For a video update: After 26 days, I finally got germination of the pepper seeds. It took four weeks, but they gave me a 85% germination rate. It's good to have patience.
Peppers and eggplants drive me crazy. They take so long to germinate and require extra heat and light. I really enjoy both plants, though, so I jump on the carousel every year and start again.
Peppers are perennials, as you know, so that is why they took so long to come out of dormancy. I've had old peppers that never germinated and others that easily did. I wonder if that has to do with the strain.
This was one of the most useful video I ever saw on RU-vid, bar none. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, your kindness and clarity is extremely appreciated.
Perfect timing + excellent tips. I’ve got some seeds that are borderline “still good” (or older) according to the standard chart that most of you are familiar with : beans 3 yrs, peppers 2 yrs, onions 1 year, tomatoes 4 yrs, etc.. This will make it easier - thanks
I had a break in my gardening due to major surgery in both legs. Now I am back. My Kyoto cucumber seeds are 13 years old. I have sown severl seeds in two cubes of a seed tray, and one in each germinated. I have two plants now to save new seeds. I am happy.
I've learned an important thing today. I grow nearly all my salad leaves. 3rd year seeds, likely why I've had difficulty starting them this winter. I will use your method to germinate the old ones. Thank you very much!
I'm glad you posted this video. Three years ago, me and my husband traveled to Romania and brought some seeds that were about $0.10. I realized later that the seeds went through the X-ray at the airport, so they are most likely dead. But this year I threw some in the ground and they germinated. As I have about 30 packs, I will definitely try to see if any other miracles are in the box or if they're all dead. Thank you
Every year I buy some of my seeds from the Dollar Tree. So far I most often get 100% germination.🙂 I think they come from a well known seed company just hitting another market.
I have the same experience with the Dollar Tree seeds. Almost always 100% germination. The only reason ithink they are so cheap, is because they have way less seeds in the pack than other brands. Which is fine with me, as I have no control and buy seeds like crazy, way more than I typically use
I just did this a couple of weeks ago to evaluate about 20 packs of seeds. Placed them in a large clear plastic pie tray from the grocery store. Works great. I'll probably use this process to germinate all of my seeds this year.
@@GardenerScott Tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, beets did well. Peppers, squash, cucumbers, basil, not so well. Peppers only got about 5% germination and the seeds were only 1 year old.
I used to start all my vegetable seeds this way, but i used toilet paper instead of paper towels. The thinner material made spotting the sprouts easier! I think you might have thrown the pepper seeds out too soon. I recall that there are varieties that take several weeks to germinate and a few that may take up to a month.
You're right that pepper seeds often take longer. I haven't thrown mine out yet because I want to see if any ever germinate, but after more than three weeks there's still nothing.
This is how I start most of my seeds just because I don't like waiting to see if they're actually going to come up out of the dirt lol. Also because I like to grow hydroponically and in soil..
Mike Mueting True, I am not guaranteed that its a heritage variety. But I do know it will be a cantaloupe, and that the seeds are viable. I am on a very tight fixed income, and only in my second year of gardening. I will be planting a lot of different things and I had to invest in a seed starter setup this year. Saving a little is worth the risk to me so that I can buy other seeds and increase the variety in my garden. All my other seeds are heritage so I will be saving seed and if the cantaloupes are not to my liking next year I will buy some seeds for them.
hi mate, I would keep those peppers a bit longer, because some varieties can take a month and a half up to two months to germinate. don't give up. great video
Yes, you're right, Giles. I haven't tossed them yet and am still checking. After three weeks there is still no sign of germination. I remember getting seedlings at about 10 days when I first used them years ago. Thanks.
But if you're worried about breaking their roots that get stuck to the paper. Try placing them like 1-2 cm apart in a grid like pattern. Yes will take some time to get right before closing the bag. Then whey they root you could just take out the entire paper and cut it in to squares, one square per seed then plant the seeds with the paper squares.
Started a few old seeds like this a few days ago to see how they would do. So far, I've had collards, dill, and basil that have sprouted. All the packets are 4-5 years old. Can't wait to see how the others turn out!
I got faster germination with really hot pepper seeds such as the Carolina reaper by putting the seeds in the freezer for three days or so first, then I put the seeds in a growing medium and they sprouted in about 10 days.
Very interesting Mr. Scott. I didnt know if i should throw out my 3 yr old seeds or not. Now i know how to check. I might even be able to use them... Thank you so much my friend.
Just the way I have done it for many years. When testing bean seeds you will get much better results if you soak the Seeds overnight before or use double the paper towel..,they need to take up more than their weight in water to germinate successfully.
Thanks so much for your videos. Once again you've added something that I didn't know/realize. The tip on inverting the baggie was a truly "well duh!" moment for me.
I like how you did not put paper towel over the seeds. It's easier to see how things are going. This morning I opened up my FOLDED paper towels only to find white fungus on several seeds :( If I'd not folded, I would have seen any problems a lot sooner. I like your methold so much better.
Gardener Scott If it’s been 3 weeks with nothing then you are probably right in that they are not viable, but I’ve been surprised with superhots in the past. Thanks for the videos!
I food germination tests on beans from the grocery store, Whole food bulk had the best averaging 75% or better, Goya was next at about 70, store brand never did better than 50. That said for the difference in price, buying bulk ‘food’ beans by the lb might be a really great way to get a lot of bean seeds and diversity for a whole lot less than buying from a seed company. I haves very low fixed income and am trying to garden to feed myself and my family, 15 pinto bean seeds for 5$ vs 1 lb of pinto beans for the same dollar is a much better deal, and I can just save 15 seeds out from dinner and have the best of both worlds! and at least with the Whole Foods I can select for organic non gmo etc...
I prefer to do this test allowing the root to grow into the paper towel. If I want to plant the germinated seed I just cut the paper towel section with the seed/root and plant it. That minimizes the disturbance.
As long as a seed hasn’t been exposed to high humidity or water I think they should be good for a really long time. I think there is a thin membrane that becomes active when exposed to water and breaks down. To essentially wick water into the shell to make the seedling 🌱 start growing. Now don’t hold me too it but that’s how I understand it.
great tips Scott! I wasn't sure what to do with some really old random seeds. They were all small quantities that weren't really worth planting. I fed the big ones (sunflower seeds, corn, peas, beans) to the chickens as scratch. I sprouted all of the small ones (like carrot seeds tomatoes, peppers, etc) in a tray, and I'll give it to them as sprouts in a week or two. Good for small quantities of "this and that" you may have left
@@GardenerScott Obviously less desirable than making food.. But great for things that did poorly, or you didn't like. Or the tiny bits left over of old packets
I'm new to your channel, and am really enjoying your videos. You put a lot of work into them and it shows. Keep up the great work. Matt in the U.P. of Michigan.
I have more of a would you question and I know this post is 2 years old but would you show how you plant your seeds after germination? You have such a way with teaching I could really benefit from a better tutorial.
I found some radish seed I saved 5 years age. Along with some lettuce seeds. The radish almost all sprouted. But not the lettuce. None of them sprouted at all.
I bought a bunch of 2012 seeds from a yard sale and experimented with sprouting. Most of the radishes and tomatoes and a few cucumbers sprouted. Lettuce, carrots, peppers, cabbage did not. Also, treating old seeds with gibberellic acid is supposed to help with germination.
@Gardener Scott Must I always "water" the paper towels once it passed a day? Or leave it be for a week? The gravity technique is cool never thought of that until now.
I've got seeds that are 20 years old probably that are still good but I keep them in the freezer.i bought them in bulk and use some ever so often.something to consider
@@GardenerScott so exciting about your New Garden this year.see what your going to grow..are you going to grow some suger pie pumpkins.an sugar baby's watermelon
I thought I read somewhere that pepper seeds can be finicky and possibly putting them in the freezer (length of time?) before you try to propagate them can help?!?!
Thanks. Yes, pepper seeds can be finicky, especially the super hot ones. There are many seeds that can benefit from cold stratification in the refrigerator, but typically pepper seeds don't.
I 'member when the Butch-T scorpion was the hottest pepper out there, delicious! You do a lot of super hot peppers on your channel? Cuz we would all love more
Every time I try to germinate seeds in a plastic bag, they start to mold, or are dry (because I tried putting less water) within a week. I have tried to germinate hundreds of seeds this way. How do you keep them from molding?
I poke little pin holes it the bag. I get a sewing needle just enough to let the air breathe I found if it gets too hot the seeds will mold and it happened to me. So I tried put an inch or two of water inside so then put the towel inside it'll soak just enough water to moisten seeds
I don't seal the bag completely and will leave one edge slightly open. I check them regularly and add another spray of water if needed or open the bag to let more air in if it looks too wet. Because I can usually determine the germination rate within a week, a little mold isn't a problem if it develops.
Yes they will. But, you can tear out the paper towel around the root and plant the whole thing. I’ve recently switched to using coffee filters instead of paper towels because it’s much harder for the root to penetrate the filter.
I place the seeds on top of a square of wet paper towel, seal the bag and place it face down. The seeds grow down so the roots grow into the plastic instead of the paper.
Yeah I think I have some pepper seeds that aren't germinating. I even tried to soak them in water and hydrogen peroxide to try to help. It's been probably about a week and still haven't seen any signs of germination. My Carolina reaper sending didn't even take this long. It's funny how hot Pepper's take longer than the sweet peppers to germinate. Even like jalapenos are quicker than the spicy ones. All that evil in side the really spicy peppers takes a while to germinate.
Good observation. I like growing jalapenos, partly because they germinate faster and I can grow the seedlings at the same pace as other plants. I'll keep a watch on the ones in the video to see if they every germinate.
Yes. I did the germination test to prepare for when I start seeds for my garden. It's a little early to grow these and put them outside, but they can easily be transplanted into pots.
