounds strange.

Worth1 · May 11, 2012

I will also add that I thought this thread just might be about guys that wear hair spray.

Worth

kath · May 11, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddsack

I use spit and a poke a fingertip into saran wrap to stretch a little depression, which I cut to form a tiny plastic cap for the seed head. The surface tension when the spit bonds to the plastic keeps it wet for a long time.

Very clever- we sure do love these little guys!

Tormato · May 11, 2012

I just moisten the seed coat with water, with thumb and forefinger gently grip the seedcoat (crosswise and less than half way towards the stem), and gently sqeeze the seedcoat off.

A 99+% success rate, and no waiting for the disappointment of headless seedlings.

Dr. L

ve Apple

rsg2001 · May 12, 2012

I do it similarly as Tormato except I use the spit method too... I still lose a few, but I rescue many more than I lose on balance.

TightenUp · May 12, 2012

when plants are at that stage i am usually watering with a squirt bottle and it takes about 10-15 minutes. i have found if the first thing i do is get a drop of water over the stuck seeds then wait about 15 minutes and just give it a tug it slides off with no prob.

janezee · May 13, 2012

I was really talking about the ones that don't do it the easy ways. I use the method with the gauze for the ones that don't come off with spit or spray. YMMV

May 10, 2012	#1
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	Help for Helmet Heads Because so many of my seeds are sprouting later than others, and they're in the same flat, the plastic cover has been removed, and the seeds that are coming later are drier. Spray and spit didn't work for many of them. So I went into the first aid kit (human) and cut a few pieces of gauze, small enough to tent over the new seedlings, and sprayed them with water. Within 24 hours, most of them had either shed their helmets, or were soft enough for me to assist them. So now I have even more tomatoes to find room for! j

May 11, 2012	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Spit has usually worked for me, but in a last attempt I did something similar to what you did and just moistend some cotton, wrap it around the head and keep it wet. That usually works, but not always. If I were still raising my own plants from seed I think I might consider chewing on a rubber band to increase saliva flow, putting it in a shallow dish and then soaking the cotton it that b/c it's the enzymes in saliva that are important. I suppose I might even consider spitting on the spit laden cotten to keep it wet. __________________ Carolyn

May 11, 2012	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	I use spit and a poke a fingertip into saran wrap to stretch a little depression, which I cut to form a tiny plastic cap for the seed head. The surface tension when the spit bonds to the plastic keeps it wet for a long time. __________________ Dee **************

May 11, 2012	#12
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	I just moisten the seed coat with water, with thumb and forefinger gently grip the seedcoat (crosswise and less than half way towards the stem), and gently sqeeze the seedcoat off. A 99+% success rate, and no waiting for the disappointment of headless seedlings. Dr. Lve Apple

May 10, 2012	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	That's a great idea! Good thinking.

May 10, 2012	#3
clara Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 1,351	Now I know what I will be doing in case of! Thanks for sharing this great idea! clara

May 10, 2012	#4
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Thanks for sharing a great tip, j- I'll try to remember that one for next year. kath

May 11, 2012	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I have to say I used to mess with this but with me being gone much of the time I have found they grow out of it on their pwn. The embryonic leaves end up looking like they are in handcuffs. And then the true leaves emerge normally. No more spit and tweezers for me. Worth

May 12, 2012	#13
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	I do it similarly as Tormato except I use the spit method too... I still lose a few, but I rescue many more than I lose on balance.

May 12, 2012	#14
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	when plants are at that stage i am usually watering with a squirt bottle and it takes about 10-15 minutes. i have found if the first thing i do is get a drop of water over the stuck seeds then wait about 15 minutes and just give it a tug it slides off with no prob.

May 13, 2012	#15
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	I was really talking about the ones that don't do it the easy ways. I use the method with the gauze for the ones that don't come off with spit or spray. YMMV