germination progress

 

In an earlier post I listed the varieties of tomatoes that I'm starting
from seed. I started the first four on April 1, one variety on April 5,
and I plan to start the last two today, April 6. There is a huge
difference in the rate of progress between the varieties so I thought I'd
post that info here. I define the start date as the day I put them in a
glass to soak. My technique is to soak in water overnight, then put them
on a wet paper towel placed between two plates. I add water to the towels
as needed to keep them wet (once or twice a day).

The group started on April 1 are listed in the order of growth rates,
from fastest to slowest,

Sun Gold Cherry        By far the quickest, I have a plate full of inch
long green sprouts.

Cosmonaut Volkov    Doing well, the sprouts are 1/2 long with some
green.

Black Prince        Doing almost as well as the Volkovs, about 1/3
inch with just a hint of green.

Legend            Just short roots, no green yet.

I'm going to put the Sun golds into peat pots today, I'll give the
Volkovs and Black Princes a couple of more days on the wet plates before
I put them in pots. The Legends might need another week.

These were just started yesterday so there is no info yet.
April 5
Black Sea Man

I'm going to start soaking these today, I'll put them on plates tomorrow
April 6
Italian Grape
Yellow Pear

 



 Are saying you transplant sprouts?  Never heard of that B4.  I just
moisten small containers and provide bottom heat and light once up
usually ~4 days where they reside till about 6 inches tall and hopefully
stocky  then placed out to permanent spot sometimes a cold frame  in
chilly and gray. 3 ~ 4 weeks latter.

--
   Bill   Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
 "I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful
 and rich an expression of life as growth"  Henry Miller

 



That's the way that I've been doing it, but "Creative propagation : a
grower's guide"  by Peter Thompson:
<(Amazon.com product link shortened)
ld-keywords=Creative+propagation&x&y#>
does it the way that the General is describing. The reasoning is to get
the individuals out before they weave their roots into a tangle. You
pick them up by their dicotyledons.
It should be in your local library. Take a peek at the chapter on
propagating by seed.

I'm looking at the 1992 edition from the library, but the 2005 edition
should arrive in the mail any day now.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.


http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

 

On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:13:25 -0700, Billy wrote:


of inch

about 1/3 inch

3Dstripbooks&fie

I've been doing it this way since I was a child in the 60s. I don't
remember if I came up with this technique by myself or if it was
something I learned in grade school. It's a very fast and reliable way to
start seeds and it works for everything I've tried including a few things
I grew in college, the less said about those the better but I will note
that the statute of limitations ran out 35 years ago.

 



 You are expanding my mind via text a good thing to ones own roots aka
knowledge stirred about.  Thompson book on order.

 Anyone else doing this technique ?

 Thank You General !

--
   Bill   Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
 "I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful
 and rich an expression of life as growth"  Henry Miller