Unfortunately many plants have ridiculously small seeds. With the exception of carrots, I have had a very terrible success rate with tiny seeds. Does anyone have any standard procedures they have when working with tiny seeds (other than buying a plant instead of the seed)? I know every seed is different when it comes down to it, but any info on like prefered mediums so they don’t get buried or watering methods would be greatly appericiated.
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I would start the plants off in cells indoors or in a greenhouse if you don’t already so the seeds aren’t washed or blown away by the weather. Your best bet for watering would probably be to set the cell tray in water, so it soaks up from the bottom and never has a chance to dislodge the seeds. Or mist them with a spray bottle, just make sure you do it gradually so the water doesn’t puddle up. They also make pelleted seeds that are coated in clay to make them bigger, which might help too.
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I generally sow into a deeper tray and cover the seeds with 2-3mm of sand. It sort of weighs them down. I’ve down a batch of buddleia seeds (my def of tiny) in February and actually left the tray on an unprotected table outside. I did cover the tray with a lid when I knew it was going to rain too heavily. The common advice when sowing directly is to work the seeds into some sand and fine compost and sprinkle that onto.the beds or into your tiny trenches.
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They can be hard. Know requirements of the seed. That’s first! An example is rubus seeds need light, stratification and scarification. With small seeds I like to top water with water bottle sprayer. Sometimes bottom watering is too much water and seed can rot. Some require heat too. Make sure it’s at the proper depth for the seed used.
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I like to sow tiny seeds in a 144 cel tray in a medium of coco choir mixed with “medium” perlite. It says medium on the bag, supposed to be 0-3mm particle size. but i can’t remember finding any or many particles above 1-2mm. I’m willing to bet 99% of the particles are roughly 1mm or smaller.
the coco choir comes in a dry brick. I add just enough water so it expands. And when you squeeze a fistful 1-2 drops of water fall out. Then i mix it with pre wetted (drained) perlite.
If i recall correctly the brick weighs 650 grams. I add 2.1-2.4 liter water (2100-2400 grams) (i think roughly half of what the “manufacturer” recommends)
This mix has good moisture retention from the coco choir. And good aeration from the perlite. It is also sterile (or close to), and does not contain stuff that decomposes fast. (the choir can decompose but that takes a lot longer than for example peat based mixes)
this helps to reduce rot and fungus.
it also does not contain any fertilizer. (young roots can’t handle to much fertilizer) although if you have poor quality coco choir there can be some residual salt. You could wash this away. (and then squeeze to get it to be “moist” not “wet”
i sprinkle the seeds on top of the medium in the cell trays. Than put a humidity dome on top with the aeration slits fully opened.
Since in my experience most of the tiny seeds if sown also need light to germinate. it put it in an indirect light spot.
the medium should have enough moisture for a while (especially with the dome) but when it needs to be watered i do so with a fine mist. And not to much. You don’t want to fully saturate the choir.
you could also try a fine vermiculite. But I’m more used to the perlite/choir combo.
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With Tobacco; I use no tray at all. I just start them in some soil in a sealed 10 gallon aquarium and keep it moist with part sun light. Soon enough I’m translocating the little live plants with tweezers. I’ve made starter cups to plant acres with. Helps to have a crew filling the pots and another moving to a holding tray.
It is very good when you are dealing with many varieties but have little space for starts. You can do different starts on different days.
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Thanks for the good advice everyone. Its reccomended to stratify the seeds I’m planting (New Zealand tree fuschia) but I’m not really sure how to store them in the fridge. Normally I stratify wrapped in a lightly damp paper towel in a ziploc, but the seeds are so small I am worried that might rot the seeds. Do the seeds need to be touching the paper towel, or does it just need to be damp inside the ziploc? Maybe I can keep them in the seed package opened, with the package wrapped in the paper towel.
I don’t like using a loose medium (like vermiculate or dirt) to stratify these tiny seeds because you can’t seperate them out, but if that sounds like a better idea, I can definitely do that.