Seed Germination using the Baggy Method

Hi Harry, yes practically every daylily seed germinated(think there were only around 6 or 7 seeds that didn't)spent this afternoon potting them all up, over 70 in all , still have around another 100 seeds sent to me by the BHHS this year, must get them sown tomorrow, some great crosses, I'll have to wait 2-3 years for flowers though.

 

I have been watching this thread with interest, and the transplanting seems to be the tricky bit, I wonder if there is any merit in the idea of positioning your seed on the kitchen towel so as soon as they have germinated you could simply transfer the kitchen towel straight onto a seed tray of compost and sprinkle a thin layer of vermiculite over the top. I would imagine that the kitchen towel would be thin enough for the roots to penetrate the towel pretty easily as it disintegrated and it would solve the problem of handling the delicate seedlings.

 

The paper is not a problem, as you say chopper, and indeed when my seeds have rooted through it I tear it and plant seed + paper together.

However, I only use Baggy method for the more difficult seeds, and many of those don't germinate evenly, and Baggy is good for them as you don't disturb their neighbours when pricking out. But its fiddly, like you say

 

Well after successfully germinating some Datura (which are now about 1" tall ) I popped some perennial sweet pea seed in to another bag and they germinated within a week and are now sown in pots...

 

I am just about to try the baggy method on some pelleted Petunia Wave seeds and also try some in a new Westland super seed compost ( I know there is a sucker born every minute ) I was going to put the baggy seeds into the folded paper , then lightly break the clay pellets - pop into bag spray with copper fungicide........all OK up to now. Would they germinate better in the dark boiler cupboard or under the bright grow lights The standard planted ones will be on the prop in normal daylight.
TIA
Update the Salvia farinacea seeds I germinated 100% with the baggy method are doing OK but seem to be lagging some way behind the conventional ones planted at the same time

 

Thanks Shiney, I will make sure I pay it due respect. To date I've only used it to "sterilise" Colocasia bulbs which want a good fizzing to stop them rotting when being brought out of dormancy, but I'd feel more confident buying 3% - 5% to use with seeds, rather than diluting the 35% that I have, so I'll have a look for that.

 

Thanks Shiney

 

My method is to moisten coffee filters with a dilute nutrient solution, drop the seeds on the filter, fold it and place it in a plastic zip bag. I use coffee filters so the radicle does not dig in. If you break the tip off the radicle when removing the seedling from the paper towel the seedling will not grow right. When the radicle begins emerging and the cotlyledons poke through I use tweezers to place the seedling in horticubes. When roots are growing out of the sides of the cubes I plant the seeds in whatever I plan to grow the plants in. Horticubes are almost impossible to over water and they let the seedling breathe. Here is a dozen romaine plants in the palm of my hand.

 

I've just sown some Iochroma australis seeds using the baggy method, but using cotton wool instead of paper. Cotton wool is sterile so I thought it might be better for slow germinating seed.
However, they started germinating after less than a week.................



Picking them out is easier than paper.............


The cover is an M&S yoghurt pot..............

 

Keith Iochroma australis is practically a weed, it self seeds all over the place.

 

Big 'ead

Seriously though, the last time that I grew it from seed they took ages to germinate so I thought that they were a good candidate to try out my theory. Especially as a load of my neighbours want plants next year. I've just sown some Tacca seeds tonight - they never germinate!

 

I've switched to using Vermiculite in the bags. Too difficult to get the moisture content right (for me) with kitchen paper, a small teaspoon of Vermiculite - "just" moist, zapped in Microwave for a few minutes of not sure of sterility. No problem with pricking out, or getting enough air into the bag / around the seed etc.

 

I've never used this method before, but might practice with a few seed varieties over winter to trial it.

 

I'll scrape some up off the path, seeds that is, if you want some, fed up slipping over on them when I go through to the allotment.