View Full Version : Germinating hard to start seeds
Snarkie
03-10-2015, 01:52 PM
Sometimes we all need a helping hand.
If your favorite seeds are in the “hard-to-start” category, we have tips for you on techniques to give them a hand and get growing.
The three basic methods for “encouraging” the hard-to-start seeds to germinate are:
Scarification - scar or scratch or nick the hard seed coat
Stratification - exposure to a period of cold temperatures
Soaking - hydrates seeds with tougher seed coats
Tricia demonstrates all the methods in our video, Seed Germination—Scarification, Stratification, and Soaking. Here's the link to the rest of the article:
Tips for Germinating Hard-to-Start Seeds (http://www.groworganic.com/organic-gardening/articles/tips-for-germinating-hard-to-start-seeds)
Richard
03-10-2015, 08:25 PM
Have you never been here?Banana Seed Germination Forum - Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/f30/)
Snarkie
03-10-2015, 08:31 PM
Nope. I just got that article in an email from them today, so I thought I'd share it.
Richard
03-10-2015, 09:44 PM
Nope. I just got that article in an email from them today, so I thought I'd share it.
I've met the owners. They're all about leveraging the public's infatuation with "natural" and "organic" into profit. They personally have little experience in growing and no interest in what is factually healthy.
gnappi
03-10-2015, 10:55 PM
I've met the owners. They're all about leveraging the public's infatuation with "natural" and "organic" into profit. They personally have little experience in growing and no interest in what is factually healthy.
I'm a long time lurker, and for my first post:
It sounds like you should be living in Cuba. Sheesh...
So why don't YOU spend the time and money to setup a site like that, for free?
Because it's easier to rip anyone up for trying to make a buck doing something useful.
Richard
03-11-2015, 02:10 AM
I'm a long time lurker, and for my first post:
It sounds like you should be living in Cuba. Sheesh...
So why don't YOU spend the time and money to setup a site like that, for free?
Because it's easier to rip anyone up for trying to make a buck doing something useful.
Actually I do have a site.
gnappi
03-11-2015, 05:59 AM
Actually I do have a site.
Such shameless commercial content. I said FREE
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 08:15 AM
My site is free. :0517:
Peaceful Valley carries quality plants. Many people have recommended them to me as a source for people to purchase dawn redwoods if they only need a couple of trees. Grow Organic is a division of their nursery; I have no experience with that part of the company.
I was all set to order some plants and seeds from Grow Organic but within the 2 months from my drooling and planning the plants had grown a pound each so shipping was significantly higher. Sad. I was particularly interested in a few brambles and a specific olive tree but bareroots do not double in size that quickly thus my faith in their product was lost.
Richard
03-11-2015, 02:25 PM
Such shameless commercial content. I said FREE
As Snarkie points out, the GrowOrganics aka Peaceful Valley site is not free.
:lurk:
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 02:55 PM
Well, I'm not going to get into a pissing match over it. The info I posted was free, and I thought it was informative.
Richard, you've obviously had a bad experience with them and that's fine. Thank you for sharing your angst with them.
Now, let's everyone have a group hug! :twonanners:
sunfish
03-11-2015, 02:56 PM
Grow Organics gives away their plants no charge ?
Grow Organics gives away their plants no charge ?No. They do put up videos and information that is free; it's not earth shattering stuff but is presented well.
My issue with them is that I had problems figuring out what fit in a shipping box because apparently some plants/tubers/seeds/whatever don't like each other well enough to spend a week together so I had to "buy" another box and that within 1 season they pretty much doubled their shipping costs. I'm sorry but I sincerely doubt a standard bareroot Marionberry weighs a pound and it sure as heck doesn't weigh 2 a few weeks later.
I made plans and a budget so I'm disappointed because I really wanted to purchase from them but couldn't justify the added cost. I wonder if others gave up also?
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 03:22 PM
It's possible, but I doubt it. Their prices are fair and the quality is good, at least in my experience. Would I pay that? No, because I typically buy 250-1,000 seedlings at a time.
If I were purchasing an ornamental or rarer tree, yes. When I want that kind of quality, I pay for it. Forest Farm is a good example of overpriced stock, but the quality is excellent, which is why I've purches hard to find items like Araucaria araucana from them.
sunfish
03-11-2015, 03:22 PM
[QUOTE=Kat2;257387]No. They do put up videos and information that is free; it's not earth shattering stuff but is presented well.
Not sure but I believe that/s called advertizing
It's possible, but I doubt it. Their prices are fair and the quality is good, at least in my experience. Would I pay that? No, because I typically buy 250-1,000 seedlings at a time.
If I were purchasing an ornamental or rarer tree, yes. When I want that kind of quality, I pay for it. Forest Farm is a good example of overpriced stock, but the quality is excellent, which is why I've purches hard to find items like Araucaria araucana from them.Ah but I don't know their quality because this was to be my 1st purchase. (Yes, I can go to Garden Watchdog and read reviews--which I do.)
I'm an old lady who has purchased quite a lot of garden stuff over the years; I've been a trusting soul with mail order before it was cool and never had issues. But I have never seen any company change their catalog during the growing season. They did and I find that suspect which is why I'm still looking for Marionberry and other west coast brambles. Anyone got some? ;)
(Yes, I should shut up--this is OT but I really do want those plants!)
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 04:02 PM
Ah but I don't know their quality because this was to be my 1st purchase. (Yes, I can go to Garden Watchdog and read reviews--which I do.)
I'm an old lady who has purchased quite a lot of garden stuff over the years; I've been a trusting soul with mail order before it was cool and never had issues. But I have never seen any company change their catalog during the growing season. They did and I find that suspect which is why I'm still looking for Marionberry and other west coast brambles. Anyone got some? ;)
(Yes, I should shut up--this is OT but I really do want those plants!) I have several acres of blackberries I've been trying to eradicate at the Preserve for almost 25 years. They're pretty close to the variety you have out there.
I have several acres of blackberries I've been trying to eradicate at the Preserve for almost 25 years. They're pretty close to the variety you have out there.
Okay, I suspect not. I'm not "out there"--I'm "down there". Having gardened in the Northeast all of my life, I'm in FL now and trying to master massive bugs, humidity, odd moldy situations and something called "2 season" gardening. Haha! Nobody has a clue when to plant an onion set. I just purchased $1 worth at the local feed store; supposedly they should have been planted in October. Except there were none to buy then. (And then there's the advice of vernalizing them for 6 weeks in the fridge which I'm doing and thinking I might just keep some chilled until next October--what's 50 cents?) Residents with only lawn and ornamentals love to tell you how to raise food except they gave up years ago but still know best. Even the Master Gardeners and the AG extension give conflicting information. Sheesh.
But if your blackberries are not tiny ones but meaty like the wild thorny ones I cultivated when living in MD (40 or so to fill a pint) then you've got a winner. And I'd be interested....
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 04:23 PM
Oh, I didn't see that you're on the Space Coast. Yeah, they're the same variety. I've got to get up there in the next 6 weeks or so to mow out all the open areas, as the Virginia pine is taking them over. I'll try and dig up a couple roots and stems for ya.
Oh, I didn't see that you're on the Space Coast. Yeah, they're the same variety. I've got to get up there in the next 6 weeks or so to mow out all the open areas, as the Virginia pine is taking them over. I'll try and dig up a couple roots and stems for ya.Not much Space stuff going on here these days which is how I found a cheap little fixer on a quiet street with 1/3 acre to plant and abundant woods behind my lot for any overflow.
If you have big berry plants, let's talk. My wonderful Sleeping Beauty thorned one in MD was gifted by a neighbor who said it came from the woods and never produced--it did for me.
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 05:04 PM
The fruit is about the size of a thimble, and if the plants are left to themselves for several years, they get as big around as my thumb, and almost 8 feet tall. I hate the damned things. In the fall, they draw the bears in too.
gnappi
03-11-2015, 05:18 PM
Grow Organics gives away their plants no charge ?
Gads, doesn't anyone read?
I invited RICHARD to put up a FREE site since he's so dead set AGAINST the folks he read a riot act about who MAKE MONEY off their site? He didn't like that they make money, but HIS site sells stuff too!
Also, Richard your page isn't in the same universe as the one you condemned in quality or content, I hope you can live with your own commercial interests. So GIVE AWAY stuff and you'll feel better.
If the berries are as big as my thumb (which isn't small) and taste decent, you're missing a great fundraising/marketing opportunity for your forest. Go through the red tape to sell starts. Figure out a great name for your variety and do it. Berry lovers can deal with thorns and will if picking a pint doesn't require 4 hours. Seriously, do it.
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 05:22 PM
The berries are the size of a thimble. It's the stems that get that big, LOL.
The berries are the size of a thimble. It's the stems that get that big, LOL.How big is your thimble? Thimble Sizing (http://www.thimbles2fit.com/sizing.html) (I had no idea there were sizes.)
This discussion is much more fun than someone with 6 posts attacking a longstanding member...
Snarkie
03-11-2015, 05:39 PM
How big is your thimble?Hah, that's a loaded question!
I had no idea there were different sizes either. :confused:
It's possible we've now derailed this thread--or I have. (Just for the record I am a huge fan of seeds that grow without great effort; I'm a very lazy gardener.)
Perhaps I should have clarified that berries from my beloved "killer thorn" blackberry (I took starts to Ohio but lost them) were between 1 and 1 1/4" long and about 1/2 to 3/4" in diameter. Is your thimbleful close?
Snarkie
03-12-2015, 10:50 AM
No, they're the berry native to Appalachia; about the size of a hazelnut.
Okay, I'm back from researching hazelnut sizes. :ha: (Heavens do you not own a tape measure?) Sounds like typical wild ones. How do they taste? If they're in poor soil they would probably benefit from enhanced care. I'm guessing red clay there; sand here but fortunately I get free compost from the dump--have to load and haul it but it's pretty good stuff.
Snarkie
03-12-2015, 12:07 PM
They are 102 miles away, and I do not own a tape measure that is over 100'. :0519:
I am up there seasonally, as weather permits, and it's a long commute.
Okay, so where is your forest? I assumed near you. I graduated from UNC-A ages ago--is that near where your trees are located? (I honestly couldn't tell from your site.) And if there are berries on those bushes now then I'll drive up and get some. And some ramps if you got them.
Snarkie
03-12-2015, 01:15 PM
The location is deliberately vague. It was still confidential when the site went up almost 15 years ago, but it's become so well known now that a lot of people can figure out the general location. Both Stokes and Surry counties claim it in their tourism and Chamber websites, LOL.
I'll give you a big hint though, the Sauratown mountain chain runs from Pilot Mtn. to Hanging Rock Mountain, and it backs up against 8,000 acres of undisturbed habitat.
The berries ripen in August, if I remember correctly. I'm never up there then, as it's too hot and humid, and there is no electricity for half a mile to run AC.
I looked at Eden as a place to start a fig empire when I was still growing them. Actually I was looking at a little west of Eden just to be contrary. Your trees are just below VA it seems. Interesting.
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