SPROUT!!

It's amazing how new life can sweeten the sourest of moods. I have been watching my germination tray for signs of life. I also have been misting the surface to keep the seeds moist but not soaked. The seeds are tiny so I use a visual aid to examine them.

I am pleased to report that I see radicles sprouting out of the New Guinea Impatiens. If you look closely at the seed just to the right of the temperature probe you can see the embryonic root drilling into the soil.

At this point it's important to keep the seed moist but not too wet either. "Damping off"can occur during this stage of seed starting. It's tricky, just enough water but not too much.
So I was sitting in the grow center composing this post and as I casually glanced over at my the germination tray. I thought "what's that green thing in the tray?" At about the same time the other side of my brain said "THAT'S THE LAVATERA!!" Sure enough it is the Lavatera and THAT'S a sprout no doubt about it.

LAVATERA

This is quite exciting news. The seeds I harvested are viable. But now the work begins. I need to assess how long it took for this sprout. These are large plants and I don't want them too mature when it comes time to plant. So it's back to the catalogs and The Google to figure out when to sow the rest of the seeds that I harvested.

In this picture you can see the Lavatera sprout and if you look closely you will see the Impatien seed just getting started. I could try and name the anatomy of the seed but a picture is a lot better at that task. Plus, do you really need to know? Probably not unless your major is Botany.

So, what have I learned? It took 7 days for the New Guinea Impatiens and the Lavatera to germinate. What have I felt, the sight of green growing again in Minnesota is inspirational.