bananimal

Let me offer my 2 cents here. Regarding germinating "tough" seeds.

Before I headed out to the SW carribean, on a cruise in Feb, I had a bunch of seeds of different plants that I wanted to see sprouted when I got home.

Did something that has worked for me for many years.

Planted the seeds, no scarification, in the surrounding soil of various potted plants. Well grown out plants but definitely not root bound. Have to have loose surface soil to stick the seeds in, right?

These pots were placed where the automatic irrigation system would take care of them while I was away.

My theory has always been you can't drown these guys in soil where there is a thriving plant that is using up the water. Wallah - no damping off!

Best example --- all my Imperial Star artichoke seeds germinated -- 10% failed to sprout. That's a way better yield than the supplier specified. Same for the Jolokia peppers, the Anchos and the Aji Dulces -- Venezolano and Puerto Rican -- better than 90% yield. When I got home I xpanted the 2-3 inch sprouts in seedling trays.

Bottom line-- living plants maintain an environment conducive to growth --- works for me!!!

So what do you guys think?

Dan