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Hollywood, MD

I have four AG seeds and I'm having a hard time getting them to germinate. I put them in the pots one week ago today and still nothing. I decided I couldn't wait any longer so I carefully dug down and checked on them. One has a root started. The other three - nothing.

I decided to start over from scratch with the three seeds that haven't germinated and began by soaking them in water. They all sank so I'm guessing they are already wet enough so I took them right back out of the water and put them in dry paper towels to try.

I'm guessing my mistake is the soil and environment is too wet. I wet the soil before putting in the pots by getting a fist full and dunking it in a water bowl and squeezing out the water. This made the soil damp, but I didn't think it was overly wet. Now I'm starting to wonder.

I kept the pots in a plastic storage bin with a light bulb inside which was keeping it about 85 degrees. I did notice a lot of condensation every time I opened it up. After a few days, I kept the lid cracked open so it could breath and this made it drier inside.

What do you think I should do with these seeds at this point? Is there really something wrong or am I just being impatient? This is my third year and I've never had trouble with germinating before. The storage tub is the only thing I am doing different this year.

4/27/2009 6:12:07 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Maybe go back to what worked the last two years. I'm a firm believer in the old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

4/27/2009 10:02:34 PM

SE Minnesota

try this

http://gvgo.ca/articles/rivington_germ_tut01.html

good luck

4/27/2009 11:19:48 PM

Hollywood, MD

I'm doing that now, minus the soaking since they all sink. I think they are wet enough already. :-)

4/28/2009 7:17:06 AM

Pataskala,OH

You have to soak them it helps alot

4/28/2009 7:59:43 AM

Minnesota

I did'nt know they sank, I've soaked mine for 4 hours and they did'nt sink, I would think they are no good, dead.

4/28/2009 8:14:51 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I agree Richard, I have never had one sink. Sounds suspicious.

4/28/2009 9:23:42 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Bounce them off the table, do they sound hollow?

4/28/2009 1:18:30 PM

Hollywood, MD

Well, the problem is they are definitely too wet. I started picking them apart and found one had completed rotted. The other two still appear salvageable so I have put them back in pots with care. I also have some backup seeds on the way.

Like Mark said, it wasn't broke so I shouldn't have tried to fix it. I just saw everybody on here with their fancy germinating setups and thought I would give it a try. Big mistake. I'll keep to the basics from now on.

4/28/2009 6:36:01 PM

New Hampshire, USA

Probably just bad seeds, put more of each in a single pot so that you can get one to germinate..jim

5/1/2009 11:15:03 PM

Hamilton Nj

i planted my seeds in some potting soil 10 days they popped up only watered every 2 days till they got about 2 inches now there flying out of the pot. im not an expert but it sounds like u need new seeds!! bought mine on ebay 10 for 99 cents hope they get big! good luck pizzapete new jersey

5/15/2009 2:37:19 AM