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Re: covering for germination

At 11:54 06.03.97, Cherie Ambrosino wrote:
>Hi - I'm new to the seed thing [just finished banging together my shelves and 
>adjustable lights yesterday ] and I've been reading as much as I can [which is 
>not much] - but I'm a little confused about covering for germination - some 
>things seem to say a heavy covering and some light or don't mention it - am I 
>covering to keep light out, warmth in, water in or what? 

Covering of seeds have mainly two purposes:

1. keep the seeds from drying out
2. keep the seeds from being washed away by wind or rain, eaten by birds, etc.

I am sure you can think of other advantages, but these are the basic reasons
for covering, in my oppinion. 

It is not necessary to know a lot about different species. As a basic rule,
I do like this:

- very small seeds (Lobelia, Sempervivum, Begonia, many Gentiana's) should
NOT be covered at all, just cover with a poly film or simular.

- all the rest should be covered with a layer that completely coveres the
seeds, but no seeds needs a specific thickness of this layer, as long as it
covers the seeds, and isn't to thick. It is often used as a guideline to
cover  the seeds with 2-4 times the thickness of the seed. Don't make this
very scientific, just cover all seeds except the very small ones with a
layer that you cannot see the seeds through, and put a poly film over it, to
keep from drying. Use a clear film, or if it is very sunny and hot, use a
white film. This works for perhaps 95 % of all species, if not more. The
exceptions are the few species requiering dark to germinate. In my
experience, even most of those supposed to be dark-growers, germinates just
as well in light.

Whatever you do, you will NEVER get everything to germinate. Always
something that failes. The last two months I have sown 850 perennial species
and 100 annual species. Only 400 more left! 


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Asle Serigstad

Asle's Staudegartneri - perennial nursery in south-west of Norway
Snail-Mail: Asle Serigstad, Lalandsvn. 351, N-4340 BRYNE, NORWAY  
E-Mail:     asles@online.no		    			    
Homepage:   http://home.sol.no/asles 
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