Early germination via heat mats.

[Jow]

Hi All,

Just wondering if any one had any experience with germinating seeds with bottom heat over winter? I want to germinate a bunch of seed i have this year and would love to be able to have a bit of a head start on the season. Has any one used bottom heat for faster germination? Has anyone grown seed over winter in green houses? I have read that the germination is more uniform with bottom heat as well as more predictable. Thoughts? Results?

Joe

[Scott Roxburgh]

Joe,

I haven't ever used bottom heat, but have sowed trident seeds fresh from the tree in autumn and kept some back to sow in mid winter.

Of the two flats that I did early, probably 60% came up late autumn/winter and needed to be protected from the frosts. These seedlings grew twice as large as winter ones that didn't sprout until spring.

No help on the bottom heat but I can say that the head start to the season is worth aiming for...

Scott.

[Jow]

Thanks for the info Scott.... I got a bit of seed from one of my black pines this year and i want to germinate that along with some trident seed. I will give Autumn sowing a go and see how things go.

Joe

[Simonster]

Hi Joe

I've nearly always use bottom heat for germination when I'm at work.
Provided that the seed doesn't have some inhibiters that need to be broken first with either Stratification "cold storage" like a lot of Acers or scarification for hard seed coats (chipping etc)
Most rooting will be speeded up with the use of bottom heat, but caution should be taken as watering must be monitored and the seed pricked out before any wilt diseases kill off the seedlings (just give the seedlings a chance to get used to the new temp by keeping them protected from Wind, Burning sun and frosts once you take them off the mat.
Light is also very important for good growth. Not enough and the seedling will stretch.

If you'd like to take a look at what germination tests have found to be the most successful methods here are a couple of links to the Kew seedbank database (good for the exotics but a B.I.T.C.H to make heads or tails of. Try searching under Genus if species gives you no love.) And I've also put in this link on the Tas Native Germination database from work as it’s a good one for those native enthusiasts out there, and if you’re interested in the dormancy of native seeds.

http://data.kew.org/sid/sidsearch.html
http://www.rtbg.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=536

I hope this will help.

Simon.

[Jow]

Thanks for the useful information Simon..... It looks like bottom heat is worth playing with.

I will have a read at the links you posted and see if i can make heads or tails of them.

Joe.