RE: SMOKIN' SEEDS
Chris,
About your ice-chest method of germination; I tried the same this year for
the first time. I had 93 % germination of 15 seeds (14 our of 15)! I put
15 four-inch peat pots filled with soil into the ice chest. I moistened
them with hot water. I put a light (purchased from Farm and Fleet) with a
aluminum cover over it (like you would use to provide heat to baby chicks or
pigs) into the ice chest. I had a thermometer which you can purchase at any
grocery story with a 8" probe which I placed in a peat pot farthest from the
light. For two days I adjusted the lid on top to achieve a constant soil
temperature of 85 degrees. Once I had the temperature stabilized, I filed
the seeds lightly and soaked them for two hours before planting them. I had
this ice-chest in an out building so I found I had to leave a 1/2 inch gap
at night and 1" gap during the day. A small change in the opening made a
large change in the temperature. I found a 75 watt bulb was to much so I
used a 60 watt bulb which worked perfectly. Be careful that you do not
overwater (as I did) after they are up or you will kill the new seedlings (I
lost four).
Good luck,
Mark Seest
Lafayette, IN
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