Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Has anyone tried this method? I'm a pretty lazy Gardner (well time-poor) actually and raising seedlings is one of my least favourite parts of gardening. So I was thinking if I was to wrap a seed (eg lettuce) in a ball of cotton wool (organic) and stick that in between my scoria, would that work? Has anyone tried it or something similar? I was thinking those jiffy pots but they're a bit exey.

to much work for me, I just chuck the seeds in the beds.

i have grown seedlings in the cotton wool before but haveen't tried placing them into the beds. I had capsicums ina container with wool near the window. They neeeded the window heat to germinate. I than carefully pulled the cotton wool away from the roots than planted in the bed. They worked. However recently tried this with cuccumber but didn't survive once placed int he bed.
Never tried to the cotton wool in the bed. don't think there is a need for it. The hardest thing IMO is to get the seeds at the right height in your bed. Getting moisture but not too low in the bed.

This does not work for carrots, they will sprout, but bundle of wool strangles root

Hey Slowboat, what's the survival rate of seeds when you chuck them in? Do you lose a percentage because they are wrongly located to get the right conditions?

The cotton wool idea sounds good - allows careful placement, but I wonder about the byproducts as it breaks down - would it be worm fodder do you think? Also I am not sure how 'organic' cotton can be - it is a VERY chemical-instensive crop to grow so I wonder if 'organic' might be a sales label and just how many of the chemicals needed to get it to maturity might make their way into the cotton...

Tip: Don't let cotton wool near your pump

Its a bit early to tell yet, but the radishes have gone well.

It seems there is something eating my seedlings and plants?

anyhow, I do it cause I'm lazy not for the results.

I tried it... I had no luck.

Ok thanks guys for the advice, I will have to think of something else

This is a good thread.

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... f=3&t=8270

I like the paper towel idea.

I also think that you could make small seed balls out of worm castings and put the seed in there.

Thanks jay, I like the paper towel idea too especially cause it will be fun for the kids (and hence save me the effort! )

I have regularly succedded in sowing seeds direct into the GB's, I normally leave 1 of each plant growing and let it go to seed.

Then I sprinkle a heap of the seed under other plants that are nearly ready to harvest, and just kind of rub them in a bit. I find then that by the time I pull the mature plants out the seedlings are already coming up to fill the voids.

They also transplant very well if you need to thin them out or spread them into other beds.

I noticed today that Cos Lettuce seeds I spread around 3 weeks ago are have started popping up everywhere. even though the temps are dropping here, they are still germinating easily.

I have regularly succedded in sowing seeds direct into the GB's, I normally leave 1 of each plant growing and let it go to seed.

Then I sprinkle a heap of the seed under other plants that are nearly ready to harvest, and just kind of rub them in a bit. I find then that by the time I pull the mature plants out the seedlings are already coming up to fill the voids.

They also transplant very well if you need to thin them out or spread them into other beds.

I noticed today that Cos Lettuce seeds I spread around 3 weeks ago are have started popping up everywhere. even though the temps are dropping here, they are still germinating easily.

Excellent work that's usually what I do in my soil garden. I love it when 6 months later a seedling pops up because it just knows that its the right season to grow like its mum. I have some purple sprouting broccoli that come up when they know its their time. So cute.