Fluid-Sowing pre germinated seeds

Started by Zygote, January 28, 2004, 18:12:24

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Zygote

Being new to allotments I have heard of fluid-sowing pre germinated seeds and have wondered if this is worth trying and any tips, may try this method on carrots and parsnips heard people have been struggling with parsnips on lotty.

Zygote


ina

#1
Hi Zygote. I have heard of first letting seeds germinate and then sowing them but what does fluid-sowing mean?

Steve__C

#2
I understand fluid sowing is where you suspend seeds in a watery non-fungicidal wallpaper paste (or similar) and then using a polythene bag as a piping bag, squeeze the seeds out along the drill. This is supposed to give the seed the moisture it requires during the germination period.

Pre-germination is where, before planting, you allow the seeds to germinate (very useful for parsnips that are bad germinators).

I assume a Fluid-Sowing Pre-Germinated seed is a combination of the two methods.

Never tried it personally, but must be worth a try.
Regards
Steve

Zygote

#3
Steve C Has the answer ina Cheers for that will let you know how I get on but what would be the "(or similar)" be steve? but I will try wallpaper paste in the meantime.  Also does this method help with planting carrots in order to help not having to thin out and atrackting carrot flies?

rdak

#4
never tried it, but don't think it would necessarily avoid the need for thinning, as the seeds are not going to be equally distributed by piping.
Also, wonder if it would be a problem that the shoot would not always be pointing up when piped into the soil?

Zygote

#5
The seeds find there own right way up. they apparently will emerge 12days (carrots) and (Parsnip) 18 days faster ....been hunting thru dads old books for the last 24hrs .

john_miller

#6
 If I might make a suggestion Zygote: take some parsnip and carrot seed and do a test on damp paper to see how long it takes for the root initial (radicle) to become visible and how many germinate. Then soak as many seeds as you need on paper. Just before the radicle emerges, based upon your test, mix in the seeds with the paste and sow into the ground. This will reduce chances of breaking off the radicle while mixing through the paste.
  Fluid sowing was indeed developed to reduce emergence time in the ground but it has the disadvantage of not ensuring even spacing in the ground, requiring subsequent thinning. It has been replaced commercially by the use of pelleted seed. These are also pre-germinated, using synthesised gibberellic acid, a plant hormone, but allow very precise sowing by specially built seeders.

Garden Manager

#7
Only one problem with pregerminating the seeds, and that is you need to be very carefull not to damage the energing roots or shoots. Such seed that has started to grow, is far more vunerable at this stage then any other. You would have to be very nimble fingered to handle them.

Tenuse

#8
Gibberrellic acid?

Is that what Ozzy's been taking, then!

 ;)

Ten x
Young, dumb and full of come hither looks.

Muddy_Boots

#9
Common name must be babble acid, Ten ;D ;D ;D


Kate
Muddy Boots

Steve__C

#10
Sorry it’s taken a little time to get back... system down and all that!

"Or similar".... I am sure that before Polycell and Solvite I’m sure people hung wallpaper with a starch based paste that wasn't a proprietary wallpaper paste.

Perhaps one of the more senior members might remember life before Polycell and suggest a suitable recipe.
Regards
Steve

Hugh_Jones

#11
This particular old-timer always uses LAP starch paste.  It used to be available in both hot water and cold water forms (the hot water form for the very heavy papers).

Because LAP was too popular with professionals and knowledgeable amateurs, the company was bought up (by I think Polycell) and the hot water paste promptly disappeared off the market but the cold water LAP was still on the market last year when I did some decorating.
However, watch out that they haven`t stuffed it with fungicide.

Hugh_Jones

#12
P.S. - 2 very ancient recipes for paste which I used to make for children`s use:

1. Flour paste:- 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup cold water. Mix the two then add 2 1/2 cups boiling water and stir in.  Cook over low heat until smooth.

2. Starch paste:-  1 teaspoon flour, 2 teaspoons starch, 3 ozs water. Mix well and then cook over low heat until mixture thickens (stirring the while). remove from heat, and thin as required with cold water.

Hope this helps.

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