Go To Seed

 

 

 

Hints:

Temperature: The temperatures aren't set in stone, as most annuals should pop up at any temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees, while some tropicals will prefer the higher end of that range. Perennials and hardy annuals, which tend to like cooler conditions, usually will sprout at any temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees.

Moisture: To keep the seed starting mix moist for your seeds, cover their containers with plastic wrap until the seeds begin to sprout. Use aluminum foil instead for those which prefer darkness for germination.

Chipping or Sanding Seeds: These processes are only ncessary for seeds that have very hard coats, which water won't penetrate. To protect your fingers, hold each seed between the "jaws" of needle-nose pliers on top of a cutting board as you nick it with the tip of a utility knife. To sand the seed instead, rub it against an emery board or sandpaper until you break through the seed coat.

Soaking Seeds: You easily can soak seeds overnight in Styrofoam cups, writing the name of each seed on the side of its cup. If you need to heat the soak-ing water to a certain temperature, use a candy thermometer to measure that temper-ature. Otherwise, use lukewarm (room temperature) water.

Gibberellic Acid: If you need to use gibberellic acid, dissolve a 100 mg packet of the white powder in about 1/2 cup of water overnight. Then add an equal amount of water to the mix to make a 500 ppm solution, which is best for most species, before soaking your seeds in the solution overnight.

Smoke Treatment: For seeds that require smoke treatment, add 1 teaspoon commercial smoke flavoring to every 3 tablespoons of water you are using. For the best results, find a flavoring that contains only smoke and water in its ingredients list.

Cold or Warm Treatment: When seeds need to be kept damp and either warm or cold for a certain number of months, fold a paper towel into a card shape. After writing the name of the seeds and the date on front of the "card" with an indelible marker, soak the paper towel in water, squeeze out the excess water, and place the seeds inside the card.

You can keep several such cards inside a folded-over sandwich bag to help preserve their moisture.

Keep in mind that, when a seed begins to sprout inside the towels, the first thing to emerge usually is a radicle (main root). So, if you pot up the seed at that point, be sure that you position it with the root underground and lower than the seed from which it is protruding.

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Plants Beginning with M

Maclura (osage orange): Place the seeds inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 1 month. Then sow them 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix and keep them at 68 degrees until they sprout, usually within 1 month.

Magnolia: The seeds must be fresh to germinate well. Soak them in soapy water for about a week, changing the water frequently, to remove all fruit pulp from those seeds. Then place them inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months, before moving their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature. Once the seeds begin to sprout, pot them up in seed-starting mix.

Malope: Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, sometimes in only 2 days.

Malpighia: Sow the seeds 1/4 inch (6.44 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 10 days or so.

Malva (mallow): Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 3 days or so.

Malvaviscus (Turk's cap): Soak the seeds overnight before sowing them 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 2 to 4 weeks.

Mandevilla (rocktrumpet): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix.  Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 2 to 4 weeks.

Mandragora (mandrake): Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 24 to 26 days.

Malasphaerula (fairy bells): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed-starting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 8 to 10 days.

Mascagnia (butterfly vine): Place the seeds in slightly damp seed starting mix inside a baggie. Wait until they sprout, in 8 days or so, to pot them up in sterilized cactus and citrus potting mix.

Matthiola (stock): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 3 days or so.

Medinilla (rose grape): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 77 degrees (25 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 6 weeks or longer.

Meconopsis (Himalayan poppy): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-sowing mix, but don't cover them with that mix. Place their container in a bright location with a temperature of about 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 5 to 22 days.

Melianthus (honey bush): Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 16 days or so.

Melon (muskmelon): Sow melons directly into your garden after all threat of frost has passed, planting them 1/2 to 1 inch (12.7 to 25 mm) deep. They should sprout in 4 to 7 days.

For better germination, you can start them indoors at very warm temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees (27 to 32 Celsius) about a month before you intend to set them out, keeping them at 75 degrees (24 degrees Celsius) once they have germinated.

Melothria: Sow the seeds 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until they sprout in 10 to 14 days.

Merremia (woodrose): Soak the seeds overnight before planting them 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their containers at about 77 degrees (25 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 2 to 4 weeks.

Mespilis (medlar): Soak the seeds overnight before placing them inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 1 year. Afterward, move their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature for 9 months. Place them back inside the refrigerator for an additonal 4 months before moving them to warm conditions again--after which they may or may not sprout.

Michauxia (Catherine wheel): Soak the seeds overnight in a gibberellic acid solution before pressing them into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Cover their container with aluminum foil and keep it at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 6 to 8 days.

Micromeria: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 25 days or so.

Millet: Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3.22 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees (21 degreees Celsius) and they should sprout in 3 days.

Mimulus (monkey flower): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 7 days or so.

Mirabilis (4 o'clock): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 4 days or so.

Momordica (bitter melon): Soak the seeds overnight before sowing them 1/2 inch (13 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about about 77 degrees (25 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 7 days or so.

Monopsis: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Pour a smoke solution over the seeds and keep them at temperatures between 64 and 68 degrees (18 to 20 degress Celsius) until they germinate, which can take from 4 to 30 days.

Moraea (peacock flower): Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take over 30 days.

Moringa (drumstick tree): The seeds must be fresh to germinate well. Sow them 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 80 degrees (27 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 1 to 2 weeks.

Murraya (orange jasmine): Sow the seeds 1/4 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at 74 to 77 degrees (22 to 25 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout in 14 to 60 days.

Musa (banana): Sow the seeds 1/2 inch (13 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep their container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take over 30 days.

Myosotis (forget-me-not): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed starting mix, barely covering them with that mix. Keep their container at 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and they should sprout in 10 to 20 days.

Myrica (bayberry): Remove the wax from the seeds and place them them inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months. Then move their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature until the seeds sprout. You then can pot them up in damp and sterile seed-starting mix.