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four_gw

herb seeds advice request

3 months ago

Non-specific, just tiny speck seeds of any kind. Before they sprout : Shade or light?

Comments (11)

  • 3 months ago

    Not sure what your question is, but if it's whether you should give seeds light in order to grow them, it depends on what type of seed, but yes, many need sunlight (or grow light) to germinate. Sprinkle and lightly press down so they have good contact with the soil, keep surface moist until they germinate. Some seeds need to be buried in the soil, some sit on top so they get sun.

    If you mean storing them before you're ready to germinate, I usually store away from light.

    four (9B near 9A) thanked DC 8a
  • 3 months ago

    Thanks.


    Ok, a particular : Recao (Eryngium foetidum),


  • 3 months ago

    Yes, that would need light to germinate. Don't cover the seeds with soil and keep them moist and exposed to light, ideally sunlight.

    four (9B near 9A) thanked DC 8a
  • 3 months ago
    last modified: 3 months ago

    Thanks. I will be keeping "it" (described below) in direct sunlight; plus close under lamp at night.

    Seeds are in my newly "invented" germinating thing : Some saturated soil, to be continuously saturated, in tofu tub; paper towel atop soil, small amount of soaked soil on paper, seeds sprinkled; soaked paper (nearly transpatent) over, to be resoaked as needed.

  • 3 months ago

    Saturated soil is quite likely to cause seeds to rot. You want moist, not saturated soil. And what's the thinking behind putting paper above and below the seeds? And why the light at night?

    four (9B near 9A) thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
  • 3 months ago

    Always good to hear from you, floral.


    >"Saturated soil is quite likely to cause seeds to rot."

    True as a general statement. Inapplicable in this case (which I wrote carefully, accurately).


    >"You want moist, not saturated soil. And what's the thinking behind putting paper above and below the seeds?"

    Question answered by its preceding sentence.


    >"And why the light at night?"

    More is good.

  • 3 months ago

    You generally want to emulate their native habitat of how a plant re-seeds itself in nature, which is usually just dirt, light (or shade), and a little bit of moisture. Not sure all of the layers of saturated soil and paper towels are necessary. Agree with floral that you don't want saturation, just lightly moist - unless you're germinating a seed that's native to a wet habitat and that's how it re-seeds naturally. And unless it's native to the extreme north where's there's nearly all-day daylight (like Iceland), there's no need for continuous light - the natural sunrise/sunset cycle is what it will want. Good luck with your project - it's good to experiment and learn.

  • 3 months ago

    The seeds are not in saturated soil, some of whose uniformly distributed surface moisture is conveyed, by design, to the paper and contents (minimal soil, seeds) that rest on it.

    With regard to light, I never have read that grow lights are to be turned off at night.


  • 3 months ago

    This time of year, you don't need grow lights unless you live in a cold climante. Just germinate outside with natural light and warmth from the sun. Grow lights are more for indoors when it's too cold outside. Anyhow, that would be my take on it - a whole lot less work whenever you can just let nature do it's thing outdoors.

  • 3 months ago
    last modified: 3 months ago

    Your method seems to be unnecessarily complicated and lights on all night are a bad idea but you seem to have made up your mind. Good luck.

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