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Lodi, California

Its been almost 5 days so I checked my 220 seed. I've only started one. It has not even sprung a root and bubbles come out of the end when pressure is applied to it. Should I start my other 220? Thanks!

4/19/2014 3:55:12 PM

Colorado

Bubbles and a stinky smell is not good.Mine took 5 days to show a root last year-but yours sounds like it rotted. So yes.

4/19/2014 5:42:41 PM

Alabama

Both of my 220's were 50-75% developed inside shell. The first one would not germ using paper towel method under constant 85 deg and just damp not wet. It rotted inside the shell. The second one I am trying using advanced method. Took off shell put back in paper towel - fingers crossed.

4/19/2014 5:57:09 PM

west central IN/East central IL

carefully open it up at the radicle end. I have done this to several seeds (including a 220) and for some reason it seemed to help. good luck

4/19/2014 7:46:05 PM

Upa Creek, MO

It's all relative depending on your desired timing and how much you want to grow that seed. You also called it a backup so unless you have intentions of growing it next year I'd start the "backup". Best of luck.

4/19/2014 8:15:31 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If bubbles come out when squeezed, it sounds like you are getting it too wet.

4/19/2014 8:56:53 PM

Connecticut

Overall based on the contacts that I have had the resounding theme is that the 220 is slow to germinate with an expected 5-12 days to produce a radicle. Removing the seed coat may help but watching the moisture level is also important.

Also, from some of the comments that I have read, there may be a slow to germinate gene in the particular plant that Ron used to grow his 2009. The 282 Scherber's (1725 Harp clone [2009 Wallace]) can also be slow to germinate as well as a few growers having slow to germinate 2009 Wallace seeds. In the case of the 220 and the 282 the problem could be compounded some degree of underdevelopment in the actual seed. However, all of these seeds seem to have the one commonality of the same 1725 Harp plant in their background. I am not sure if this is the case but there is some indication of a potential pattern here.

So, it looks like it may take some early season patience during the germination process with these seed lines, but if last year is any indication, the worries you have right now could be a very distance memory during harvest time;-)

4/19/2014 11:56:31 PM

Springfield, Missouri

My first 220 germinated right under 48 hours, and the second at 72 hours. Keep the moisture as low as possible, the seeds as clean as possible, and the temperature around 85-90 degrees. I use an old microwave to nuke the soil to kill any bad microbes that would otherwise kill the seeds; make sure the soil has plenty of water at this point. After microwaving I squeezed all of the water out of the potting mix, and then covered the pot with a plastic bag. I sterilize seeds for 30 minutes in 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, and soaked for 6 hours in bottled water which is essentially sterile. I incubate for one day then remove the seed coats and put the seed half way into the soil. Its a lot of work, but worth it for weak/hard to germinate seeds.

Good luck Ashton.

4/20/2014 12:30:36 AM

Lodi, California

I do think that the moisture in my starting medium was a bit too high, though the other four seeds that I have germinated did not have any problems. Thank you for the help!

4/20/2014 1:39:04 AM

Muddy Waters

How long did you soak the seed ashton?

4/20/2014 7:34:37 AM

Alabama

Update. After taking off seed coat and putting in paper towel squeezed out as dry as possible the 220 produced a radicle. It was kept at 85 deg and produced radicle in 12 hours after removing seed coat.

4/20/2014 9:20:08 AM

Rhode Island

some of the biggest problem grower have with any seed germination is their own inexperience.
to wet. not hot enough, improperly sanded or filed, etc, etc.
a lot of very new growers on this site, these things are not always caused by the seed itself.
practice in the late winter is always suggested.ron and i have been growing well over 25 years and still practice late winter.
pap
pap

4/20/2014 10:14:17 AM

Lodi, California

I soaked the seed for about 10 minutes in water/peroxcide solution Mark.

4/20/2014 11:13:32 AM

Lodi, California

I took off the seed casing and what I found inside was a thin, white endosperm. I dried it off and planted it in a slightly drier potting medium. Thanks for the help.

4/20/2014 11:34:23 AM

Nottingham, UK

Completely agree with Logan.

My technique works for most of my seed until I came by a 'hard to germinate' set. Only had 4 and the first set rotted using my usually successful method.

The last set had the outer shell removed very carefully and this time the moisture in the cotton wool was set as low as possible. One germinated one didn't and I guess you can call that a success.

Fingers crossed it now produces a good seedling

4/21/2014 3:38:33 PM

Ct

My 2009 has not germinated after 5 days. The 2009 is the only one not up yet. The other 7 came up right on time.

4/22/2014 11:33:59 AM