So in two weeks, or less, I will attempt to germinate the tomato seeds I saved from last year's excellent and healthy crop. I chose the biggest and healthiest ones for seed harvesting.
First I'll try the freezer bag method, where I will first soak the seeds in a garlic juice and water solution to kill off organisms that may cause mold and/or other nasties, then I'll prepare a chamomile tea to spray the paper towel with to supposedly avoid other diseases that may attack the seedlings, then put them in the freezer bag and they should sprout in a few days. Then I'll put them in, half way, into a potting mix in 16oz ordinary party soda containers and put them under my grow lights. Once they achieve two sets of leaves, I'll discard the bottom set of leaves and add more potting mix to promote more root growth.
The other method is to directly sow into sterilized potting mix in the soda cups as mentioned above and put near the heat register to keep warm from underneath and put under my grow light along with a small fan blowing on them to make them hardy. I'll also spray them with a very mild solution of hydrogen peroxide/mostly water for a protective barrier against disease.
I love a tomato challenge.
I have other various plant seeds, but I'm still debating whether or not to direct sow in the ground outside after the last frost. In my mind, the seeds will have to harden themselves to the conditions so only the strong will survive.
Although maybe I'll start half the sunflower seeds indoors, not sure yet.
First I'll try the freezer bag method, where I will first soak the seeds in a garlic juice and water solution to kill off organisms that may cause mold and/or other nasties, then I'll prepare a chamomile tea to spray the paper towel with to supposedly avoid other diseases that may attack the seedlings, then put them in the freezer bag and they should sprout in a few days. Then I'll put them in, half way, into a potting mix in 16oz ordinary party soda containers and put them under my grow lights. Once they achieve two sets of leaves, I'll discard the bottom set of leaves and add more potting mix to promote more root growth.
The other method is to directly sow into sterilized potting mix in the soda cups as mentioned above and put near the heat register to keep warm from underneath and put under my grow light along with a small fan blowing on them to make them hardy. I'll also spray them with a very mild solution of hydrogen peroxide/mostly water for a protective barrier against disease.
I love a tomato challenge.
I have other various plant seeds, but I'm still debating whether or not to direct sow in the ground outside after the last frost. In my mind, the seeds will have to harden themselves to the conditions so only the strong will survive.
Although maybe I'll start half the sunflower seeds indoors, not sure yet.
Truth fears no question. Anon