Seed Starts (cont...)

OK.. here I am planting the pepper seeds in a Flat of Start pots. I was amazed at how quick the seeds germinated (4 or 5 days) and how long the little tap roots grew in a day.

I first fill my flat with potting soil, and tamp it so its not too loose. Then with a pencil I poke and twist to make perfect funnel shaped holes. I then pick up the sprout with a toothpick (use whatever works for you). It's best not to pick it up with your fingers because it's so easy to damage the little tender tap root. Place the sprout in the hole root first (heads up) so that the head of the sprout is about 1/4" under the surface. Then just scrape the soil over the sprout to cover and LIGHTLY tamp it firm.

I planted 2 Flats of 36 cells each on Saturday 2/19/11. One Flat was the Large Thai Chile pepper and one Flat of Heirloom Irish Tomatoes.

This morning, Monday 2/21/11, I was pleased to see one of the Irish tomatoes had broke surface. It's ON now!! YAY!!!

Here are some pics.

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First to Germinate.

As I mentioned earlier... one of the reasons I pre-germinate some seeds, is it allows me to determine seeds of a greater vigor. Well here are a couple pictures that demonstrate this. Over this weekend there will be many more and I will plant these First Germinated in Starter pots and indicate on the pots that they were First to germinate. Then when planting in the garden I will keep track of those plants and keep seed from them in particular. This may seem to some gardeners a bit much, however it is all part of Selective Culturing and improves your particular strain of plant. In these pictures are the Large Thai Pepper seeds. It has only been 5 days since these seeds were placed in the germination bins (very quick for a pepper seed).

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I would also impart that it is very IMPORTANT to keep a Yearly Garden Journal. It should include seed/plant varieties, planting dates, notes over time on how well a strain of plant performed, yield etc, etc, etc... you get the idea. Your Garden Journal will become over time, a valuable tool to your increased success.

Keep it fun... just because it should be..... I have SO much joy sitting with a friend, having a beverage and conversation about the garden, the different plants, the success and failures, inventions & processes. It's a wonderful thing.

A Note about Germination Bins.

I would like to point out, 'Not all seeds need pre-germinating' before planting in stater pots. The seeds I tend to pre-germinate are ones that have a longer gestation period and very hard hauls. Peppers(hot & mild), fruit and berries such as the Pomegranate that I showed in an earlier post, some seeds from the Brassica family and on occasion certain Tomato seeds etc..
Several reasons I like to pre-germinate  my Pepper seeds: it eliminates the need to plant 2 or more seeds per cell in a 'flat of stater cups, a practice that used to insure that all cells have at least one start. Also, I can visually determine seeds of a "greater vigor" as they sprout. I also seem to have a greater 'per seed success'.

Most seeds DO NOT need pre-germinating before planting in starter pots. However, an 'over-night soaking' in water is beneficial to most ALL seeds before planting in starter pots or Direct Sowing in the garden.

How to make a Germination Bin

Here are the instructions for making a germination bin from a 2 Liter plastic bottle.

• Fold a piece of paper in 4ths. cut one of the 4ths out. This is the template for the door on the bottle.
• Place the paper on the side of the bottle and with a marker trace 3 sides of the square.

• CAREFULLY! CAREFULLY!! Cut the 3 sides with a razor knife.

• Now lift the door you have just created and nearly (but not quite) crease it backward. This will allow easier access. Also then, reverse curl the door as to relieve the tendency to curl in.

• This is what it should look like after the above steps.

 

• Now take a 3 inch piece of Duct Tape and stick half to the Center bottom edge of the door. Then Fold about a half inch of the tape unto itself to create a pull handle.

• Now Place several layers of paper towel, napkins or a cloth (your choice) in the bottle to where it only fills the bottom horizontal round half way. Saturate the towels with water, (do NOT puddle). Place seeds on towel and close bottle.

• Close and stick door shut ... place in a warm place and check every couple days to make sure the towels are still wet. If they need water then use a spray bottle and wet it down. I have found that a spray bottle is easiest, but do it how you like.

• IMPORTANT!!!! Always label and date your bin and don't mix seeds, so you always know what you have.

Here are 2 alternate seed germinating bins, I use this style when I have fewer seeds of a variety to germinate. One is a 2 Liter bottle cut and inverted and the other is a plastic pint food container that had something from the deli (food) in it originally. In a container like the pint one, poke some slit holes in the top so it will breath some. This will also allow you to add water (if needed) without removing the lid. Remember NOTHING FANCY,  keep it simple. Re-Purpose, Re-Use, Recycle!!!

Some Pepper Seed Germination

Here I am germinating some pepper seeds .. Giant Thai and Bhut Jolakia the Ghost pepper.

The germination bins are made from 2 liter plastic bottles. Always remember to label and date them. I make it a practice never to mix seed in a single bin.

2011 Seed list (partial list)

Here is the key to the vendors.

GRN = Gurney's http://gurneys.com/

JSS = Johnny's Selected Seeds http://www.johnnyseeds.com/

PGS = Pintree Garden Seeds https://www.superseeds.com/

SSE = Seed Savors Exchange http://www.seedsavers.org/

Category	Item	Description	Vendor/Ord#
Tomatoes	Cold Set	Dtrm. 65 day. Frost resistant. Earliest to sow direct. 3”-4” fruit.	GRN #15125
	Delicious	Indt. 77 days. Very large juicy Full flavor.1 lb. plus fruit. Set  world record with a 7lb.+  fruit.	GRN #15054
	Current Sweet pea	Indt. 75-80 day. The best red current cherry tomato. Excellent flavor.	SSE #1230
	Italian Heirloom	Indt. 70-80 day. Most productive of large 1lb.+ tomatoes. Full flavor.	SSE  #826
	Wisconsin 55	Indt. 80 day. Univ. of Wisc. 1940. Great for canning. Remembered as one of the best home and market All purpose.	SSE #1059
	Large Red Cherry	Indt. 75-80 day. Very old strain. Extremely productive. 1.5”-2” fruit. Preferred for whole canning.	SSE #828
	Opalka Polish Torpedo	Indt. 85 day. Circa. 1900. Phenomenal set of  3”x 6” red paste tomatoes. Holds well on vine.	PGS #414
Brassica
Cabbage (late variety)	Kroutman (F1)	73 day. White, hard dense cabbage resistant to splitting. Specifically grown for making sauerkraut. Great for slaw and other uses too.	PGS #64
	Mammoth Red Rock	98 day. Heirloom 1906. Solid uniform,  8” diameter, 7lb.Very dependable. Red throughout. Small to medium core.  Fine Flavor. Largest of the red cabbage.	PGS #5801
Brussels Sprouts	Long Island Improved	85 day. Semi-dwarf no more then 2ft. good yields of 1-2 inch  sprouts. Can set 50-100 sprouts per plant. Heirloom 1890	PGS #52
	Falstaff	95 day. Open pollinated 2ft. plant with unique purple-red sprouts. Milder then green sprouts. Color intensifies with frost	PGS #53
Cauliflower	Romanesco (F1)	75-80 day. Large unique head. The florets form pointed fractal patterns. Amazing fresh taste. Almost nutty.	PGS #W252
Kohlrabi	Early White Vienna	55 day. Excellent nut-like flavor. Has few leaves.	GRN #14665
	Kossak (F1)	80 day. Giant 8” diameter. Keeps well  storage in cold storage. Sweet ever when large. Peel “skin” before cooking or eating fresh.	JSS #237
Pac Choi	Joy Choi (F1)	50 day. Heavy & vigorous. 12-15 inch tall	JSS #507
Mustard	Green Wave	50 day. Verdant dark green 2ft. plant. Improves in flavor after light frost.	PGS #192
Kale	Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch	55 day. Heirloom 1863. So attractive can be grown for appearance alone. Great flavor. Compact 1ft plant. Sow 4 to1sq ft.	PGS #191
Turnip	Topper	35day. Grown primarily for the leaves. Dark green, crisp and delicious.	PGS #433
	Purple Top- White Globe	55 day. Fine grained and large. Light frost enhances flavor. Good fall crop.	GRN #14722
Rutabagas	Laurentian	100 day. 4-6 inch roots are mild, sweet and firm. Excellent keeper.	GRN #66305
Beets
	Boltardy	46 days. VERY resistant to bolting. Size of a tennis ball. Color strong. Sweet.	PGS #3201
	Crosby Egyptian	45 day. Heirloom 1880. Large flattened grow mainly above ground. Very Sweet.	PGS #33
	Cylindra	58 day. 6-8 inch long. 1.5 – 2 inch diam. Great for pickling or slicing fresh.	PGS #30