Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

How do you guys start seeds. I have quite a bit of experience in propagating by cuttings, but very little with seeds. So far, I've used seed trays with a "starter mix" and am getting decent results. I have a hard time keeping the moisture level correct. Is Rockwool cubes/starter trays better? Can I use some AP water to sit the trays in and let them wick the water up without them getting waterlogged and diseased?

Hi Coachchris, I have found that keeping the seeds in rock wool cubes and spraying them daily with a light seaweed extract like Seasol diluted with AP water and kept at a constant temp (under a fish tank light) gives me around a 98-100% success rate of germination.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Matt. I'm having good germination rates. My concern is getting them to the transplant stage quickly. I've seen some people who set them in a tray of AP water. Mine are currently in soil and seem to be drying out a bit much between watering...slowing their growth down.

And when its time to put the in your beds or dwc,washing the soil from the roots,transplanting them causes quite a bit of shock,knocking them back a bit,this time around everything was direct seeded into the beds then thinned out as they germinated and sprouted.In my situation i found this has given me stronger plants.
My seedlings for the dwc are done in one inch foam cubes sat in AP water,as the roots show they are moved into the raft.

Yes, I do exactly what dasboot said except using rock wool instead of foam. You go through a lot more seeds by having to thin them out when sowing them directly into the media beds, but for an extra 20cents worth of seed it's worth it for stronger plants.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, going to try using some foam starters in AP water and see how they do.

Chris, if you don't want to spend money on rockwool or cubes you can buy some coconut coir and fill these with the coir

https://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supp ... 09044.html

Then put your seeds in. You can either take the standard 10"x20" flats... https://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supp ... 09051.html

and fill them with a little bit of AP water and let the coir wick up the water. Or you can slit some holes in the bottom of the tray (or buy the ones with holes in them already) and set them up in a flood and drain table that only floods the water an inch or two above the bottom of the tray. This is what I do AFTER germination and it makes for some very strong seedlings.
I germinate indoors in a climate controlled room (86F, 70% RH) so I get very consistent germination rates. I would say temp and moisture are the two most important considerations when talking about germination rates. So if you have a warmer room or a heat pad for the tray you can use during the cooler months, you'll be better off. Good luck.

I think that's what 'll do Sam. I use the 10 x 20 flats already, but with the starter/germinator soil mix, it gets too wet if I leave water touching the bottom of the roots. I think the coir will work well. I also have some of the foam seed starters, and will see how they work at the same time. If I can eliminate that washing off and shocking seedling, I think I'll be better off.

I start mine in a recycled takeaway food container with a few holes in the bottom, filled with shell grit half submerged into my growbed.

I originally reported some odd results with really long roots, but it turns out the seeds I sowed directly had the same thing, and the rocket I left in the shell grit actually grew faster in the end than the ones in my growbed.

I use seed raising mix in cell packs and this is the result after 2 1/2 weeks in the shadehouse.