Germinating Seeds Quickly

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by shiney, May 18, 2011.

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  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    We, like many others this year seem to have been having trouble getting some seeds to germinate. Especially chillies.

    Mrs shiney came up with an idea and it appears to work well. :dbgrtmb:

    She has a seed sprouter for sprouting edible seeds like mung beans (bean sprouts) and alfalfa etc. So she decided to use it for germinating seeds.

    She placed them on damp tissue in the sprouter, in the kitchen, and they germinated in three days :yahoo:

    This is what it looks like:-

    chilli seeds

    [​IMG]


    butternut squash

    [​IMG]



    And this is the sprouter

    [​IMG]


    I'll update this as it goes along and we shall see whether they grow properly.
     
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      shiney, May 18, 2011
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    • HarryS

      HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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      Shiney , this looks like a very high tech version of the Deno method of germination . I have placed seeds in damp kitchen towel inside a plastic bag and then put them in the boiler cupboard ,had lots of success :thumbsup: I also had a devil of a job germinating my Jalapeno seeds only managed 2 from about 50 seeds !
      Is that device acually bought as a "seed sprouter", or are you pulling the proverbial ?:D
       
      HarryS, May 21, 2011
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      Harry,
      it's sold as a 'seed sprouter' but as a culinary one and not a gardening one. They can be bought in health food shops as seed germinators - retail price about £16 but Mrs shiney gets them trade at £8.75 + VAT. The three layers give quite a lot of surface area. They last many years.

      i've just Googled this http://www.healthstore.uk.com/c43429/sprouting-seed-germinators.html

      For sprouting the seeds for eating you don't put them on paper. The seeds just get put into the diferent layers in the sprouter, pour water on to them and let it drain down to the bottom container (there are drainage holes with little valves in them that take the water away slowly). Each day you just pour a little cold water over them to rinse them and in 7 - 10 days they have grown sufficiently for you to eat them. Similar to what you see on sale in the salad section of a supermarket.

      Mrs shiney potted up half the butternut squash and they have come through the soil OK and she potted up the chillies but they haven't come through yet.

      These are the rest of the butternut squash. Only one hasn't germinated.

      [​IMG]
       
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        shiney, May 21, 2011
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      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        Shiney, that looks the same as the 'BioSnacky' seed sprouter my wife bought from a car boot sale for 50p and looked like it had never been used (it didn't have any seeds for sprouting with it, but it did have some seasoning for putting on them). Those red drainage plugs in each tray were the clincher. Ours also has a clear bottom bowl like yours, unlike the (newer?) model shown in your link.

        I've been eyeing it up for germinating seeds in because the box actually has "Mini Greenhouse" printed on it:

        [​IMG]
         
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          Scrungee, May 21, 2011
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Yes, it's a BioSnacky. If you wanted it for edibles you casn buy the seeds in any health food shop. If it is just for bean sprouts you can buy mung beans in any supermarket.

          Of course, if you appropriate it for germinating seeds for the garden you have a bargain at 50p :dbgrtmb:
           
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            shiney, May 21, 2011
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            We get our Mustard and Cress in (separate) 1Kg bags and they last about 2 years or so, hunt around for best price on the like of mung beans. All (suitable) old, out of date, excess, specially grown seeds get germinated and feed to the hens in winter when greenstuff is frozen/covered in snow. At times we have 3 different seed sprouters all on the go.
             
            Scrungee, May 21, 2011
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          • capney

            capney Head Gardener

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            This looks interesting. My dehydrator has trays which look similar.
            I`m just wondering if I can adapt it. It has three trays.
            Think I might just give it a go.
            Thanks...
            shiney
             
            capney, May 21, 2011
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          • Kandy

            Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

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            Shiney thanks for putting up this thread.:thumbsup:I missed it when you put it up on here as we were not on line and will show it to Mr Kandy:)

            I sowed my squashes over three weeks ago and as they were not doing anything sowed them again and stuck them in the airing cupboard this time which has helped but one of them had the baby leaves stuck together and one other had a bit of die back on one leaf but it has now opened up to reveal the start of the next true leaves:yess:

            We saw in our local garden centre last Autumn that they were selling those seeds germinators but didn't buy any as they were a bit small looking as they were square whereas Mrs Shiney's ones look larger as they are round:D
             
            Kandy, May 22, 2011
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          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            They're approx 9" diameter. :dbgrtmb:
             
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              shiney, May 22, 2011
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            • capney

              capney Head Gardener

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              I have picked up on shineys idea and set up a selection of seeds on my dehydrator trays.
              This the result from a Hibiscus seed in just 24 Hours..!

              [​IMG]
               
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                capney, May 22, 2011
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              • HarryS

                HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                Looks like this is going to be the "must have" gardening accessory for the 2012 season :D I am scanning EBay now for one but prices are a tad high !
                 
                HarryS, May 22, 2011
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              • lazydog

                lazydog Know nothing but willing to learn

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                I think I will have to try this the chilli's have not done well less than 50% germination and I was hoping to get an early start:blue thumb:
                 
                lazydog, Mar 7, 2012
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              • Tiarella

                Tiarella Optimistic Gardener

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                I do this every year with various seeds, particularly chillies, mangetout and other peas. Just damp kitchen roll in a clear plastic container (with lid closed) in the airing cupboard. Gets them off to a marvellous start.
                 
                Tiarella, Mar 7, 2012
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              • Rockmoc

                Rockmoc Gardener

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                Are these Seed Sprouters heated? Heat seems to be a component of germination in chilli seeds?
                 
                Rockmoc, May 6, 2012
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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Ours isn't. It's just sitting on the worktop in the kitchen.
                 
                shiney, May 7, 2012
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