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.

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.