The Poverty Kitchen

Mid-March 2024 – Zone 5 B

Most seeds require steady (appropriate) moisture, and an optimal temperature to germinate.
Parsley and certain other seeds (Lovage and Fennel come to mind) are notoriously difficult to plant from seeds with any degree of certainty.
First, is the stated germination rate specified on the package is “75%” –
so only 3 out of 4 seeds are likely to germinate.
“Packed for 2024” means that 75% germination rate is guaranteed
for the first year of packaging only.

That’s either given as a date: “2024/2027” or as a statement:
“Average Seed Life = 3 years.”
Successive years of planting will reduce the viability of the seeds until 0% germination.
Example: 2024 = 75%
2025 = 50%
2026 = 25%
2027 = good luck… you’ll need it.

The shortest seed life? Agretti, an Italian green with a seed viability of only 6 months.
In comparison, lettuces are typically a 1-year seed. Tomatoes, 3 years.
IF the package reads: “Packed for 2024” without any other information?
Plant it this year, and do not hold onto them for next year.

So how do you overcome the slow, irregular, or difficult germination of certain seeds?
Years ago Bill Connoly, a commercial gardener friend in York, ME
gave us a pro-tip that has proven its worth.
Make a mini greenhouse out of an old plastic food container.

The associated photograph shows you the steps necessary:
1) Place a clean piece of paper towel into a clean container.
What is shown is a half-sheet size, folded in half.

2) Moisten – not soak – the paper towel with boiled water cooled to warm room temperature (80ºF/27ºC – pour off any excess water.

3) Scatter your seeds, no need to press them in.

4) Cover tightly, and label with the date and variety.
Then place the container in a sunny window, or warm area with light.
70ºF/21ºC is sufficient. It is ok if the night temperature dips, as long as
the day temps in the container hit the mid-70s F/mid-20s C.

The tomato sprouting temperature of 75ºF/24ºC is probably optimal.

A week from now, open the lid and look for white “tails” sticking out of the seeds.
Start checking daily as they will root into the paper towel.*
Take the sprouted seeds out individually. (I find a blunt wet toothpick will adhere to the seeds).
Place two or three of the germinated seeds 1/4 inch/6mm into your moistened growing media. Cover with a humidity dome.
You should have 1-3 plants sprout from the media.
Save the strongest – or if you’re confident with your steady hands –
transplant each sprout into its own pot.

* If you see mold or yeast growing in your plastic container, discard the seeds and paper towel. Boil water, and sterilize your container.
You will have to start over from Step 1.

Update: Sprouted Seeds shown after 1 week, planted 3-4 per cell.
Sprouts shown at week 3. It is time to cull the weakest (bottom left shows two good plants and two failing sprouts) you have a choice – thin to one per cell and throw out the other plants – or –
carefully transplant the stronger seedling into a new cell or pot.
Why the stronger?
It’s more likely to survive the transplanting shock – and have a larger mass making it easier than handling a weak thread-like plant.
Dig deep!
You will find these seedlings have an inch or more of root depth.