Plants Beginning with G

Hints:

Temperature: The temperatures aren't set in stone, as most annuals should pop up at any temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees, while some tropicals will prefer the higher end of that range. Perennials and hardy annuals, which tend to like cooler conditions, usually will sprout at any temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees.

Moisture: To keep the seed starting mix moist for your seeds, cover their containers with plastic wrap until the seeds begin to sprout. Use aluminum foil instead for those which prefer darkness for germination.

Chipping or Sanding Seeds: These processes are only ncessary for seeds that have very hard coats, which water won't penetrate. To protect your fingers, hold each seed between the "jaws" of needle-nose pliers on top of a cutting board as you nick it with the tip of a utility knife. To sand the seed instead, rub it against an emery board or sandpaper until you break through the seed coat.

Soaking Seeds: You easily can soak seeds overnight in Styrofoam cups, writing the name of each seed on the side of its cup. If you need to heat the soaking water to a certain tempera-ture, use a candy thermometer to measure that temper-ature. Otherwise, use lukewarm (room temperature) water.

Gibberellic Acid: If you need to use gibberellic acid, dissolve a 100 mg packet of the white powder in about 1/2 cup of water overnight. Then add an equal amount of water to the mix to make a 500 ppm solution, which is best for most species, before soaking your seeds in the solution overnight.

Smoke Treatment: For seeds that require smoke treatment, add 1 teaspoon commercial smoke flavoring to every 3 tablespoons of water you are using. For the best results, find a flavoring that contains only smoke and water in its ingredients list.

Cold or Warm Treatment: When seeds need to be kept damp and either warm or cold for a certain number of months, fold a paper towel into a card shape. After writing the name of the seeds and the date on front of the "card" with an indelible marker, soak the paper towel in water, squeeze out the excess water, and place the seeds inside the card.

You can keep several such cards inside a folded-over sandwich bag to help preserve their moisture.

Keep in mind that, when a seed begins to sprout inside the towels, the first thing to emerge usually is a radicle (main root). So, if you pot up the seed at that point, be sure that you position it with the root underground and lower than the seed from which it is protruding.

Plants Beginning with G

Gaillardia (blanket flower): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 3 days or so.

Galtonia (summer hyacinth): Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 3 to 5 weeks.

Gardenia: Shake the seeds inside a small jar--such as a baby food jar--which has been lined with sandpaper until the seeds appear scuffed. Then sow the seeds 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 1 to 2 months or more.

Gazania: Sow the seeds 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 1 to 3 weeks.

Gelsemium (jessamine): Plant the seeds so that they are standing upright in damp seed-starting mix, with their tips barely protruding above that mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, in 15 to 37 days.

Gentiana (gentian): Because gentians have a wide range of germination requirements, according to species, you'll want to consult Norman Deno's Seed Germination Theory and Practice to find instructions for the one you wish to sow.

Geranium (hardy geranium): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout. The time to germination can vary widely from 3 days to 40 days or more.

Gerbera: Gerbera seeds don't remain viable for long and should be refrigerated within one week of their harvesting to preserve them. Sow fresh seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix with their pointed ends down and barely cover them with that mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 10 to 21 days.

Geum: Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 21 to 30 days.

Gilia: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 15 to 21 days.

Gladiolus (gladiola): Place the seeds in a damp paper towel in your refrigerator until they begin to sprout roots, which can take 1 to 3 months. Then pot them up in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix and place their container under the center of a grow light at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius).

Glaucidium (Japanese wood poppy): Soak the seed overnight in a gibberellic acid solution before sowing them in damp and sterile seed starting mix and barely covering them with that mix. Cover their container with aluminum foil and keep it at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 2 months or more.

Globba (dancing lady ginger): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 2 weeks to 2 months or more.

Gloriosa (fire lily): Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 2 weeks to 3 months or more.

Gossypium (cotton): Keep in mind that, to prevent boll weevil problems, it usually is illegal for gardeners to grow cotton in states where it is raised commercially. Sow the seeds 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 7 to 14 days.

Graptopetalum: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterilized cactus and citrus potting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 4 days or so.

Grevillea (spider flower): Soak the seeds overnight in a smoke solution and press them into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 12 days to 2 months or more.

Grewia: Heat water to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), drop your seeds into that water, and allow them to soak overnight as the water cools. Sow the seeds about 1/3 inch (8.5 mm) deep in damp and sterilized cactus and citrus potting mix. Keep the container at 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, in 10 days to 6 weeks.

Gunnera (Brazilian giant rhubarb): Seeds must be fresh to germinate well. Remove them from their husks and soak them in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes before sowing them 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Germination can take from 1 to 10 months.