Seed starting failures.. How many unstarting seeds is typical?

[RickF]

Hi all.. So I started a bunch of seeds weeks ago (ok - 50 to be exact) in one of those indoor rootRiot kits with the lid. Most things came up just fine but a few varieties did NOTHING -- not one came up.. One was a variety of lettuce (tennis ball by Landreth seeds) and the other was a type of tomato -- brandywine if I recall or was it a breed of cantaloupe (I don't recall now )? Both were purchased recently and it'd be one thing if I'd only planted 2 seeds but I planted about 10 each and neither came up.. I've just re-seeded with the same seeds on the tomato's but put something else in for the lettuce and we'll see what happens.. The rest of my tomatoes (mortgage buster,etc) are doing fine and are 2-3" tall now.

Anyway, what is a typical seed sprouting failure -- the number of typical failures in a bunch that were planted at the same time.. Seems like mine were on the high side..

 

[catjac1975]

If no seeds come up from a package it is bad seed. UNless you over watered.

 

[so lucky]

Lettuce, tomato and cantaloupe seeds are generally pretty easy to sprout, if they have the right moisture and temp. Some are a little more temperamental as to the depth. I planted some various herb seeds that I had 0% germination on, but I had read that they were difficult. Valerian was one. I think also comfrey. I will try them again, or perhaps just get the plants. Anything you wonder about germination can usually be tested with a paper towel. Just place a few seeds in a folded paper towel, dampen it and put it in a little baggie. If you are testing large seeds like beans or corn, make sure it is a little damper to allow for the big seeds swelling with water. Set on top of the fridge. Check it periodically, like at 3 days, one week, two weeks. You can leave it there for a couple of months, but I don't know of anything you would plant in a veggie garden that would take that long.
When planting seeds in individual peat pots, I think planting 2 or 3 seeds per pot would be plenty. You will usually have to remove 1 or 2. Lots of experienced gardeners put one seed in a pot, knowing it will sprout. I find that if none of the seeds sprout, it is nearly always "operator error"--meaning I didn't provide what they need. Sometimes it just takes a while to figure out what they do need!

 

[digitS']

. . . or, I suppose, you could have planted too deep, Rick.

But, if you have experience sowing seed, indoors or out, that shouldn't have been the problem.

I used quite a bit of old seed this year. There have been some very large seed orders in previous years and I was just building more and more of an "inventory." And, I like ordering larger packets of seed . . .

Anyway, pepper seed usually takes quite awhile to pop up because I don't have the best conditions for it - 24 hour, 70F is about the best I can do. Some of the seed from last year took a remarkably long time to come up!

I was just out messing around with some cucumber & squash plants in 4-packs. They were put in at 2 seeds per cell. Often both came up, sometimes only 1, but there are a few cells with nothing. I'd say that I've only got about 90% germination from those seeds of various varieties. About half are from last year. I guess that means that I'd expect about 95% germination from new seed or I'd be disappointed. If it was much worse than that, I'd be a little "ticked."

Steve

 

[lesa]

I think we should all buy a package of patience!! A week is not a very long time. The carrots I just planted, stated they could take up to 21 days to germinate! Yikes! No wonder I end up planting carrots 2 or 3 times- I would never wait that long! If I were you I would get those seeds outside in the real sunshine- and give them a few more days. It is not unusual for very old seeds to sprout, and for none of them to sprout, would be very unusual indeed...

 

[SuperChemicalGirl]

One thing you can do in the future to speed things up and not waste dirt/cells is to germinate in paper towels or coffee filters. Make the towel damp (wet it and wring it out). Place seeds inside. Wrap up. Place inside ziploc bag, place in warm spot (I use a seedling heat mat). Check every 48 hours, and move sprouts to dirt. Make sure there's air in the bag.

That being said, some seeds still take forever to sprout - carrots, celery for me - the peppers enjoy the extra heat here and sprout faster. I look on the package and if it says "seedlings generally emerge in 7-10 days" I put the date they go into to bag on the package, then 10 and know in 2 weeks if I haven't seen any activity, I probably won't.

 

[Dave2000]

I like to soak big seeds in water for a day, seems to shave at least 2 or 3 days off sprouting so if I'm not getting sprouts, the turnaround time to try again is decreased... and often I can see them starting to sprout already so I know the seed is good, plus if the seed floats I know it's bad. Not sure if that applies to ALL seeds.

 

[digitS']

. . . if the seed floats I know it's bad. Not sure if that applies to ALL seeds.

You know, it might apply to all seeds . . . we need an experimenter !

Of course, it wouldn't apply to beets but those are seed pods with multiple seeds inside. Nor, dandelion fluff and coconuts . . .

I don't soak seeds these days. I usually have too many to get in the ground and wet seeds stick . . . to my fingers. I'd have seedlings growing not where I wanted them but just wherever I stuck my

digitS'

 

[Teka]

I have had poor germination with lettuce until I read a little! Lettuce needs almost no over soil to germninate -- seeds on top of pro-mix will do just fine. I used to start lettuce in the bed, but have better luck starting seeds in pots ( in 6-pack plastic pots or other sowing pots-- I use greenghouse planter flats with 60 individual planting "pots").

Put a couple of seeds on top of the mix, and water. They settle into the mix and need no other covering. Ditto for tomatoes. Keep the mix moist and you will have germination.

For carrots, add a little sand on top to hold the seeds in place, nothing more.

Melons and squashes will rot if the soil isn't warm... If you want an early start for these, start them in pots.

There is a definite difference in seed qualities. Buy from a reliable company, not the cheapest packets.