Tips for raising seeds (forum)

ringelstrumpf starts with ...
I have bought some seeds for herbs and trees but had bad luck. Most either didn't come up or died later.
There are so many interesting plants we can't buy here, but we can get the seeds, and it is very tempting, but before I try once again I want to ask a bit how do you get difficult seeds going? I have no problem growing vegetables from seeds and i sow direct or transplant.
Do you plant them in pots or do you have a seedbed? Do you sterilize containers? Put glass/plastic bag over them? What tricks do you use for getting difficult seeds going? Some seeds need endless to emerge and then maybe weeds are growing and I am often not very sure if there is a weed growing or my precious seeds. How getting a seed whisperer?

Time: 26th May 2011 6:19pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
#UserID: 3535
Posts: 148
View All ringelstrumpf1's Edible Fruit Trees

Rowan says...
It is often a matter of experience. No-one can give you good advice without knowing what seeds you are trying to grow and how.
I have found that people often have trouble if they plant the seeds too deep. Just sprinkle them on a tray or pot of seed raising mix (never garden soil) and sprinkle some mix on them. It is usually better to plant them too shallow than too deep.
Depending on the type of seed, I would wait till spring.

Time: 26th May 2011 6:55pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Rowan
Casterton Vic
#UserID: 4558
Posts: 97
View All Rowan's Edible Fruit Trees

ringelstrumpf says...
I have got three ginko seeds in a pot since at least three month, I nearly gave up hope. But I didn't have a plastic bag over them and I didn't sterilize the pot either, but I cold stratified them.

Time: 26th May 2011 7:04pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
#UserID: 3535
Posts: 148
View All ringelstrumpf1's Edible Fruit Trees

fruitist says...
Most seeds require heat to germinate. Bunnings sells a 12W electric propagator for $49.94. Wish I had one many years ago, I would have many more plants.

Time: 26th May 2011 7:23pm

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
 
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
I have in my garage an old fridge that didn't want to restart after the last house move. Which seems to happen to me all the time. So I stuck a desk lamp in it, if you get just the right wattage globe (about 20watts is good for my fridge) and close the cable for the lamp in the door. You end up with about 25c day and night (more less) and I can germinate almost any seed in there in just a few days. As soon as it's germinated and up I move them out of the fridge.

I haven't used this setup in a few years since I mostly ran out of planting room but it was very effective in quickly making as many plants as you can deal with. Worked good with cuttings too

Time: 26th May 2011 7:33pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 26th May 2011 7:34pm

About the Author Jason
Portland
#UserID: 637
Posts: 1217
View All Jason's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
Great idea Jason, plenty of room with shelves to boot! I am busy sawing the bottoms off big round plastic water dispensers ( the ones that go on upside down) preparing them as added warm mini greenhouses for seedling trays.

Time: 26th May 2011 8:23pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

ringelstrumpf says...
don't the seeds need oxygen? So you think that most seeds neat heat even when they come from a colder climate?
I ordered ramps last year and actually I don't know if it were the slugs or if they didn't germinate. They are cold climate and needed cold stratification. Do you still think that heat would have been good? (ramps or bear garlic is a herb that grows in Northern Europe in the woods and it is quite yummy)

Time: 26th May 2011 9:14pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
#UserID: 3535
Posts: 148
View All ringelstrumpf1's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
Seeds mostly germinate in Spring even in cold climates so it's still warm when they get growing. That's usually what triggers them to grow (heat).

Plants absorb carbon dioxide, but anyway so long as it's not a vacuum there's enough for a tiny seed anywhere

Time: 26th May 2011 9:54pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Jason
Portland
#UserID: 637
Posts: 1217
View All Jason's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
Yeah snottie it worked good, I also had a fluro in there on a 12 hour timer (came on at night to give extra heat and a fake upside down daytime). I would have been more pro with a thermostat but even without it the temps didn't vary much, it was always under 40c so that was fine

Time: 26th May 2011 9:57pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 26th May 2011 9:58pm

About the Author Jason
Portland
#UserID: 637
Posts: 1217
View All Jason's Edible Fruit Trees

fruitist says...
Most seeds can germinate in complete darkness and in sealed plastic bag as long as they have heat and dampness. I have seeds germinated inside envelopes when they are sent wrapped with damp paper towel or coconut coir.

Time: 27th May 2011 8:34am

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
 
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
I put a propagating mat inside a polystyrene veg box and cover with a lid. Works really well. But be sure to keep an eye on them - put out in the sun as SOON as they have germinated. Otherwise they will be leggy and spindly.

This setup works well for my sprouts too. I sprout chickpeas and brown rice before cooking.

Time: 27th May 2011 8:56pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
 
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

Peter says...
Julie, do you mean a heat mat? If so, are there battery operated ones for sale (to avoid dependence on mains electricity)?

Time: 27th May 2011 11:11pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Peter36
Perth
#UserID: 5034
Posts: 213
View All Peter36's Edible Fruit Trees

Charles cant spell says...
Peter last winter I used an aquarium, a large one I had spare, bascially lined the inside with black plastic (except the sun facing wall, built brick pillars, placed tiles on top of bricks, and seedling trays on tiles. Filled with water to tile base. Put a lid on top, plastic is fine, need a balance between to humid and to much air circulation. Open it each day. If you get a hot sunny day though, i.e. today the plastic must come off else they get cooked. Free solar seed raiser. I would put pics up but they are not worth it at the moment as they are coming in so small you cant see anything. let me know if you want more info.

Time: 28th May 2011 2:23pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
#UserID: 2742
Posts: 411
View All Charlesstillcantspell1's Edible Fruit Trees

ringelstrumpf says...
That's really a great idea. I don't like too much the idea of burning electricity. In the lack of a big fish tank I could also use a timber frame a piece of black plastic and an old window.
I didn't get the idea of the brick pillars (are they inside?) and the tiles. Are they against the slugs or do you use them to store heat?
I could put some old bricks underneath the plastic.

Time: 31st May 2011 8:05pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
#UserID: 3535
Posts: 148
View All ringelstrumpf1's Edible Fruit Trees

Charles cant spell says...
Ok I think you missed "filled with water", the bricks are to make a pillar through the water to place tiles on top of, one could used something that floats but its also likely to not be very conductive. So if you think of it as a table inside afish tank, brick are legs, tiles is table top, black plastic heats up water, water heats up tiles and bricks, etc. Clear as mud ?

Time: 1st June 2011 2:58pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
#UserID: 2742
Posts: 411
View All Charlesstillcantspell1's Edible Fruit Trees

Aaron says...
Great idea Charles!

Thanks.

Having various ideas in my head to propogate seeds. Will execute and let you all know the results!

Time: 1st June 2011 7:44pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Aaron
Perth NOR
#UserID: 3153
Posts: 18
View All Aaron's Edible Fruit Trees

ringelstrumpf says...
clear as mud!

Time: 1st June 2011 10:00pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
#UserID: 3535
Posts: 148
View All ringelstrumpf1's Edible Fruit Trees

kim says...
Hope you can help me - i put some surinam cherry seeds in one pot a few weeks back thinking if i was lucky enough that one or two would germinate. I'm very lucky in that i've got about 11 seedlings - however they're all in the same pot. A couple have 4 leaves on but most are just starting to come up.

I need advise as to when i should transplant them into individual pots - i was hoping to use these plants for a hedge eventually. Will they survive if i were to transplant now? please help.

thanks.

Time: 12th February 2012 3:38am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author kim12
perth
#UserID: 6174
Posts: 15
View All kim12's Edible Fruit Trees

denise. says...
They could go to about 7cms then pot with potting mix. Plant them out when at least 30cms tall. They are quite easy to grow so these sizes are not exact.

Time: 12th February 2012 6:27am

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
 
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

kim says...
Thanks Denise - so they'll be ok for the time being? i was afraid that they would strange each other. :)

Time: 12th February 2012 4:28pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author kim12
perth
#UserID: 6174
Posts: 15
View All kim12's Edible Fruit Trees

roborthudson says...
Hi Friends,
The information given by Charles is very informative. I also had a same problem. I used this method its workings. I find it helpful. Thanks Charles for an informative post.


Time: 22nd January 2013 10:41pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author roborthudson
Australia
#UserID: 7571
Posts: 9
View All roborthudson's Edible Fruit Trees

lenn says...
For free heat try back of refrigerator or top of hot water tank.

Time: 23rd January 2013 7:30am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author lenn19
 
#UserID: 7641
Posts: 1
View All lenn19's Edible Fruit Trees

denise1 says...
I have heatboards but they are not perfect. The temperature varies a lot. While warm the roots grow quickly and the next day it will be warmer and the roots get burnt back. The plants appear OK but will have little roots. You need to anticipate this and pot the plants up early enough or they will not grow properly and eventually die. Alternatively they could be plugged to a timer so they are on only at daytime or whatever. Think twice before using them beyond just for starting the seeds.

Time: 23rd January 2013 10:06am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author denise1
auckland NZ
#UserID: 6832
Posts: 688
View All denise1's Edible Fruit Trees

roborthudson says...
You can use something else for heating purpose. But choose anything that overheat. This will badly harm your plants.

Time: 30th March 2013 5:56pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author roborthudson
 
#UserID: 7571
Posts: 9
View All roborthudson's Edible Fruit Trees