Currently, my fiancee and I are working on germinating the seeds for our potted herb garden for this year. We've taken styrofoam cups filled with potting soil, inserted seeds, and covered the cups with plastic wrap.
As I smoothed the potting soil over the seeds, I wondered if there was something to be said about one's personality by how they make seeds grow. Does whether they place the seeds in a plastic baggie with a paper towel and water or just shove them in the dirt show insight on how you view the world?
I was also curious, how do other Jatraqueros choose to germinate seeds?
[ March 10, 2004, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: BelladonnaOrchid ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
When I had my hydroponics system going I did it a couple ways. You can first germinate them in a dark place betwen paper towels. Then with tweezers delicately transver the seedlings to the starter media. I used rockwool cubes.
The other way I did it was sticking seeds into Jiffy pellets.
I don't know that it actually said anything about my personality... but maybe it did and I don't know it.
AJ
Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :
:: giggles ::
Depending upon what plants, I sow seeds in open trays or celled trays, if they're plants like allium, I'll put them into the fridge for a year, covered. If they're asters then i'll let them sit on top of the soil. :: giggles :: I've been brought up on a flower farm...and it shows Satyagraha
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
I was a miserable failure at seed starting last year. The seeds I started in my celled tray grew too quickly and stringy -- they mustn'tve been getting enough light and I most likely started them too early. The seeds I direct sowed in my garden were overcome with weeds. *laugh*
All in all, though, I was impressed that I did get the carrots, onions and tomatoes.
Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
quote: All in all, though, I was impressed that I did get the carrots, onions and tomatoes.
...Or did you?
*dun*
*dun*
*DUN!*
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
My attitude towards seed-starting is that it's almost always cheaper, especially in terms of time and disappointment, to buy the finished plant and stick it in the ground.
Posted by MoonRabbit (Member # 3652) on :
When I was growing orchids, I would surface-sterilize the seed, then sow them aseptically on a modified Knudsen's "C" media. They would usually germinate in 2-6 weeks, then I'd have to transfer them to fresh media about once a month until they were ready to pot up.
Totally irrelevant, I know. Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
Moonrabbit, not at all irrelevant. In fact, I'm glad to find there is a fellow Hatracker struck with orchid-fever.
And germination, is, after all, germination.
What is beside-the-point, is that Rick and I went out and bought a some-what grown rose bush today. We've never done roses before, does anybody out there have any tips on fertilization and care?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
My husband, the engineer, devised a PVC-pipe structure to hold grow lights that fits under our rectangular dining table. We put the seeds in reusable pots, peat pots, or the kind you can make from strips of newspaper. Through trial and error, we learned to keep them watered from the bottom and that grow-mats can really help. I still have trouble with damping off sometimes.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
quote:My attitude towards seed-starting is that it's almost always cheaper, especially in terms of time and disappointment, to buy the finished plant and stick it in the ground.
As a veggie farmer, I'd agree with Tom. Seed starting is a fussy process -- different seeds have very different needs for light, moisture, heat, etc., and it takes a lot of TLC to keep the moisture level right day after day for a month or two.
It's a good thing to try, to get a sense of what it's like... but unless you're a farmer -- or someone with a BIG garden -- you're better off buying seedlings and saving your energy for other work.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Hehe, I use tiny little terracotta pots in a small plastic greenhouse. It is so cute.
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
The Update:
Of the things that we are germinating, this is the list of successes that we are having so far:
Chives Basil Lady Lavender Chamomile Moss Rose Coriander Coleus
The things that have yet to germinate:
Sage Garlic Chives True Lavender
However, the Sage and the Garlic Chives we planted after the rest of the seeds, so they may take a little longer. We won't cry if the True Lavender doesn't germinate, though-we were planting it just to see if it would grow. From what I understand, this isn't really the season to start lavender, that would have been in the Fall I think.
If the temperature wasn't supposed to drop below freezing next week, our germinated seeds would be ready to set outside in their cups! We're all getting excited about our garden!
Oh, and we did somehow manage to plant something without knowing it-we discovered a flattening in the pot with our rose bush in it, that could have only been caused by the planting of a feline. There are quite a few cats around here, hopefully the bush can grow fast enough that this doesn't become a problem.
Rick, my fiancee, keeps bugging me to get one of those zip-up plastic greenhouses that fits over the stand for our orchids for the Spring and Fall. Has anybody tried them? I'm hesitant that they'll fry my orchids.
Oh-and I am starting to suspect that the way that you germinate plants does say something about your personality...there's not enough evidence yet to come to a final conclusion, or to develop a formula for personality testing based on germination habits.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Roses are really susceptible to powdery mildew. Get a commercial fungicide at the first sign of it. (dusty-looking white or grey powder on the stems)
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
quote: if they're plants like allium, I'll put them into the fridge for a year,
I had a can of chili that sprouted using that method.
Seriously, this is fascinating, since I know nothing on the subject. And BelladonaOrchid, I was beginning to wonder if you were AWOL. It's good to see you.
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
Awww, shucks.
Seriously, however, I was just lurking about-I got a new job as a CSR for DirecTV in December and I hadn't had the time to post until recently. It's good to be interacting in Hatrack again-thanks for the welcome back, Pooka!
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
yummmm sounds like an awesome herb garden. We have way too much to do this year to get our yard whipped into shape on the basic stuff. Maybe next year I can have an actually garden.
Until then please keep us posted so I can live vicariously through you!
AJ
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
Germination update as requested:
We have sage! We have garlic chives!
The coriander is now about 3 inches tall, and has grown past the lid of the cup, and the sage and regular chives aren't far behind.
...and maybe, just maybe, my room-mate will allow me to take pictures of them with his digi-cam so I can post them on foobonic.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
BelladonnaOrchid, good to see you around. And go for the pictures -- that would be great. So you'd definitely choose to go the seed route again?
quote:My husband, the engineer, devised a PVC-pipe structure to hold grow lights that fits under our rectangular dining table.
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