September 3, 2017 | #61 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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I wonder if your seed came from very ripe tomatoes. In the past when my germination was poor it was because my tomatoes weren't ripe enough.
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September 3, 2017 | #62 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 992
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I did double check and the posts are there and you are correct about the Vegetable Gardening topic. I added it there also!!
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September 3, 2017 | #63 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3
Posts: 3,224
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Spike, that is weird! I see it in Beans, Hot Peppers, and Vegetables, but for me it doesn't show up in Growing Tomatoes, Round Robin or Seed Saving ( I don't find a Seed Exchange anymore.) I thought there used to be a seed exchange as a subforum to Growing Tomatoes, but I don't see it there now.
Houzz has not made it easy to find things easily, and so many pop-ups offering their services get in the way, some with no X button, so end up closing the entire window to get out. I only check in about once a month. ... Whoa, I take back there not being a Seed Exchange, it must have come up on a tab I was searching and didn't close. Looks like it's part of More Forums/Exchanges and Trading/Seed Exchange. But I don't see your post there.
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Dee ************** Last edited by ddsack; September 3, 2017 at 11:01 AM. Reason: Found the Seed Exchange |
September 3, 2017 | #64 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NJ
Posts: 95
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I'm having the same problem. I think in my case I let them ferment too long. They fermented about a week. Next time I won't let them go that long.
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September 3, 2017 | #65 | |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Quote:
The first germination test I did was clearly my error. I soaked the paper towels that I put in the zipper bags. After 3 weeks of next to nothing - I tossed the bags yesterday. Two weeks ago, I planted more seeds in starter cells just like I have always done in the past. I made sure I did not plant them too deep. As soon as they started coming up, I removed the plastic dome. I monitored the pro mix to not let it get too wet or dry. There was plenty of light, and I kept the temperature in the room between 75 and 80F. The one variety that did best had 4 of 12 seeds germinate. Where the seeds came from: Fully ripe tomatoes I grew myself. EDIT/Added info - Do any of you remember me writing about the tomatoes not having much taste this year? The following paragraph might explain that too. What I am wondering about is if the growing conditions in the soil was just too harsh on the plants to let them fully develop the seeds? The plants did grow with RKN and Fusarium race 3 in the soil. If that is not the answer - then I don't know? Last edited by AlittleSalt; September 3, 2017 at 11:53 AM. |
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September 3, 2017 | #66 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,928
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That all sounds very good Robert. The only thing I can see is maybe you are fermenting too long. I don't wait for a certain type of mold mat to form. I am just waiting enough fermentation and mold to form for the gel coats and placenta tissue to break down. For that to happen it generally takes about 3 days. I have found for myself in the past that fermenting too long diminishes the viability of seeds.
perhaps try a shorter ferment and see if that makes a difference. I made a little pictorial on how to ferment and clean tomato seeds on my Northern Gardener page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Northern...44168162391039 clearly there are many other methods that work for people, this is how I do mine. KarenO |
September 3, 2017 | #67 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,917
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Maybe it was a bit too long of a fermentation? I usually clean and dry within a day or two of the fungal mat developing, it it even develops. Otherwise I go by smell, presence of bubbles, and I check to see how many clean looking (no gel sack) seeds are sitting at the bottom of the jar.
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September 3, 2017 | #68 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 992
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Quote:
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September 3, 2017 | #69 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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That must be it. I have a few plants growing in the fall garden. If they produce, I will ferment for a shorter time.
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September 3, 2017 | #70 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 3,194
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Salt, you could try one more germ test. I sprinkle cinnamon on top of my newly planted seeds. It has antifungal properties that keep damping off at bay. Is it possible that your seeds are fine but damping off kept them from growing?
Nan |
September 4, 2017 | #71 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Nan, I had never heard of using cinnamon.
After some thought, this is the first time I have tried germinating in the Pro Mix I bought at Walmart earlier this year. ($17 a bag - I forget the brand name - I'll have to look tomorrow in the daytime.) It could be there is something wrong with that bag of pro mix because I had horrible results using it in three large pots of tomato plants earlier this year. I know I'm grasping at straws, but it could be that pro mix is contaminated with something? I'll try again using MG which has always produced good results for me - I'll have to buy some Wednesday. The varieties are some that not everyone has seeds for, but I can't say what those varieties are because of the (Mostly Mystery part of MMMM). The main one I wanted to share is the one I thought was only 33%, but after closer examination today, there are 5 of 12 that have germinated raising it to 41.6%. I will clearly mark that on a card in the bags. If everyone could go to any site to get seeds for them - it wouldn't matter, but this one was available only at one site that is now out of business. This tomato starts out light green with early signs of antho shoulders - then grows into a bluish black color quickly (At this stage, it's hard as a rock) - then it becomes striped as it matures. Just growing it is fun to watch, and it also tastes good. (I sound like a salesman) But that's why I want to share it so much. |
September 4, 2017 | #72 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 3,194
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Quote:
For 42% germination, it's simply a "double sow" seed, so that's great news right there. But I think there's a real chance the %age will go up with a better germ test. Nan |
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September 5, 2017 | #73 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MA
Posts: 4,966
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Quote:
It may be this computer, but I can't find a post in any of those forums. Houzz/GardenWeb members can join from there. All rules will be posted in forums, here, that can be read by non-members. Things like the master wish list, they can't read, but I'll provide my email address (dwcmuseum "at" yahoo.com) (change the "at" to @), so that those at Houzz can send their wish lists to me, and I can then post their lists. |
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September 5, 2017 | #74 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 992
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Quote:
Forum: Round Robin http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussi...ille-mmmm-swap Bean Pea and Legume http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussi...-mmmm-swap?n=5 Growing Tomatoes http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussi...ille-mmmm-swap Hot Pepper http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussi...ille-mmmm-swap Seed Saving http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussi...ille-mmmm-swap Seed Exchange http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discuss...ille-mmmm-swap Vegetable Gardening http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discuss...ille-mmmm-swap |
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September 5, 2017 | #75 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 3,825
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None of those pages exist now. I think you got moderated.
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