Germination..

[dejayou30]

I used the paper towel method with great success, 9 out of 9 cracked in 3 days or less. Put them in a bag and then a dark space in your closet. I turned a heater on for 15 minutes at a time a couple times per day to make it really warm, but not like a sauna. You want to keep it warm and moist. Good luck.

[Mr. Clandestine]

NEVER, NEVER use the damned towel meathod. i have always planted em straight in moist soil, like a seed is meant for.

That's certainly commendable, but it's also just your preference. The paper towel method is tried and true, and very few growers find it to be an improper method of germination. If you're really feeling cautious, you can add a drop or two of pharmaceutical grade hydrogen peroxide to the water...but generally, distilled (or even tap) water isn't going to cause problems.

Rok: There's nothing wrong with sowing directly into soil, just make sure to keep the soil evenly moist...NOT saturated. But, if you still want to use the paper towel method - and there's no reason you shouldn't - here's a quick step-by-step method that has worked for me, and plenty of other folks:

1 - Take a paper towel, fold it in half, then fold it again...making a square.

2 - Unfold one square of the paper towel, line the seeds up in a row, then fold the square piece back over.

3 - Make the paper towel evenly moist, but not dripping wet. Gently press it between your hands, so that an indentation of the seeds can be seen. This also helps to wring out excess water.

4 - Put the paper towel in a Ziplock bag, and seal it...making sure to get as much air out of the bag as possible. (To prevent mold.)

5 - Put the bag in a warm, dark place. (i.e. - between two plates & on top of a stereo receiver, or refrigerator. Don't let them get too hot.)

Then just check on them every 24 hours or so, remembering not to expose them to any intense light. This isn't to prevent the seeds from getting light, but rather to prevent any taproots that may have emerged from being exposed to it. That, along with the trauma they can receive after being peeled off the paper towel can stunt the plants initial growth. I recommend sowing when the taproot is just a few centimeters long, but different people choose different times. You decide what works best. Also remember to re-moisten the paper towel before it dries out completely.

(I like to line a matchbox with coarse sandpaper, then vigorously shake the seeds up inside the box for 10-15 seconds...and I'll even line my seeds up in the same direction, keeping them positioned so that the taproot will emerge facing down. Some claim that gravity helps the seeds break the shell a little quicker. Anyway, I almost always have 100% germination. If one doesn't sprout, then I consider it a faulty seed...not a faulty method. :wtf: )

Most of your seeds will germinate in under one week, but can sometimes take a little longer. There are plenty of other methods to choose from, all of which are perfectly acceptable, but there's no reason to disregard this one. It works, trust me. :thumbsup: