From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Tipp City, Ohio

I tried a modified version of Joe Ailts "Improved seed Starting Method". Of 12 seeds that I tried 12 sprouted and looked very nice. Tap root after only 32 hrs was a about a half inch.

I also tried 12 seeds from the same batch without removing the seed coat. After 8 days only 2 were just starting to sprout. Those 2 seeds only had the cotyledions growing and they were a green color. The roots, on those 2 seeds, were just starting to be noticable.

Does the seed coat slow the root that much? The other thing that I noticed was that the cotyledions on the improved seed starting method had not turned to green yet. Will the color show up later?......Tom

2/20/2002 1:32:06 PM

Long Island,New York

You should have way-more root activity than that.....somethings not right........G

2/20/2002 3:04:54 PM

Deer Park, WI

Nature designed the seed coats to be like armor. They are meant to protect the soft tissue inside. So it only makes sense that if you remove the armor, the process will speed up significantly. The seed coat doesnt slow root growth, it just takes a long time for enough water to penetrate the coat to initialize cell division (growth).

To answer your other question, the cots will turn green eventually. They have to or else the seedling will die. I usually transfer the seedling to potting medium once the root is about 1/2" long. This way it can adapt to a more natural environment asap. Anything longer than 1/2" is risky, becuase the main root will begin growing very fragile root hairs, which are responsible for nutrient uptake. Damaging these hairs early on in the growth stage could mean the difference between 30lbs and 1000lbs. (probably not that drastic, but you get the point)

2/21/2002 8:52:42 AM

Tipp City, Ohio

Thats what I was thinking, I think I was jumping the gun for the color of the coty leaf color.

I have 1000's of seeds left from my five largest AG(none over 184lbs) after many kid's projects of the seeds and paint, glue I was trying different scenarios to start these seeds. Actually it is more like trial and error....Tom

2/21/2002 1:58:44 PM

Ontario, Canada

Has anybody dried using a soaking the seeds in water with a fish tank bubbler?

3/14/2002 8:56:45 PM