[CH] seed start
Byron Bromley (Byron.Bromley@gsd-co.com)
Thu, 20 Jan 2000 10:54:37 -0500
A couple more comments on Uncle Steves seed start method.
Here are a couple other idea's
I am not crazy about high Nitrogen/Phosphate fertilizers. I found an Organic
fertilizer 5-10-3 made by Electra. For the Chems I like Dragon 3-12-4 or
Mirical Gro's seed starter 4-12-4
For the OG group, 4.5ml per gal of chlorine is your max limit. I have been
using 2 drops per pint for small quantities, So far it has appeared to
work.
I soak until the seeds drop to bottom, Rinse afterward until all chlorine
odor is gone plus a couple min.
Lights, From Nancy Bubel's "The New Seed Starters Handbook", If you mix 1
warm white and 1 cool white in a fixture it will be very close to the Grow
Lites". From The CDN Min. Of Ag. in Nova Scotia. None of the flor. tubes
have infrared. This can be added with just a small incandesant light bulb.
(25 w)
Pre soaking seeds, Personaly I did not have that great of germination rate
with TSP or Salt Peter
Here is another method for those in the same boat.
Weak Tea:
Make 1 cup, let it steep 4 min ~~gets out the flavornoids. (Thanky George
Nelson) Dump it.
Use same tea bag and make a second cup, Allow to sit another 4 min. ~~to get
the tannic acid~
Mix this into water to make 1 qt.
Night before planting, I take a flat dish, lay out a paper towel such that I
can also make a cover with it.
Moisten towel with tea, place seeds on towel and cover, Make sure the towel
is completely damp.
Place another dish the same size on top and place in frige over night.
1. The extra dish on top prevents towel from drying out, and does not stick
to the towel.
2. The Tannic acid helps soften the seed coat.
3. The fridge treatment helps break the dormancy cycle.
Plant seeds next day
Byron