Starting the germination process

[2die4]

While I'm on break from school, I wanted to get the germination process going on a small garden. Has anybody used a small growlight or anything else to help it along? Or is it a bunch of pots and soil and making sure the soil is moist? I'm really clueless on gardening in general. Any suggestions would help. It's still too cold to start the garden but I figure by the time the seeds sprout it will be warm enough to start.

[ak474u]

Garden centers carry seed start trays with plastic covers and seed starting soil mix which is sterile. Everything I start is in the sterile medium and we have a 4' fluorescent grow light as well as 2 incandescent lights.

[bacpacker]

Ak is correct. You can also get heat mats to go under the trays to keep a constant temp. Having the domes helps maintain the moisture levels. Be sure and not over water. You can rot the seed.

[Vodin]

Here are some ideas.

Grab coffee filters
Black marker (or any color you like)
A seal-able container (Ziplock, small rubbermaid w/lid, lunch meat container with lid etc..)
And paper towels.

Moisten the paper towel and place in your container. Write the plant name on the edge of the coffee filter. Put seeds into the coffee filter. Moisten the coffee filter and place in container. Repeat until the container is 1/2 full. Place in a warm area 65-75Fnd check every few days for seeds sprouting.

Once they have sprouted you can do this with the sprouts and at the end of this they are plant-able.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpNr5T4IJ-g

[2die4]

Garden centers carry seed start trays with plastic covers and seed starting soil mix which is sterile. Everything I start is in the sterile medium and we have a 4' fluorescent grow light as well as 2 incandescent lights.

Do you keep the lights on 24/7?

[2die4]

Here are some ideas.

Grab coffee filters
Black marker (or any color you like)
A seal-able container (Ziplock, small rubbermaid w/lid, lunch meat container with lid etc..)
And paper towels.

Moisten the paper towel and place in your container. Write the plant name on the edge of the coffee filter. Put seeds into the coffee filter. Moisten the coffee filter and place in container. Repeat until the container is 1/2 full. Place in a warm area 65-75Fnd check every few days for seeds sprouting.

Once they have sprouted you can do this with the sprouts and at the end of this they are plant-able.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpNr5T4IJ-g

I keep the house between 60-68 degrees regardless how cold it is outside. I'll have to resort to a grow light to bring it up to 70 + degrees

[Vodin]

Place them on top of your refrigerator if you wish to save money.

[Vodin]

I run an aquaponics system in my basement. I am currently sprouting seeds. The seeds sit on the netting above the water and are under a glass panel. I keep the water at 74-76F Sprouting seeds don't need light. They need light after they are planted in soil.

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/IMG_2890_zps1b8bcfc6.jpg (http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/Vodin136/media/IMG_2890_zps1b8bcfc6.jpg.html)

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/IMG_3620_zpsycpzbwe2.jpg (http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/Vodin136/media/IMG_3620_zpsycpzbwe2.jpg.html)

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y534/Vodin136/IMG_3611_zpsgsd1plqu.jpg (http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/Vodin136/media/IMG_3611_zpsgsd1plqu.jpg.html)

[ak474u]

Do you keep the lights on 24/7?

From about 7am to 8:30-9pm. There is almost zero natural light on the north side of the house where the front room. I am however moving the whole setup to my spare bedroom on the west side in front of the window this afternoon.

[Sniper-T]

One thing I do to pre-germinate seeds for planting, is to take a simple teacup saucer, lay some paper towel across it, and then add the seeds in about a 1 inch grid. fold the paper towel over top and wet... soak, I mean. When they start sprouting, grab your scissors, cut the 1 inch squares between the sprouts, and plant the whole thing. Until they sprout, make sure the paper towel stays WET.

[2die4]

Place them on top of your refrigerator if you wish to save money.
I will do that. I never would have thought about the fridge. Thank you. I was wondering how much lights were going to set me back. Now I don't have to.

[Socalman]

Whether I am planting directly in the ground or in starter pots, I soak my seeds for a few hours. Tiny seeds like radish or even tomatos do not get the soaking, it simply makes them too difficult to handle. I have had excellent results with this method. This year my two plantings of green beans, Blue Lake Pole, have had a 100% germination rate. Same rate with my yellow crook neck squash. I have had a 0% (zero) for some old zuchinni. It was from a 2007 seed packet. Just dumped them today and replanted with fresh 2015 seed.

[Vodin]

Another thought seeds don't require light for the initial sprouting. Place the container with the seeds on top of your hot water heater. The outer shell of the hot water heater. Really just think of anything that gets warm in your residence.

I built a greenhouse out of PVC pipe take a look at the garden post. The cost was minimal.