HYB: seed preparation

    Working on getting those last seeds potted up before it gets too
    cold to work. This year I am changing what I have done for the
    last three years. I had used different sized pots depending on
    how many seeds I had in a cross, 4” pots for very small crosses,
    and up to 10” hanging baskets for the larger crosses.

    The first year, I got very good germintation. Then the second
    year it was much reduced, and again reduced the third year. I
    determined that the crosses in larger pots were the ones that
    failed to germinate in general. The last two years we have had
    very warm spells up into the 90s during April. Germination nearly
    stopped both times.

    Not sure what is going on, maybe the larger pots take longer to
    warm through when the conditions that trigger germination start
    here. Its also possible that the larger pots don’t leach as well.
    The mix has been the same for all three years.   Now only using
    the mum pots or smaller.

    The pots overwinter in a colder area, and I am hoping that moving
    them to the front drive in March may get germination started so
    that more are up before temps get too high. I should be able to
    protect them easily enough against the late storms.

    Any one have any opinions what the critical air (or soil temps)
    are to stop germination? Also any ideas about other things to try
    would be welcome. We have some seeds that would be fine
    candidates for experimentation.

    Robin Shadlow

    zone 5 NE

    where if we can't get enough seeds set, better get the ones we
    got to germinate : )

    Care2 make the world greener!

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