Branching Out's Seeds and Sprouts

[Branching Out]

Well, it was a productive morning. I started a new tray of Crawford Estates lettuce, as well as a tray with five different brassicas. There are 10 seeds each of Asian Delight pac choi, Amazing cauliflower, Jade Spring pac choi, Ruby Streaks mustard greens, and Japanese Red mizuna. The red mizuna has awesome reviews, and I am really excited about that one. I was inspired by an article from Jaime at Quail Seeds that landed in my inbox, and figured I could try to sow some short rows of Asian greens in the garden if I could just get them started indoors. The seeds are in 3/4" soil blocks so they will need to move to the garden quickly, but if it gets too cold I think they will bolt. For now I will cross my fingers and hope that the timing works out. https://www.quailseeds.com/how-to/the-plants-of-spring-peas-and-greens

I often refer to another article that Jaime wrote, called 'Plant to Suit the Roots,' in which she refers to these I kinds of greens as 'sprinters'. So if all goes well we will be sprinting towards some nice nutritious greens.

Plant to Suit the Roots

After a few decades in the garden, I've noticed that roots are the key to many of the plant's needs and much of its behavior. While plant family and temperature preferences both are important, I find...

www.quailseeds.com

There was also a small tray of Swiss Giant pansies that got moved to what I am calling a 'seedling bin.' It's basically a tub of dirt that has nothing growing in it at the moment, so the pansies can hang out there for a week or two to bulk up. If I were to plant them out now it would be difficult to keep track of them because they are still very small. And funnily enough, when I was cleaning up the garden the other day I found lots of volunteer pansies that are about the same size as these ones. Pansies seem to like germinating in gravel, and my parents' gravel driveway is full of them. That may be how I start my pansies next time, because it looks like I could get similar results with a lot less work.

 

[Branching Out]

I've had a platter with dried sunflower heads sitting on our coffee table all winter, and today seemed like a good day to clean them up for flower seed. Leather rose gloves helped protect my hands while I broke them apart; after that I was able to sit on the edge of the deck in the sunshine and sift through them to pick out the viable seeds. A couple if the heads yielded only 15-17 seeds, and several of them produced well over a hundred seeds. I think I got carried away with this tactile experience, because before I knew it I had hydrated all of the seed from one of the large heads without counting the seeds first. There must have been more than 150 seeds, which is far more that I have room to start indoors right now. Lol. I popped 50 of them in the fridge, to try and hold them for a couple of weeks. When will I learn to count large seeds before I start them, instead of just grabbing a handful?? I have made this same mistake over and over again with spinach, so you would think that I would learn.

 

[flowerbug]

I've had a platter with dried sunflower heads sitting on our coffee table all winter, and today seemed like a good day to clean them up for flower seed. Leather rose gloves helped protect my hands while I broke them apart; after that I was able to sit on the edge of the deck in the sunshine and sift through them to pick out the viable seeds. A couple if the heads yielded only 15-17 seeds, and several of them produced well over a hundred seeds. I think I got carried away with this tactile experience, because before I knew it I had hydrated all of the seed from one of the large heads without counting the seeds first. There must have been more than 150 seeds, which is far more that I have room to start indoors right now. Lol. I popped 50 of them in the fridge, to try and hold them for a couple of weeks. When will I learn to count large seeds before I start them, instead of just grabbing a handful?? I have made this same mistake over and over again with spinach, so you would think that I would learn.

as Mom would say, "Your eyeballs are bigger than your stomach!"

 

[Branching Out]

Yesterday we were basking in warm sunshine, and admiring the simple beauty of spring crocuses.

 

[Branching Out]

I've been playing around with pre-germinating seeds for a few days under damp paper towel, and then moving them to vermiculite that is saturated with water to sprout. Given that the seeds are more or less drenched in moisture you would think that they would rot, but that does not appear to be the case-- and so far it's working shockingly well. The first one I tried was some old Hot Cherry Pepper seed that I stumbled across, and they sprouted nicely under lights in just vermiculite and water. Then a couple of weeks ago I had extra lettuce seed and decided to give that a try too. I was impressed to see bright green sprouts after just a couple of weeks-- and the little seedlings were a breeze to prick out and transplant because there was no soil clinging to their roots. There were 48 of them in a tiny take out cup that is just 2" across, and some of their roots were 2"long! Clearly this method has its merits. I will have to try a side by side trial soon, so I can really compare the results. In the mean time I have many Alpine Poblano seeds on the verge of sprouting in a small styrofoam cup of vermiculite, and some sweet peas and sunflowers (poked in with the pointy end facing down) in the works too.

 

[digitS']

You have a dexterous touch and digits.

Me, I had to look up the spelling of that adjective. I can be attentive to the task at hand but it would be challenging to remove 48 lettuce seedlings from the vermiculite held in a Styrofoam cup.

Transplanting does hold important advantages, especially as they relate to space. A protected start is a benefit. Care and Attention

digitS' de foliate

 

[heirloomgal]

I've been playing around with pre-germinating seeds for a few days under damp paper towel, and then moving them to vermiculite that is saturated with water to sprout. Given that the seeds are more or less drenched in moisture you would think that they would rot, but that does not appear to be the case-- and so far it's working shockingly well. The first one I tried was some old Hot Cherry Pepper seed that I stumbled across, and they sprouted nicely under lights in just vermiculite and water. Then a couple of weeks ago I had extra lettuce seed and decided to give that a try too. I was impressed to see bright green sprouts after just a couple of weeks-- and the little seedlings were a breeze to prick out and transplant because there was no soil clinging to their roots. There were 48 of them in a tiny take out cup that is just 2" across, and some of their roots were 2"long! Clearly this method has its merits. I will have to try a side by side trial soon, so I can really compare the results. In the mean time I have many Alpine Poblano seeds on the verge of sprouting in a small styrofoam cup of vermiculite, and some sweet peas and sunflowers (poked in with the pointy end facing down) in the works too.

Sort of fascinating @Branching Out , I didn't even know that it was possible to do this! And the little sprouts look in really good condition. Little roots really do love aeration and it would seem this method really provides that. I spoke with a greenhouse owner years ago, and they were experimenting with a new very, very high aggregate starter mix for all their annuals. Given their scale that was a big experiment. They said the super high aggregate facilitated root growth so well that they were saving money on fertilizer because they cut back so much in relation to the superior growth. Looking at what you've got here I can see why!

 

[ducks4you]

it would be challenging to remove 48 lettuce seedlings from the vermiculite held in a Styrofoam cup.

digitS' de foliate

You just need a bigger cup or bowl and the dexterity to dump and fish them out of that.
That is Fascinating, @Branching Out !
Did you read about this, or just come up with it on your own?

 

[Branching Out]

You just need a bigger cup or bowl and the dexterity to dump and fish them out of that.
That is Fascinating, @Branching Out !
Did you read about this, or just come up with it on your own?

This is an idea that I got from a grower who germinates his chilis in vermiculite, and decided to give it a try. When it worked I decided to try some other seeds as well. I suspect that not all seeds will germinate using this method as the moisture level is so high, so some trial and error will be required. Currently I have several more pepper varieties on the go, and I'm even trying a few Huacatay seeds as well.

 

[flowerbug]

This is an idea that I got from a grower who germinates his chilis in vermiculite, and decided to give it a try. When it worked I decided to try some other seeds as well. I suspect that not all seeds will germinate using this method as the moisture level is so high, so some trial and error will be required. Currently I have several more pepper varieties on the go, and I'm even trying a few Huacatay seeds as well.

the seeds will need to be pretty clean to carry this out for some varieties. if there's a hint of a mold spore they'll ... kaput...