Stickers....

Dr_Redwine · January 27, 2007

Folks:
From the looks of things I am going to have a bunch of clinging seed husks on my seedlings this year. I know what to do, the question is when do I attempt to extract them. Is it best to give the seedling a chance to expel it own it's own or attack them as soon as I notice it?

Thanks,
DrR

bcday · January 27, 2007

I have found that if I let them go for a while, very often the seed leaves wil begin to emerge from under the stuck seedcoat. Keeping the seedcoat damp helps. Even if the seedcoat stays stuck to the tips of the cotyledons, as long as there is a little space between them the first true leaves will have room to push their way through, so I don't interfere with those.

It's hard to say exactly how long to let them go if you don't see anything emerging. Even with being very careful it's easy to behead the seedling, so I generally wait until its siblings are obviously outpacing it before I try to intervene. And sometimes I find that the seedcoat hasn't come off because the seedling is a "bull head" that doesn't have any cotyledons and won't survive anyway.

Dr_Redwine · January 27, 2007

That makes sense. Since I posted the question, one of the little guys has pushed the coat to the tips of its cotyledons. I'll just keep them moist for while.

DrR

**Lee** · January 27, 2007

Yep, I agree with Bcday.

The only thing I've gotten for trying to "help" the plant too soon is a broken plant.....

Patience and moisture is good advice here.

Lee

feldon30 · January 31, 2007

I guess I've been lucky.

I've been able to pinch the seed coat in my fingers and it releases the pressure on the leaves and I'm able to pull it right off.

Remember those rubber coin pouches that you squeeze and the "mouth" opens up and releases the coins?

Ruth_10 · February 1, 2007

....and other threads here and elsewhere have mentioned using a dab of spit to moisten the seed coat. It is sticky and may have some enzymes to help loosen up the seed coat.

shelleybean · February 1, 2007

I'm a big fan of the spit method. I use a fairly large glob. I know that sounds gross but it works for me 99% of the time.

Dr_Redwine · February 1, 2007

Keeping them moist has helped. Some of the ones that were a bit more determined have been persuaded. :wink:

DrR

January 27, 2007	#1
Dr_Redwine Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pike Road, AL Posts: 111	Stickers.... Folks: From the looks of things I am going to have a bunch of clinging seed husks on my seedlings this year. I know what to do, the question is when do I attempt to extract them. Is it best to give the seedling a chance to expel it own it's own or attack them as soon as I notice it? Thanks, DrR __________________ I started out with nothin' and still have most of it.

January 27, 2007	#3
Dr_Redwine Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pike Road, AL Posts: 111	bcday That makes sense. Since I posted the question, one of the little guys has pushed the coat to the tips of its cotyledons. I'll just keep them moist for while. DrR __________________ I started out with nothin' and still have most of it.

January 27, 2007	#4
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Yep, I agree with Bcday. The only thing I've gotten for trying to "help" the plant too soon is a broken plant..... Patience and moisture is good advice here. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

January 31, 2007	#5
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I guess I've been lucky. I've been able to pinch the seed coat in my fingers and it releases the pressure on the leaves and I'm able to pull it right off. Remember those rubber coin pouches that you squeeze and the "mouth" opens up and releases the coins? __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

February 1, 2007	#6
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	....and other threads here and elsewhere have mentioned using a dab of spit to moisten the seed coat. It is sticky and may have some enzymes to help loosen up the seed coat. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

January 27, 2007	#2
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	I have found that if I let them go for a while, very often the seed leaves wil begin to emerge from under the stuck seedcoat. Keeping the seedcoat damp helps. Even if the seedcoat stays stuck to the tips of the cotyledons, as long as there is a little space between them the first true leaves will have room to push their way through, so I don't interfere with those. It's hard to say exactly how long to let them go if you don't see anything emerging. Even with being very careful it's easy to behead the seedling, so I generally wait until its siblings are obviously outpacing it before I try to intervene. And sometimes I find that the seedcoat hasn't come off because the seedling is a "bull head" that doesn't have any cotyledons and won't survive anyway.

February 1, 2007	#7
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I'm a big fan of the spit method. I use a fairly large glob. I know that sounds gross but it works for me 99% of the time. __________________ Michele

February 1, 2007	#8
Dr_Redwine Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pike Road, AL Posts: 111	Stickers.... Keeping them moist has helped. Some of the ones that were a bit more determined have been persuaded. :wink: DrR __________________ I started out with nothin' and still have most of it.