Go To Seed

 

 

 

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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 soak-ing water to a certain temperature, 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.

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Plants Beginning with R

Radish: Sow the seeds directly into your garden about a month before your last frost date. Plant them 1/2 inch deep and they should sprout in 3 to 4 days.

Ramonda: 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 about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 27 days or more.

Ranunculus (Persian buttercup): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at 50 to 60 degrees (10 to 15 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 10 to 30 days.

Rehmannia (Chinese foxglove): 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) and the seeds should sprout in 1 to 6 weeks.

Rhodiola (roseroot): 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 (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 5 days.

Rhodophiala: Although not all species require stratification, it's a good idea to include it anyway, just in case you have one of those that do. Place the seeds inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 15 to 20 days. Then sow them 1/8 inch deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can happen within 15 days, but may take 45 days or more.

Ricinus (castor bean): Soak seeds overnight and sow them 1/4 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 1 to 2 weeks.

Rodgersia: 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 about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 7 to 30 days.

Roella (bell flower): Soak the seeds overnight in a smoke solution before pressing them into the surface of damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 55 to 65 degrees (13 to 18 degrees Celsius) until they sprout, which can take up to 3 months.

Romneya (Matilija poppy): Soak the seeds overnight in a gibberellic acid solution before pressing them into the surface of damp and sterile seed starting mix. Cover their container with aluminum foil, keep it at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), and the seeds should sprout in 1 to 4 weeks.

Rosa: Sow easy-to-germinate types with small seeds such as angel rose (Rosa chinensis) in damp and sterile seed starting mix, barely covering them with that mix. Keep their container at 60 degrees (16 degrees Celsius) and they should sprout in 18 days to 2 months.

For other roses, place their seeds inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months. They may begin to sprout in the refrigerator about 75 to 80 days after being placed there, and can be potted up at that time.

If they don't, at the end of the 3 months, sow them 1/2 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix and keep their container at 50 to 60 degrees (10 to 16 degrees Celsius). They may sprout within 2 weeks or take several months to do so.

Roscoea (hardy ginger): 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 about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 13 to 18 days or so.

Rubus: In autumn or early winter press fresh seeds (those harvested the same year as their sowing) into the surface of damp and sterile seed-sowing mix, but don't cover them with that mix. Place their container in an outdoor location, such as a coldframe, over winter. They should sprout in 75 to 130 days.

Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan): 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 about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 3 to 5 days.

Ruellia (wild petunia): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 11 days or so.