I prefer toilet paper over paper towels, if the root grows into the tp it's super easy to tear away a bit of the tp and plant it with the seed, it disintegrates so quickly and hasn't harmed the growth for me at all. I struggled with tearing away the paper towel and damaged a few sprouts, once I found tp, I never looked back. Our area is also quite damp so I add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the bag and it keeps the mold away.
Cloth, like an old shirt, not fluffly cloth, works very well, doesn't tear or break and is reusable. If you use a darker colour it is easy to see the roots.
Great video ! You actually gave information without all the drama that others use in videos. I am 81 years old.....we processed our own seeds and grew most of our food when I was very young . Thank you for reminders of successful planting.
81 me too I can't stand the show business of some you tube channels inserting stupid commercial software shots, jokes, music and trying to be cute. I put the gear on 125 so at least I get thru it quicker. Garden channels are the least offenders, less show off personalities but I get what you mean for sure!
I got bell peppers to sprout in 7 days using a heat mat.. By day 10, i had 11 out of 12 sprouted.. "King of the north" was the variety for anyone wondering..
I use an old aquarium to germinate seeds. I built a heat mat with some #32 nichrome wire and adust the voltage (7-12v) to keep the soil ay 70F. I also have a couple of 24" LED tubes on top of the glass aquarium top and run them for 18 hours a day. I transplant the seeds into larger containers when true leaves form and i lightly fertilize them at that time, I've been doing this for 40+ years and have good luck with it.
What medium do you use to germinate your seeds ? I’m trying Cococoir because I bought those peat moss pods with done lids and it molded quick; I also like Jiffy……
I’ve used the glass of water and the paper towel method and they work fine but,my newest method is using (cotton rounds) my wife uses them for makeup,they are round flat cotton rounds! you can get them at any Walmart in the makeup section,you take 2 cotton rounds and spray them with water and put the seed on one of the rounds and then put the other ones on top and spray them with some water and I just put them in a sandwich bag with a little opening to get some air and 2 days max they are ready to plant!
I start my seeds in a 3' x 4' closet in the basement. 200 watts of grow lights hanging from the ceiling, which keeps the closet nice and warm (85 F). Eight inch fan for air circulation. I use 10x20 nursery flats with 72-cell inserts. The growing medium I use is Sunshine Mix #4 (Which is essentially the same as Pro Mix). When true leaves appear, I water with hydroponic nutrients (Masterblend) at 1500 ppm.
I am so grateful that FINALLY somebody who is an "expert" (i.e. experienced seed grower/gardener) made a UA-cam video so I can UNDERSTAND this stuff! -The Novice Gardener :) THANK YOU so much!
I done so many seed-starting trials I can't list them. Since seeds are cheap and germination is quick, I can compare the germination of identical seed in different mediums. What I've discovered is that I can germinate seeds in almost anything without much difference. Home-made and retail seed-starting mixes, pure vermiculite or perlite, potting soil as well as the paper/baggie method. The paper/baggie method is too fussy for me. Now, I use a good potting soil and I sow in pots large enough so I don't have to "pot up".
Cats and white dust string hairs even if you don't have cats theirs this weird white super thin hair fibers that stick to seedlings and attacks them and the other issue this year aside from, the white hairs.... is these fake Asian ladybugs they look like lady bugs but they go right after seed pods whether they have grown or not into seed, the Asian lady bugs will suffocate the seeds!!! they gang up in masses and attack the seed pods! It's winter in zone 4 and this is what im fighting off my seed pods and seedling plants right now so the domes are literally protecting my seed babies. Please do a segment on greenhorns and garden pesks how to combat and stay pest free outdoors 🎉 I know it's going to be a pesky garden year already because of the bugs already out right by the now.... it is not normal to gave bugs mosquitos or flies or fruit flies with blood in winter with snow multiple feet.... they should all be dormant.... it's getting wild -zone4
yowza love the baggie method idea ... I love to watch the growth of seeds and then get them transplanted, and knowing they are on their way. Otherwise they may dry out in my garden and then I think bad seed, so very helpful. love your delivery professional no nonsense no stupid software photos inserted no jokes just wisdom and generosity to share it. Blessings!
Your videos are very informative and your ability to reason and explain things makes it very easy for everyone to go out there and start gardening. That baggie method is a game changer for sprouting seeds. When I see that a seed has broken germination and has a hint of a root peeking out, I take that seed and immediately plant it out in a potting seed mix. It reduces the chances of damaging the roots when they are still tiny compared to a seedling with roots being too long. Love your vids!
Thank you sooooo much for this information! You’ve cleared up a lot of confusion I’ve had since starting on this gardening journey. I grew up on a farm many years ago and don’t remember my folks doing even a portion of the things I see on the internet or UA-cam and we grew fields of crops with no problems and they did it without harsh chemicals or all these different special processes.
I used to get discouraged because my seed raising attempts were "hit & miss" being more on the miss side. Some very useful tips here I'm definitely going to implement, thanks.
Wow, thank you. All this time I thought there was some kind of microscopic bugs in my soil. I never heard of damping off. However, I've had it happen to green beans when they were six inches tall.
Excellent channel. After long search finally someone who has practical experience, knows the science and does not repeat what he saw on social media! I finally know what stratification is, why it is necessary for some seeds, and in what case you also need scarification!
Wow a great common sense guy that understands the science of growing. Funny thing it was just yesterday that I watched the fellow clip the growing tip of a pepper than the hot/cold routine, to be honest, he sold me but because you covered such an array of subjects in such a concise fashion, I am going to follow along with you. Its late April here and up until last week my garden was a little on hold, my roto tiller broke down, the only thing I did not do on it was the pistons. Could not find a used one until a few days ago, so today I am back and at um. I have my seeds in the freezer right now, probably another useless tip. THANK-YOU so much, Don from New Brunswick Canada (borders Maine)
Hey I've watched many of your videos and really appreciate your contributions. I'm in prince edward county, so similar zone. Gardening is rife with hearsay and your scrutiny helps me make decisions
Great video! Couple small corrections: The reason for dome height is about how you'll use the lights. Tall domes prevent you from getting lights down to 1-2" above small seedlings (giving you leggy plants, stalling & damping-off type problems). So tall domes are for bigger, faster growing seed or ones that will be in the dome longer for some reason (usually not a good idea as you mentioned). #2: Seedling mix is not just about particle size, it's mostly about low organics. They avoid things like compost, manures, worm castings, rotting forest products, dirt, etc. that are in many low & medium priced soil mixes. Instead they use peat, perlite, coco fiber, vermiculite, etc. that won't contribute much at all to fungal diseases. You probably didn't notice a difference with your mix because it is one of the lowest organics of the growing mixes (and one of my favorites). Vermiculite you find in most seed mixes because it holds water so well, and also adds air to the mix for a short time, but it's accordion construction causes it to collapse and pack the mix too much for longer-term soil mixes.
Great video. Thanks for clearing some things up. The germination web search is very cool and fascinating how much info is available through it. I bought your book on Audible awhile back. 🤩
I'm planning to do my dragon fruit seeds soon. I was going to use the plastic shoebox with plastic wrap but the cup method looks better. If some germinate faster I can move them and leave to rest. Baby cactus grow in the shade of the mother plant so I won't worry about sunlite until they are stronger.
I've been growing Carolina Reapers the past few years and they always took about 3 weeks with a heat mat and humidity dome to germinate. This year I threw a handful of seeds into a little shot glass with just tap water, waited 3 days, and got them into the starting tray pods (still using a heat mat but NO humidity dome). 9 days later, germination!
Super informative thanks for your effort Concerning the point of speeding germination, I recently tried a method for two types of peppers that I got from two fruits directly without drying Soaked them in peroxide 12hrs, then a towel and baggie Amazingly the hot pepper seeds grew roots only after 24 hrs, while the bell took 7 days in the same conditions That was really shocking and unexplained
I use the baghie method. I have started hundreds of kinds of seds and i do it the way you do it. I have been able to start many difgicult to start seeds. I dont like to waste real estate on seeds that dont germinate. I use vermeculite on seeding medium for snapdragons, petunias, nicotiana. I use Greenwold Promix from Home Hardware, Canada. I don't like jiffy pots either.
Hi, I'm watching this once again, do you have a video on propagating from cuttings? I have almost no luck with it, I can't think of a better person to ask, thanks again for all of your knowledge you share with us!!
Hi Robert, thank you for the video. I have some Passiflora Popenovii seeds I've been trying to germinate for many months. I had them inside moist baggies for quite some time but couldn't provide the necessary required heat for them to germinate without causing some fungal and mold issues and so I resorted to seedling mix that I sterilised with boiling water. I moistened it and have it in an airtight container with the seeds planted inside now. When I took the seeds out of the baggies I placed them in a bowl of water to see which still sink and which drift. Around twenty seeds sank to the bottom. Herewith my questions: 1) the seeds have been in the moist baggies for many months without germination. How do I know whether the endosperms are intact and didn't become brown and mushy within receiving all this constant moisture but not the desired temperature to germinate? 2) I'm starting to get fungal web on top of the seedling mix. Can I sprinkle some cinnamon over the top of the seedling mix? Will it help and will it be safe for the seeds? I don't have a heating mat. I use an airtight container drifting on water with a fishtank heater inside regulating the temperature. It is connected to a timer that switches on in the morning at 7 and off at 5 in the afternoon. It is set to 35 degrees celcius as this is what the experts on passiflora seed germination advised for this species. Also a study on the germination of Passiflora Incarnata that showed 35 degrees to increase the germination to over 90%. And so for the container having to drift it has no holes and the mix was pre moistened. Upon germination the plan is to gently scoop them out and repot. I just find that growing medium causes less fungal issues especially for seeds like passiflora that can take a long time to germinate. Thank you for your time and your videos as always. Happy gardening ❤️
I knew the baggy method but wanted to use other methods since I was more familiar with them and I had the devices. The germination rates were always mediocre and frustrating. This spring I finally give the baggy method a try after watching many of your videos. The germination rates are MUCH improved; so far so good almost 100%. Now I need to pot those sprouted seeds🙂
Regarding the Jiffy peat pellets. I think you haven't fully investigated this one. I agree the common 36 mm size is pretty useless. But they have a larger 50 mm size that's much better. That being said, as a beginner last year, I used 36 mm peat pellets, and started *two* tomato seeds per pellet. 😅 One of those plants ended up being taller than me!
Your videos make so much of my gardening experiences easier. However my only problem: germinating my poppy seeds. Out of all of my flowers, I’ve never had germination. I’m currently trying the moist paper towel baggy method in the refrigerator as you suggested. I hope this works. It’s my last hope as every other method has failed for me. Thank you for all you give to us in the gardening community.
I’ve done soil mix, poppy seeds, topped with vermiculite and I got poppies to germinate that way for me. They need light and moisture so the vermiculite does that for the poppies.
@@cindyinpcola I am in zone 5 Missouri, and in Dec, just after Christmas I put 3 types of poppy seeds in soil in a milk jug and left it outdoors. In Feb I had germination. Last week I moved seedlings to the spot in the garden where I wanted them. Check out "winter sowing" vids.. Good Luck! Not too late to do
I like to use the domes and heat mats. I was able to sprout some of my Carolina Reapers in just a few days using that method. I would have given up after a month. My herbs get the same treatment and sprout way faster than the standard timelines stated in this video 👊🏻🌻👊🏻
Video was excellent....was hoping you would also talk about seed blocking....any possibility you can share? I have made a temperature and humidity controlled germination chamber
I really appreciate your channel as a new gardener. I apologize for this question on this episode but I did watch your video on acidifying soil as I was going to try your method on some blueberry plants I bought. I had been setting them outside in the pots they came in to get them used to the climate but one day deer ate almost all of the leaves and a good bit of the limbs on one plant and it got a lot of clear drops on the wounds. I'm getting to the point as I need advice on how to help these blueberries get healthy again. Many thanks
By FAR the best beginner gardening video I’ve found online. Thank you for packing so much info into one vid! I’ve been wondering if mine all died because I was using the peat moss I already had, or maybe because of how I’ve watered, it sounds like I may not be giving them enough time to germinate as well! Will be trying the baggy method!
Very good video. My Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers germinate in about a week with a heat pad underneath. King of the North Peppers take a around 1 1/2 weeks longer. I screen potting soil with 1/4 inch screen and add 5 to 10% fine vermiculite This makes an excellent medium for seed starting and seedling soil. The vermiculite makes the mix fluffy and very forgiving as far as watering is concerned.
@@Garysopinion Just using the eggshells as lots of little pots - a dollop of compost in each and a hole in the bottom. Once a strawberry plant is established, cut the runner and plant the eggshell.
@clivemitchell3229 I dunno man, the thought of the roots being confined to a solid wall of calcium seems a bit iffy. Also the egg shells will take a very very long time to break down in the soil. I'm all for using egg shells in soil so long as they're ground up to a powder OR in smaller pieces to deter slugs, but definitely not as a whole or in bigger chunks.
Excellent video. Question about grow lights distance from veggie plants. I watched your other video about the different type of lights. I have ones that are similar to the 4 ft Barrina. I understand how close they should be for emerging seedling. Now some of my plants, for example tomato plants are about 6-8 inches in 3 inch pots. Still too early to put outside in my zone. How far should the be from those plants. Thanks again
this was a great starter video for dummies thank you. I'm doing the baggie method with the paper towel how big does the germinated green bean root need to be to transplant into the ground
I only use a dome if I use a heating mat. Otherwise, I don't find the seeds need the extra humidity. Sprinkling cinnamon and vermiculite over the surface of the soil always helped me control dampening off and the green algae growth.
Can I place my seeds in my garden as soon as they germinate? My grandparents always placed seeds directly in the garden. They always had the most beautiful gardens ❤
Thanks for the info. I'm trying the baggie method. I've got some bush beans and watermelon seeds to start. I like really your shirt, can you tell me the brand or where you got it?
You are very informative. I am glad I found your channel. I have a question if you use seeds starter soil do you have to re pott them into a potting soil or they can stay in the seed starting soil?
So, if I’m starting seeds in a greenhouse with fans going 24/7, do I need to transition slowly to outside-can I transplant immediately? 1-2 days transition? Didn’t realize it was an adjustment to outdoor lighting that was needed. Maybe I’ve been wasting time/effort?
I’m confused about the baggy method; I love to plant fruit seeds and some can be quite complicated (like mango which I love); I heard we should put some fruit seeds, not veggie, in the fridge; I insulated veggie seeds under a grow light to germinate and most did; …thankyou for your advice and, for that link on germinating seeds, which is free of cost, hopefully it will come in very handy and explain the differences between germinating vegetables and fruits…. ; )
Thanks! I learned helpful info for sure and obtained confirmation on things I'm doing right, which I had questioned before because I'd heard otherwise-- example is the heat mat. I didn't jump on that bandwagon because of everything you said. I can rest my brain about that now!
I do use the quality domes. Why? Because, sure plastic bags and cups are cheap, but I can use a quality dome for 20 years. Saving a lot of plastic that would go into our local landfill.
@@Gardenfundamentals1 I have some poppy mallow seeds stratifying in my fridge I put them in there 1-27 and the packet said 60 days.. start checking at 30 days and remove as they sprout and plant but it’s now 3-19 and nothing.. I took half of them out and winter sowed them in a milk jug hoping Mother Nature would do better than I did (I’m in NH so it’s a little early to know how she did).. question is should I keep the rest in the fridge or should I take them out to room temp and see if anything happens?
Baggy method is also really good to get a feel for the performance of your seeds without committing to planting them. I don't do any seed starting yet but I do collect seeds, so I try to verify that they will actually grow before I store and use the seeds. I'd probably have a much better understand of how to plant different seeds if I did this starting more. I've had trouble with cilantro in particular. It germinates on a 1/10 rate and then like 3/10 of those even grow enough to make new seed. None grow enough to really eat without fully killing. I'll figure it out eventually :)
Just put seeds directly in garden - let plants grow to maturity and form seeds knock off seeds directly into dirt leave them until new plants grow I never run out of cilantro and we have snowy winters but the seeds always grow back plants in spring!
@@marktaylorp I planted my own seeds into a new bed this year so we'll see if those are a little more acclimated this year. Totally could have been my error as a new gardener too. I put down at least 100 seeds last year and I got under 10 plants that I got my seeds from. My kale and radish beasted through but the cilantro just barely existed haha. I love the plant and the seasoning so its not one I'll willingly give up on hehe.
Would ProMix BX (I do have a bale of this) be good to use in a grow bag for planting potatoes? Is there anything about the wetting agent or the fertilizer used in the ProMix BX that might be problematic for growing a root crop, like potatoes? Thank you so much for your videos.
So if u live in warmer climate w mild winters of 44-50 degrees then should I use frig to break dormancy of my milkweed seeds? Thanks for all the info by the way, you are one awesome dude. Ps I have 3 heating mats, wanna buy em cheap?
Mycorrhizal can cause fungus to grow on top of the soil that can attack the seedlings. It took me a few years dealing with this issue, then I figured out it was the myke in the mix. 3% Peroxide (before the seed sprouts) can stop the mycorrhizal from developing, only problem is you lose the benefit of it. Usually only recommend using Myke (or mycorrhizal products) during transplant. 👍
That's not how mycorrizhal fungi functions. It's not a pathogen that attacks seedlings.. it forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots. You're probably talking about another fungal pathogen. If you want to minimise problems like harmful bacteria or fungi, just use vermiculite in conjunction with your seed raising mix... it has anti pathogen properties and stops moss from growing as well.
Hi Sr. great video, but I been trying to germinate one of the hardest seed to grow its called: Alibertia patinoi, commonly known as borojó, is a small, dioecious fruit tree from tropical rainforest, one of the few edible fruit bearing species in the Rubiaceae family. Scientific name: Alibertia patinoi, Higher classification: Alibertia, Rank: Species, Kingdom: Plantae. you can buy them online even on eBay and ETSY, Ii would love for you to try these seeds and do a video this way you can tell and teach us how and its difficulty regarding the grow of this plant. I look forward to see it. thanks.
I do use a dome sometimes, just because there is less likely hood of the soil drying out before the seeds germinate. I can’t believe what a difference keeping a fan on makes, especially now that I can’t buy No Damp solution! I do use heat mats for the heat lovers, in my basement, but then grow on the seedlings cooler once they come up. Oh goody, you say start to fertilize once there are true leaves, that’s what I do, I use Pro Mix too but I assume there isn’t any real amount of food. When I was into all grain brewing I made a clone of Richard’s Red!
The dome will keep the humidity and heat in the soil much more consistently for longer than no dome, so for deep planted seeds ill still be using a dome
I prefer toilet paper over paper towels, if the root grows into the tp it's super easy to tear away a bit of the tp and plant it with the seed, it disintegrates so quickly and hasn't harmed the growth for me at all. I struggled with tearing away the paper towel and damaged a few sprouts, once I found tp, I never looked back. Our area is also quite damp so I add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the bag and it keeps the mold away.
TP makes a lot of sense :) I've had great success with unbleached coffee filters too, yet to have a root grow through it.
Wow! Cinnamon!!!
Cloth, like an old shirt, not fluffly cloth, works very well, doesn't tear or break and is reusable. If you use a darker colour it is easy to see the roots.
I’m agree. Toilet paper better ., then - paper towel
Toilet paper! Great idea. It would give the new root a nice anchor to push through with. Stealing it.
Great video !
You actually gave information without all the drama that others use in videos.
I am 81 years old.....we processed our own seeds and grew most of our food when I was very young .
Thank you for reminders of successful planting.
81 me too I can't stand the show business of some you tube channels inserting stupid commercial software shots, jokes, music and trying to be cute. I put the gear on 125 so at least I get thru it quicker. Garden channels are the least offenders, less show off personalities but I get what you mean for sure!
Now THIS is the kind of high quality video I've been looking for. Thankyou.
Thank you. It's so hard to find someone who knows what they are talking about.
LOL but they think they do!!!
I start everything in red solo cups. I use clear cups on top for domes.
Super cheap and reusable every year.
I got bell peppers to sprout in 7 days using a heat mat..
By day 10, i had 11 out of 12 sprouted..
"King of the north" was the variety for anyone wondering..
I use an old aquarium to germinate seeds. I built a heat mat with some #32 nichrome wire and adust the voltage (7-12v) to keep the soil ay 70F. I also have a couple of 24" LED tubes on top of the glass aquarium top and run them for 18 hours a day. I transplant the seeds into larger containers when true leaves form and i lightly fertilize them at that time,
I've been doing this for 40+ years and have good luck with it.
What medium do you use to germinate your seeds ? I’m trying Cococoir because I bought those peat moss pods with done lids and it molded quick; I also like Jiffy……
I’ve used the glass of water and the paper towel method and they work fine but,my newest method is using (cotton rounds) my wife uses them for makeup,they are round flat cotton rounds! you can get them at any Walmart in the makeup section,you take 2 cotton rounds and spray them with water and put the seed on one of the rounds and then put the other ones on top and spray them with some water and I just put them in a sandwich bag with a little opening to get some air and 2 days max they are ready to plant!
I start my seeds in a 3' x 4' closet in the basement. 200 watts of grow lights hanging from the ceiling, which keeps the closet nice and warm (85 F). Eight inch fan for air circulation. I use 10x20 nursery flats with 72-cell inserts.
The growing medium I use is Sunshine Mix #4 (Which is essentially the same as Pro Mix). When true leaves appear, I water with hydroponic nutrients (Masterblend) at 1500 ppm.
Your wisdom is a great thing you share with us Thank You Kindly for your Knowledge.
I am so grateful that FINALLY somebody who is an "expert" (i.e. experienced seed grower/gardener) made a UA-cam video so I can UNDERSTAND this stuff! -The Novice Gardener :) THANK YOU so much!
This channel is like a hidden gem. He’s like a mentor, answering all my questions after several years of self-learned gardening. Thank you sir.
I done so many seed-starting trials I can't list them. Since seeds are cheap and germination is quick, I can compare the germination of identical seed in different mediums. What I've discovered is that I can germinate seeds in almost anything without much difference. Home-made and retail seed-starting mixes, pure vermiculite or perlite, potting soil as well as the paper/baggie method.
The paper/baggie method is too fussy for me. Now, I use a good potting soil and I sow in pots large enough so I don't have to "pot up".
True - seeds don't know where they are sitting.
I have to thank you for educating us about the baggie method. I tried it last year and my vegetable seedling process became so much less complicated!
The nice thing about domes is it keeps the cats out ! Ha!
Cats and white dust string hairs even if you don't have cats theirs this weird white super thin hair fibers that stick to seedlings and attacks them and the other issue this year aside from, the white hairs.... is these fake Asian ladybugs they look like lady bugs but they go right after seed pods whether they have grown or not into seed, the Asian lady bugs will suffocate the seeds!!! they gang up in masses and attack the seed pods! It's winter in zone 4 and this is what im fighting off my seed pods and seedling plants right now so the domes are literally protecting my seed babies.
Please do a segment on greenhorns and garden pesks how to combat and stay pest free outdoors 🎉 I know it's going to be a pesky garden year already because of the bugs already out right by the now.... it is not normal to gave bugs mosquitos or flies or fruit flies with blood in winter with snow multiple feet.... they should all be dormant.... it's getting wild -zone4
I was just going to say this. My cats are VERY interested in my indoor gardening. haha
One of my cats used to like sleeping on top of the germinating tank because it was warm.
😂
I need your cat, last year my plants were doing wonderful. I woke up one morning to find Mickey my mouse friend had a feast...this year domes...lol
you should have 10M followers at least Robert - thanks for all your amazing work
yowza love the baggie method idea ... I love to watch the growth of seeds and then get them transplanted, and knowing they are on their way. Otherwise they may dry out in my garden and then I think bad seed, so very helpful. love your delivery professional no nonsense no stupid software photos inserted no jokes just wisdom and generosity to share it. Blessings!
Your videos are very informative and your ability to reason and explain things makes it very easy for everyone to go out there and start gardening. That baggie method is a game changer for sprouting seeds. When I see that a seed has broken germination and has a hint of a root peeking out, I take that seed and immediately plant it out in a potting seed mix. It reduces the chances of damaging the roots when they are still tiny compared to a seedling with roots being too long. Love your vids!
Thank you sooooo much for this information! You’ve cleared up a lot of confusion I’ve had since starting on this gardening journey. I grew up on a farm many years ago and don’t remember my folks doing even a portion of the things I see on the internet or UA-cam and we grew fields of crops with no problems and they did it without harsh chemicals or all these different special processes.
I used to get discouraged because my seed raising attempts were "hit & miss" being more on the miss side. Some very useful tips here I'm definitely going to implement, thanks.
Great video. It's my understanding that high domes are for cuttings.
Thank you for breaking it down. This is so helpful to watch.
Wow, thank you. All this time I thought there was some kind of microscopic bugs in my soil. I never heard of damping off. However, I've had it happen to green beans when they were six inches tall.
Thanks for doing this. Appreciate your fact based rationale. Right-to-the-point segments.
Great vid and it was time well spent.
The first seeds I started were radishes when in my single years with my grandfather. I recommend this quickly gratifying seed for children.
Thank you for what you say. I especially like that you say we must understand the reason for what we do. This is definitely a worthwhile video.
Excellent channel. After long search finally someone who has practical experience, knows the science and does not repeat what he saw on social media! I finally know what stratification is, why it is necessary for some seeds, and in what case you also need scarification!
I use pro-mix for my microgreens. The yellow bag. It used to be $7 a bag now it up to $11. Never have s mold problem.
I do use Superthrive.
Each of your videos is akin to a mini lecture. I have learned so much from your channel and cannot wait to start my native meadow from seed.
Wow a great common sense guy that understands the science of growing. Funny thing it was just yesterday that I watched the fellow clip the growing tip of a pepper than the hot/cold routine, to be honest, he sold me but because you covered such an array of subjects in such a concise fashion, I am going to follow along with you. Its late April here and up until last week my garden was a little on hold, my roto tiller broke down, the only thing I did not do on it was the pistons. Could not find a used one until a few days ago, so today I am back and at um. I have my seeds in the freezer right now, probably another useless tip. THANK-YOU so much, Don from New Brunswick Canada (borders Maine)
Excellent video, thanks so much for sharing!
Everything we all need to know!!!
Hey I've watched many of your videos and really appreciate your contributions. I'm in prince edward county, so similar zone. Gardening is rife with hearsay and your scrutiny helps me make decisions
Great video! Couple small corrections: The reason for dome height is about how you'll use the lights. Tall domes prevent you from getting lights down to 1-2" above small seedlings (giving you leggy plants, stalling & damping-off type problems). So tall domes are for bigger, faster growing seed or ones that will be in the dome longer for some reason (usually not a good idea as you mentioned).
#2: Seedling mix is not just about particle size, it's mostly about low organics. They avoid things like compost, manures, worm castings, rotting forest products, dirt, etc. that are in many low & medium priced soil mixes. Instead they use peat, perlite, coco fiber, vermiculite, etc. that won't contribute much at all to fungal diseases. You probably didn't notice a difference with your mix because it is one of the lowest organics of the growing mixes (and one of my favorites). Vermiculite you find in most seed mixes because it holds water so well, and also adds air to the mix for a short time, but it's accordion construction causes it to collapse and pack the mix too much for longer-term soil mixes.
Great video. Thanks for clearing some things up. The germination web search is very cool and fascinating how much info is available through it. I bought your book on Audible awhile back. 🤩
I'm planning to do my dragon fruit seeds soon. I was going to use the plastic shoebox with plastic wrap but the cup method looks better. If some germinate faster I can move them and leave to rest. Baby cactus grow in the shade of the mother plant so I won't worry about sunlite until they are stronger.
Thank you from Kentucky!
I am impressed by your video. I learned so much from you. Thank you so much. I truly love your detailed informations. Great job.
I've been growing Carolina Reapers the past few years and they always took about 3 weeks with a heat mat and humidity dome to germinate. This year I threw a handful of seeds into a little shot glass with just tap water, waited 3 days, and got them into the starting tray pods (still using a heat mat but NO humidity dome). 9 days later, germination!
I need you to do a video on uv lights I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I love common sense! not easy to come by these days, Thanks, as always!!
My pleasure!
Invaluable informative advice, so grateful . Thank you for sharing your years of experience.
You are so welcome!
Super informative thanks for your effort
Concerning the point of speeding germination, I recently tried a method for two types of peppers that I got from two fruits directly without drying
Soaked them in peroxide 12hrs, then a towel and baggie
Amazingly the hot pepper seeds grew roots only after 24 hrs, while the bell took 7 days in the same conditions
That was really shocking and unexplained
I use the baghie method. I have started hundreds of kinds of seds and i do it the way you do it.
I have been able to start many difgicult to start seeds.
I dont like to waste real estate on seeds that dont germinate. I use vermeculite on seeding medium for snapdragons, petunias, nicotiana.
I use Greenwold Promix from Home Hardware, Canada.
I don't like jiffy pots either.
Hi, I'm watching this once again, do you have a video on propagating from cuttings? I have almost no luck with it, I can't think of a better person to ask, thanks again for all of your knowledge you share with us!!
Ty for this video. Very helpful. Seed starting is a very useful skill.
THANK YOU, just subscribed to all!
you sir have made my day!weather in the uk is shitty to plant a lot now ive learnt something i have liked and subbed!
I learned so much from this video. Thank u for sharing your years of wisdom with all of us. Extremely helpful.
simply fantastic.. so much info in one video.
THANK YOU FOR THIS IMPORTANT DETAILED INFORMATION 😇👍🏾
Thank you for covering these many basic areas of growing seedlings. The suggestions you made are practical.
Hi Robert,
thank you for the video. I have some Passiflora Popenovii seeds I've been trying to germinate for many months. I had them inside moist baggies for quite some time but couldn't provide the necessary required heat for them to germinate without causing some fungal and mold issues and so I resorted to seedling mix that I sterilised with boiling water. I moistened it and have it in an airtight container with the seeds planted inside now. When I took the seeds out of the baggies I placed them in a bowl of water to see which still sink and which drift. Around twenty seeds sank to the bottom. Herewith my questions:
1) the seeds have been in the moist baggies for many months without germination. How do I know whether the endosperms are intact and didn't become brown and mushy within receiving all this constant moisture but not the desired temperature to germinate?
2) I'm starting to get fungal web on top of the seedling mix. Can I sprinkle some cinnamon over the top of the seedling mix? Will it help and will it be safe for the seeds?
I don't have a heating mat. I use an airtight container drifting on water with a fishtank heater inside regulating the temperature. It is connected to a timer that switches on in the morning at 7 and off at 5 in the afternoon. It is set to 35 degrees celcius as this is what the experts on passiflora seed germination advised for this species. Also a study on the germination of Passiflora Incarnata that showed 35 degrees to increase the germination to over 90%. And so for the container having to drift it has no holes and the mix was pre moistened. Upon germination the plan is to gently scoop them out and repot. I just find that growing medium causes less fungal issues especially for seeds like passiflora that can take a long time to germinate.
Thank you for your time and your videos as always.
Happy gardening ❤️
I knew the baggy method but wanted to use other methods since I was more familiar with them and I had the devices. The germination rates were always mediocre and frustrating.
This spring I finally give the baggy method a try after watching many of your videos. The germination rates are MUCH improved; so far so good almost 100%. Now I need to pot those sprouted seeds🙂
It helps me to understand the how’s and why’s-thank you for explaining all this!
Great video! I didn’t know damping off could be reversed. Also, that germination guide has almost 9000 entries now. Thanks for sharing that!
Thank you for the great advice.
Regarding the Jiffy peat pellets. I think you haven't fully investigated this one. I agree the common 36 mm size is pretty useless. But they have a larger 50 mm size that's much better.
That being said, as a beginner last year, I used 36 mm peat pellets, and started *two* tomato seeds per pellet. 😅 One of those plants ended up being taller than me!
You covered a lot of valuable info. Thank you for taking the time.
Your videos make so much of my gardening experiences easier. However my only problem: germinating my poppy seeds. Out of all of my flowers, I’ve never had germination. I’m currently trying the moist paper towel baggy method in the refrigerator as you suggested. I hope this works. It’s my last hope as every other method has failed for me. Thank you for all you give to us in the gardening community.
I’ve done soil mix, poppy seeds, topped with vermiculite and I got poppies to germinate that way for me. They need light and moisture so the vermiculite does that for the poppies.
@@francestaylor9156 Thank you for the tip. I’ll try that next year. Time has passed for this year in zone 9a.
@@cindyinpcola I am in zone 5 Missouri, and in Dec, just after Christmas I put 3 types of poppy seeds in soil in a milk jug and left it outdoors. In Feb I had germination. Last week I moved seedlings to the spot in the garden where I wanted them. Check out "winter sowing" vids.. Good Luck! Not too late to do
It worked!!! They have germinated! Thanks for the tip! Hopefully I’ll have a few beautiful flowers in the garden.
@@cindyinpcola YAY!!!!!!! you're welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like to use the domes and heat mats. I was able to sprout some of my Carolina Reapers in just a few days using that method. I would have given up after a month. My herbs get the same treatment and sprout way faster than the standard timelines stated in this video 👊🏻🌻👊🏻
Video was excellent....was hoping you would also talk about seed blocking....any possibility you can share? I have made a temperature and humidity controlled germination chamber
If you mean soil blocking - I have never understood why anyone would do that. more work. Dries faster. Messier. Why??
So much excellent information. Thank you.
I really appreciate your channel as a new gardener. I apologize for this question on this episode but I did watch your video on acidifying soil as I was going to try your method on some blueberry plants I bought. I had been setting them outside in the pots they came in to get them used to the climate but one day deer ate almost all of the leaves and a good bit of the limbs on one plant and it got a lot of clear drops on the wounds. I'm getting to the point as I need advice on how to help these blueberries get healthy again. Many thanks
Well done, makes a lot of sense
By FAR the best beginner gardening video I’ve found online. Thank you for packing so much info into one vid! I’ve been wondering if mine all died because I was using the peat moss I already had, or maybe because of how I’ve watered, it sounds like I may not be giving them enough time to germinate as well! Will be trying the baggy method!
Very good video. My Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers germinate in about a week with a heat pad underneath. King of the North Peppers take a around 1 1/2 weeks longer. I screen potting soil with 1/4 inch screen and add 5 to 10% fine vermiculite This makes an excellent medium for seed starting and seedling soil. The vermiculite makes the mix fluffy and very forgiving as far as watering is concerned.
Eggshells are good for propagating strawberry runners.
not sure if you are using the eggshells for calcium. do know broken eggshells and/pine needles keep slugs at bay. also Epsom salts. maybe DE.
@@Garysopinion Just using the eggshells as lots of little pots - a dollop of compost in each and a hole in the bottom. Once a strawberry plant is established, cut the runner and plant the eggshell.
@clivemitchell3229 I dunno man, the thought of the roots being confined to a solid wall of calcium seems a bit iffy.
Also the egg shells will take a very very long time to break down in the soil.
I'm all for using egg shells in soil so long as they're ground up to a powder OR in smaller pieces to deter slugs, but definitely not as a whole or in bigger chunks.
After watching your video, I believe I have had my soil too wet. Are these pepper seeds lost or will they germinate once the soil dries out?
informative as always!! Thank you sir!
Excellent video. Question about grow lights distance from veggie plants. I watched your other video about the different type of lights. I have ones that are similar to the 4 ft Barrina. I understand how close they should be for emerging seedling. Now some of my plants, for example tomato plants are about 6-8 inches in 3 inch pots. Still too early to put outside in my zone. How far should the be from those plants. Thanks again
When you germinate the seed using baggies, how do you plant it, is there an up side or a down side? Or lay it flat and cover it?
this was a great starter video for dummies thank you. I'm doing the baggie method with the paper towel how big does the germinated green bean root need to be to transplant into the ground
Hmm put seed is soil, water, give it sunshine..
Your videos are top notch!! TY question: what fertilizer is the best for seedlings?
Great Educational Video without the shenanigans! Thank you
I only use a dome if I use a heating mat. Otherwise, I don't find the seeds need the extra humidity.
Sprinkling cinnamon and vermiculite over the surface of the soil always helped me control dampening off and the green algae growth.
Can I place my seeds in my garden as soon as they germinate? My grandparents always placed seeds directly in the garden. They always had the most beautiful gardens ❤
Thanks for the info. I'm trying the baggie method. I've got some bush beans and watermelon seeds to start.
I like really your shirt, can you tell me the brand or where you got it?
You are very informative. I am glad I found your channel. I have a question if you use seeds starter soil do you have to re pott them into a potting soil or they can stay in the seed starting soil?
So, if I’m starting seeds in a greenhouse with fans going 24/7, do I need to transition slowly to outside-can I transplant immediately? 1-2 days transition? Didn’t realize it was an adjustment to outdoor lighting that was needed. Maybe I’ve been wasting time/effort?
I’m confused about the baggy method; I love to plant fruit seeds and some can be quite complicated (like mango which I love); I heard we should put some fruit seeds, not veggie, in the fridge; I insulated veggie seeds under a grow light to germinate and most did;
…thankyou for your advice and, for that link on germinating seeds, which is free of cost, hopefully it will come in very handy and explain the differences between germinating vegetables and fruits…. ; )
So much good advice! I feel like my skills will improve drastically if only a small percentage of this advice is retained. Thank you!
Thanks! I learned helpful info for sure and obtained confirmation on things I'm doing right, which I had questioned before because I'd heard otherwise-- example is the heat mat. I didn't jump on that bandwagon because of everything you said. I can rest my brain about that now!
Very informative. Salute!
Very informative, thank you very much
I do use the quality domes. Why? Because, sure plastic bags and cups are cheap, but I can use a quality dome for 20 years. Saving a lot of plastic that would go into our local landfill.
This is reason I invested in quality domes too.
I just reuse the bags for years.
@@Gardenfundamentals1 I have some poppy mallow seeds stratifying in my fridge I put them in there 1-27 and the packet said 60 days.. start checking at 30 days and remove as they sprout and plant but it’s now 3-19 and nothing.. I took half of them out and winter sowed them in a milk jug hoping Mother Nature would do better than I did (I’m in NH so it’s a little early to know how she did).. question is should I keep the rest in the fridge or should I take them out to room temp and see if anything happens?
I bought quality domes and they turned yellow and warped after let out too long. So investments like that can backfire.
You can reuse the bag, too. And I don't have to worry about the dome breaking.
Baggy method is also really good to get a feel for the performance of your seeds without committing to planting them. I don't do any seed starting yet but I do collect seeds, so I try to verify that they will actually grow before I store and use the seeds.
I'd probably have a much better understand of how to plant different seeds if I did this starting more.
I've had trouble with cilantro in particular. It germinates on a 1/10 rate and then like 3/10 of those even grow enough to make new seed. None grow enough to really eat without fully killing. I'll figure it out eventually :)
Just put seeds directly in garden - let plants grow to maturity and form seeds knock off seeds directly into dirt leave them until new plants grow I never run out of cilantro and we have snowy winters but the seeds always grow back plants in spring!
@@marktaylorp I planted my own seeds into a new bed this year so we'll see if those are a little more acclimated this year. Totally could have been my error as a new gardener too.
I put down at least 100 seeds last year and I got under 10 plants that I got my seeds from. My kale and radish beasted through but the cilantro just barely existed haha. I love the plant and the seasoning so its not one I'll willingly give up on hehe.
@@marktaylorp here in FL the cilantro bolts easily, they dont do well here in heat!
Thank you for the insights . Any thoughts on combining aspiring .sugar and yeast to fertilize
Thanks for your knowledge 😊❤
for damping off, what if I put the original pot with soil in the microwave to pasteurize the soil?
Great video!
Would ProMix BX (I do have a bale of this) be good to use in a grow bag for planting potatoes? Is there anything about the wetting agent or the fertilizer used in the ProMix BX that might be problematic for growing a root crop, like potatoes? Thank you so much for your videos.
The dome helps with warming up the environment if you use it with light.
A dome will actually keep the seed cooler under lights since it keeps the warmth out.
So if u live in warmer climate w mild winters of 44-50 degrees then should I use frig to break dormancy of my milkweed seeds?
Thanks for all the info by the way, you are one awesome dude.
Ps I have 3 heating mats, wanna buy em cheap?
I enjoyed your video. Thankyou.
Excellent video
Mycorrhizal can cause fungus to grow on top of the soil that can attack the seedlings. It took me a few years dealing with this issue, then I figured out it was the myke in the mix. 3% Peroxide (before the seed sprouts) can stop the mycorrhizal from developing, only problem is you lose the benefit of it.
Usually only recommend using Myke (or mycorrhizal products) during transplant. 👍
That's not how mycorrizhal fungi functions. It's not a pathogen that attacks seedlings.. it forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots. You're probably talking about another fungal pathogen.
If you want to minimise problems like harmful bacteria or fungi, just use vermiculite in conjunction with your seed raising mix... it has anti pathogen properties and stops moss from growing as well.
What’s the best way to germinate spinach seeds I’ve been having a hard time with them
Hi Sr. great video, but I been trying to germinate one of the hardest seed to grow its called: Alibertia patinoi, commonly known as borojó, is a small, dioecious fruit tree from tropical rainforest, one of the few edible fruit bearing species in the Rubiaceae family. Scientific name: Alibertia patinoi, Higher classification: Alibertia, Rank: Species, Kingdom: Plantae. you can buy them online even on eBay and ETSY, Ii would love for you to try these seeds and do a video this way you can tell and teach us how and its difficulty regarding the grow of this plant. I look forward to see it. thanks.
I do use a dome sometimes, just because there is less likely hood of the soil drying out before the seeds germinate. I can’t believe what a difference keeping a fan on makes, especially now that I can’t buy No Damp solution! I do use heat mats for the heat lovers, in my basement, but then grow on the seedlings cooler once they come up. Oh goody, you say start to fertilize once there are true leaves, that’s what I do, I use Pro Mix too but I assume there isn’t any real amount of food. When I was into all grain brewing I made a clone of Richard’s Red!
The dome will keep the humidity and heat in the soil much more consistently for longer than no dome, so for deep planted seeds ill still be using a dome
I request you to make a video on growing Proteaceae family of plants via seeds. And what is the role of smoke treatment in them?