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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] solanum germination problems

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  • From: Shanti Rade <shanti AT whipstone.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] solanum germination problems
  • Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:25:05 -0700

I agree with all of Rivkas statements.  Warmth is really important for fast germination.  We make a homemade germ chamber every spring inside our greenhouse - just use old greenhouse plastic over some 2x4 framing and put an extra heater in there under the shelves with the flats (keeping tabs on the temps with a min/max thermometer ideally around 75-80 degrees) - that way we can keep in warmer than the rest of the greenhouse, but flats are not directly on heat mats.   I cover the cell trays with seran wrap and stack them on top of each other until they just start to germ.  Even with this, one year i had very poor tomato and pepper germination.  We have very alkaline water here and a greenhouse tomato grower nearby told me to acidify the water used to water in the flats to around 5.5 pH.  I used citric acid, but you could use vinegar I guess, and then test it with a pH meter or even pH test strips.  Worked really well.  Not sure what others have for water pH.  
Good luck
Shanti Rade
Whipstone Farm, Paulden - AZ




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