2022 Massachusetts Outdoor Growers

PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
Here's my starting soil, seems to be working well. I drill drainage holes in my keg cups, rocks for drainage, and LABELING everything this season, so as not to get confused. Which happens easily when you puff the old peace pipe.20220418_180902.jpg

So here's a question for the knowing, I could use a little help..
First time I've just plinked all my seeds into cups with water. My question is, when they sink are they ready? Or do the hulls need to be split? They've been in water almost 48 hours only found one obvious root, some sank, some didn't until I touched them. So I took them out of the water, and put them in moist napkins, ala my old method.
What's the rule here?
 
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YardG

YardG

Well-Known Member
I've always done 24 hours in a glass of water followed by however long it takes in damp papertowel in a ziplock bag in a warm spot. I've heard a fair number of people recently who discounted the need for the 24 hour soak (they just do damp papertowel or simply plant and keep the medium evenly moist til seeds arise) but I've done the soak + papertowel method long enough I don't really plan on changing much.*

I've always felt seeds sinking was a good sign, i.e. they were absorbing water, but I've had plenty of seeds continue to float and still pop.

* TBF I used to inflate the ziplock with my breath which I felt did work well but over time I came to accept I was probably also adding germs that didn't need to be there, I'm not completely averse to making changes...
 
PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
YardG said:
I've always done 24 hours in a glass of water followed by however long it takes in damp papertowel in a ziplock bag in a warm spot. I've heard a fair number of people recently who discounted the need for the 24 hour soak (they just do damp papertowel or simply plant and keep the medium evenly moist til seeds arise) but I've done the soak + papertowel method long enough I don't really plan on changing much.*

I've always felt seeds sinking was a good sign, i.e. they were absorbing water, but I've had plenty of seeds continue to float and still pop.

* TBF I used to inflate the ziplock with my breath which I felt did work well but over time I came to accept I was probably also adding germs that didn't need to be there, I'm not completely averse to making changes...
Click to expand...
Omg so this was exactly what I did. I soaked them, then added them to napkins in a cup waiting for them to Sprout. I too used to just use the wet paper towel method but with the $ I spent on seeds, thought I'd try the 'professional ' way.
 
bam0813

bam0813

Well-Known Member
Pioneer did you have trouble just germing in your media? Just curious you should be doing what your good with. I don’t keep beans for long longest probably a few yrs but never have issues doing it the real pro does it, Mother Nature.
 
LunarMOG

LunarMOG

Well-Known Member
i put them directly into soil, i think this may a) inoculate the tap root early b) allow biology to adversely affect the seed... i suppose there is some element of only the strong will survive this way, which i also appreciate... also less work moving them around, bigger soil mass is also good because of the tap root and its tendencies of delving vertically
 
PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
Happy Earth Day!!! Welcome new babies, Putang, Double Grape, Jack Herer and a Waziri, I believe. Born under a big ass half cheese moon!20220422_091014.jpg

Yes, I did things a little differently this year, but seems like it's all working out. The media I have is exceeding my expectations. I drill 3 holes on the bottom, <outer edges> and some brookstones on the bottom then add soil, mix it til its a little muddy and Boom! Ps, I had zero failures so far, need to finish planting today, so far so good.
 

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PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
Three days from Earth Day, the first day the kids first poked their heads from the dirt. From the time I placed them in water, the 16th of April, six days had passed.
All but one seed has sprouted and gone into dirt, 19 of them have now began to grow between 1/2 and 3 inches or a tad more. It's been warm during the days but cold at night, today I made the decision to go on a field trip.
I cracked the window and placed some cups and a temp/humidity monitor. Window went up to 68, compared to 63 inside.
I announced to the kids that we were going to The Porch.
They seemed quizzical yet excited.
Out to the porch we went, sans windowsill pots. I placed a temp gage and began to fret immediately.
I didn't want to get them burned if course. My porch is screened, shield one. A random fish tank screened cover on the porch became my second layer of protection. I find myself checking every 10 mins to make sure everything is copacetic.
Here's pics of some of the kids on The Porch. Out of 27 pots, 8 remain to show. 1 seed remains to root.
Cheese quake is looking strong across the board. Too early to tell if anything really stands out.
Time will tell.20220425_143339.jpg20220425_143042.jpg
 
bgc2020

bgc2020

Active Member
Need to decide what seeds to start for outdoor. Also thinking about delaying my start until July to reduce veg time to reduce plant size. I have a small suburban yard and both neighbors removed some big trees which increased sunlight but reduced privacy
 
PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
Seedlings sometimes get a little stringy, got this idea in a dream after seeing P59's tooothpicks - took it a little step further. I wrapped said toothpick with a twistie-tie, then cut short and curled into a loop. Will be using slightly longer bamboo skewers next. Here's a pic or 2.
20220427_080505.jpg




Ps Bam I forget where you're located, but it's possible that I will have some extra seedlings.20220427_080519.jpgScreenshot_20220427-082536_Chrome.jpg
 
PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
bgc2020 said:
Need to decide what seeds to start for outdoor. Also thinking about delaying my start until July to reduce veg time to reduce plant size. I have a small suburban yard and both neighbors removed some big trees which increased sunlight but reduced privacy
Click to expand...
Losing screening is always a bummer. I've found if fencing is too expensive in some areas, sumac is excellent for three reasons. It grows fast, it's cheap, and provides both cover and shade. Forsythia works well but may take longer to grow, also a little more esthetic.
Starting in July... would you have to use autos? It is only a couple-few weeks later than Mid May, just curious about short outdoor grows, sounds almost mythical to me.:D:D:D
 
PioneerValleyOG

PioneerValleyOG

Well-Known Member
So my babies have entered the 'shoe-string' phase, they are long and they gangle. Usually I transfer them into 1 gallon pots at this phase, but with it still in the 40's at night, it's not feasible. It's the least sexiest time for the plant, the stem is still weak and susceptible to rot which will kill the plant instantly.
Kid gloves.
 
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