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Watlington, UK

OK so I started my seeds last week, all germinated ok and placed in pots as usual. They're in an unheated room in the house, we have cold nights + frost so I had a heater with the thermostat set to 70F. Sounds OK right?

Except when I went to check one day, the temp had 'somehow' hit 140F! Which means cooked seedlings - or are they? After 7 days I'd expect them to have popped up completely with cotyledons fully formed, but at the moment I can just about see a bit of green breaking the surface of the soil.

So the question is this - should I persevere with them? Or start over?

If I persevere, will the heat damage be something that will affect the plant through its life eg like scar tissue that may limit phloem/xylem development, or is it something that will be overcome?

I ask because I have some good seeds in there, and don't want to have to bin them unless necessary. Advice welcome, thanks in advance

4/17/2021 3:09:55 PM

Georgia

Let me understand. You were able to heat an entire room of your house to 104 degrees fahrenheit? That is quite impressive. You did not mention the husbandry set-up of your seed germination. If you have them in one gallon pots, then I would be shocked if the actual soil temperature got over 90F.

I would let it ride for another week and see what happens. A week here or there is not the end of the world, thought it sure feels like it sometimes.

4/17/2021 4:19:08 PM

Watlington, UK

Sorry for not explaining better - I have a 4 cubic foot propagator with the pots inside, and the temperature sensor is placed in the soil of one of the pots.

4/17/2021 4:27:10 PM

Grittyville, WA

Start some new seeds.

4/17/2021 7:18:50 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

I’d think if there was a flaw in the plant functionality, you’d see it early through lack of symmetry, slowed growth etc compared to others. Always a must in growing to have a backup too.

4/17/2021 7:27:00 PM

start more seeds.. give these time to show what they look like or if there toast/ decide later but start new seeds

4/17/2021 7:30:25 PM

Colorado

140 will do them in pretty fast.Some growers have lost there seedlings with 125 degrees for a few hrs.Start some more.

4/17/2021 7:57:28 PM

Colorado

140 will do them in pretty fast.Some growers have lost there seedlings with 125 degrees for a few hrs.Start some more.

4/17/2021 7:58:02 PM

Watlington, UK

OK got it! Start new seeds AND buy new thermostat

4/18/2021 4:01:27 AM

Central Illinois

I would buy a WIFI thermometer too, you can also use it in your outdoor hut

4/18/2021 6:01:11 AM

Syracuse, NY

Check on your seeds as though they are crying babies - eg

4/18/2021 8:52:32 AM

Bethlehem CT

If there is life there is hope. If they survive I don't see why you wouldn't want to grow them. They will still have all the capability as a healthy plant. It will just be a set back like having to stop and tie your shoe in the beginning of a marathon. Just in case they are dead I would plant a few wild card seeds as back ups. I don't see how any newly emerged seed could survive a legitimate 140 degrees for any length of time. I have had radicles emerge and then had them rot before anything made it to the surface. If I suspect that is happening I bring the seed out of the soil and replant them to get air to the cotyledons and hopefully stop any rot that has started on them. If I were you I would dig them up and get a look at them.

4/18/2021 8:58:36 AM

South Dakota

I once had a mature pumpkin with not one viable seed.

4/18/2021 10:10:26 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Govee Indoor Hygrometer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0872X4H4J?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

2 for $20 sends temperature and humidity directly to your phone and saves to a graph also

4/19/2021 9:55:41 AM

Western PA

Dig out a few of the seeds. Smell them. If they smell like pop corn, they are cooked.

4/19/2021 7:20:59 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

If you are "seeing a bit of green breaking the surface of the soil" it sounds like things may be moving in the right direction.

4/20/2021 10:19:44 AM