Seed Germination

• I have some seeds left over from my earlier efforts at planting. Can I save them for another season?

In our research, we have planted 6-8 year old string beans, 4-6 year old carrot, lettuce, parsley, and chili seeds, and 6-year old cabbage and beet seeds.  Germination was at least as good as the fresh seeds bought for comparative purposes when seeds were soaked overnight in a weaker dilution of Turboganic My Garden® (1 tablespoon of super-concentrate per gallon of tap water).

In addition, not only was germination good, but plant viability was such that no differences were observed between plants from ‘fresh seed’ and the plants from the ‘old-outdated’ seeds.

• Will Turboganic My Garden® perform well as a seed pre-treatment solution?

Yes. In trials with a variety of seeds from lettuce to Kentucky Coffee Tree (try hack-sawing this one some time), a weaker dilution of Turboganic My Garden® (1 tablespoon of super-concentrate per gallon of tap water) coupled with gentle warmth from the bottom has resulted in lettuce sprouting and producing their first leaves within 24 hours of planting.  Kentucky Coffee Tree seeds which normally require weeks to years to sprout produced healthy seedlings within 7-10 days.  Garden beans, peas, and many herbs germinated with 24-36 hours and could be readily transplanted without shock or setback after this.  In every trial, pre-treatment greatly accelerated germination as compared to using bottom heating with no treatment.

Carrots, string beans, chilis, squash, basil, and lettuce were transplanted with little or no ‘shock’ and continued growing without setbacks.