Seed Selection Question

[TexasMonster]

Ok. Its been suggested that one should pratice with bag seed. I happen to have plenty of bag seeds. The seeds range in color from white, shades of green/gray, and black. Which ones do I want?

 

[JustAnotherAntMarching]

dark striped... anything whitish is premature....

 

[TexasMonster]

dark striped... anything whitish is premature....

Thank You.

I've noticed alot of difference in seed size as well. Anything to that? These are seeds saved from different bags of Mexican grass that is common here.

 

[JustAnotherAntMarching]

IMO seed size doesnt really matter... and if your just practicing and not gona grow them out its no big deal anyways.... im not sure how u germ seeds texas but i germ mine the way reccommended by greenhouse seeds... and thus far have had 100% pop...

 

[TexasMonster]

IMO seed size doesnt really matter... and if your just practicing and not gona grow them out its no big deal anyways.... im not sure how u germ seeds texas but i germ mine the way reccommended by greenhouse seeds... and thus far have had 100% pop...

Ok, thanks. I have never germinated grass seeds. I will start today. I will also grow out a couple of females. I am going to germ 10 seeds. I want to grow some of them out so that I can get practice identifying males, females, and the hermmies. I just want that knowledge.

I am activley getting the items needed for a grow area. My pocket book says I can not get everything at once and leave a comfortable cushion for emergency situations. I am not in a rush. I want to have everything needed before I get all froggy. I live on the Gulf Coast so the weather will more than likely cooperate for the bag seeds. I just plant my vegetable seeds in the ground. I've never used any other method. For these bagseeds I am going to do the paper towel method unless I see a better/different way to do it. I am going over to greenhouse to see what you are talking about.

Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JustAnotherAntMarching]

i put them in a shot glass of water over night... cover them with another cup so no light gets in... then get your paper towels water and 2 dinner plates that are not clear...take 1 plate (like your eating off off it) and fold a towel in half and make it wet... add beans from shotglass... fold towel again in half to cover all the seeds... then take 2nd plate and flip it over and set it right on top to keep all light out... find somewhere warm and they will shoot roots much faster....

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

I am one of those that believes that it is a mistake to start with bagseed. IMO, it is well worth it to buy good genetics, even if you are just starting out. Many of the bagseeds are the product of a hermie plant. You have unknown genetics--you do not know if it is indica or sativa, whether it will take 7 weeks or 14 weeks to mature, you do not know how large it will get, it could have been pollinated with ditch weed.

Seeds are cheap and you are taking the same risk whether you are growing kick butt dank or roadside ditch weed.

 

[LEFTHAND]

:yeahthat: made that mistake..... bad pheno. ugly plant, bad smoke, waste of my time.....
LH

 

[TexasMonster]

I am one of those that believes that it is a mistake to start with bagseed. IMO, it is well worth it to buy good genetics, even if you are just starting out. Many of the bagseeds are the product of a hermie plant. You have unknown genetics--you do not know if it is indica or sativa, whether it will take 7 weeks or 14 weeks to mature, you do not know how large it will get, it could have been pollinated with ditch weed.

Seeds are cheap and you are taking the same risk whether you are growing kick butt dank or roadside ditch weed.

I do understand your rational. It makes sense to me. I just need to practice with germination right now. I just practiced on 10 seeds 2 days ago. I used the paper towel and ziplock baggie method. So far only 4 have shown me those sexy roots. I guess I will plant them just to get some practice with getting the seed from root to actually showing me those "cot?" leaves.

This way, whether I go auto, NL, or Critical Mass, I will have a little experiance with seeds. Seeds are expensive at some of those places. :holysheep:

So I am :watchplant: the seeds for right now. I am making progress with my equipment purchases. I've located a place to grow that will go un-noticed by nieces, nephews, employees, and friends.

 

[Droopy Dog]

I do understand your rational. It makes sense to me. I just need to practice with germination right now. I just practiced on 10 seeds 2 days ago. I used the paper towel and ziplock baggie method. So far only 4 have shown me those sexy roots. I guess I will plant them just to get some practice with getting the seed from root to actually showing me those "cot?" leaves.

This way, whether I go auto, NL, or Critical Mass, I will have a little experiance with seeds. Seeds are expensive at some of those places. :holysheep:

So I am :watchplant: the seeds for right now. I am making progress with my equipment purchases. I've located a place to grow that will go un-noticed by nieces, nephews, employees, and friends.

I think you are on the right track.

Growing smoke isn't hard, but learning to grow anything new is a learning curve and you are going to kill some plants along that curve. Might as well be bagseeds that are already paid for. Especially since you are not set up yet for your 'real' grow.

I agree with HG, and wouldn't bother to grow them to flower. But for most, the problems are encountered before the plants reach flowering size/age.:hubba:

If you can consistently grow them to 5-8 sets of true leaves without killing them, time to spent the $$$.:holysheep:

Perhaps a new crop each week for a few weeks?

DD

 

[TexasMonster]

I think you are on the right track.

Growing smoke isn't hard, but learning to grow anything new is a learning curve and you are going to kill some plants along that curve. Might as well be bagseeds that are already paid for. Especially since you are not set up yet for your 'real' grow.

I agree with HG, and wouldn't bother to grow them to flower. But for most, the problems are encountered before the plants reach flowering size/age.:hubba:

If you can consistently grow them to 5-8 sets of true leaves without killing them, time to spent the $$$.:holysheep:

Perhaps a new crop each week for a few weeks?

DD

Thank You. I had 5 out of the 10 seeds germinate. I have planted them in clay pots. Once they show me a couple of leaves I will pull them and do it a couple more times. I dont anticipate it being long till I do a "good" crop.

I am also gonna do an outdoor grow come spring. I found a nice spot and I worked on amending the ground today with the tractor and 3 point tiller.

 

[TexasMonster]

My little seedlings are are doin the stretch. I just have them in the window seal getting light that way. I am gonna watch the process of them getting a couple more little branches I reckon, then I will germinate some more to continue the learning.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Hi there TM,

Just thought I'd ask how old that bagseed is you're experimenting with? If it is old seed, that was'nt properly stored, to preserve maximum germ rates, it is not likely you're ever going to get 10 of 10 to pop. Did'nt want you to keep shooting for something that might be unattainable, depending on the age of the seed and how it was stored, before you tried popping it open. - RT

 

[TexasMonster]

Hi there TM,

Just thought I'd ask how old that bagseed is you're experimenting with? If it is old seed, that was'nt properly stored, to preserve maximum germ rates, it is not likely you're ever going to get 10 of 10 to pop. Did'nt want you to keep shooting for something that might be unattainable, depending on the age of the seed and how it was stored, before you tried popping it open. - RT

5 germed. I planted 4 into little 6 inch pots and put them in the window seal that faces east. As the sun went down I moved them to the west side so they got little bit of evening sun. They did the super strech at about 4 or 5 days. I took them outside. I left two in their little 6 inch clay pots. I put the other two into seperate big black plastic pots. I used earth out of one of the pastures for half and the other half I used compost that I use for my vegetable garden. Horse and cow manure, grass clippings, dead leaves, hay and straw. The pile I use every season is 3 years old. I keep three piles going at all times and I turn them pretty regular with the tractor. Of those two, one stretched a little more, got thin in one spot and fell over and broke in half. The other one seems to be doing ok. I did bury these two up to about ½ an inch of the little leaves.

The two in the clay pots have layed over but appear healthy. Still only the one set of leaves on all the plants.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

This way, whether I go auto, NL, or Critical Mass, I will have a little experiance with seeds. Seeds are expensive at some of those places. :holysheep:

LOL! That's one reason why it's a real good idea to keep f-1 clone moms, especially of the more expensive lines. I've never grown an autoflower, nor have I ever spent much time learning about them. They were never very popular in the past, until fairly recently; partly because you cannot keep an auto clone mom; and partly because they do not grow very big, or produce a high yield per plant.

If I were to ever grow one, though, it would be a kind that is perfectly suited to the sea-of-green technique, at 4 plants per square foot, or 36 plants per square metre. Forget about trying to keep an auto clone mother, though, if you were thinking about growing from clones.

Also, don't buy a feminized auto if you want to make auto seeds for future grows. If you do make some f-2 auto seed, make enough to last you several years, if you're really pleased with the strain. - RT

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I used earth out of one of the pastures for half and the other half I used compost that I use for my vegetable garden. Horse and cow manure, grass clippings, dead leaves, hay and straw. The pile I use every season is 3 years old. I keep three piles going at all times and I turn them pretty regular with the tractor. Of those two, one stretched a little more, got thin in one spot and fell over and broke in half. The other one seems to be doing ok. I did bury these two up to about ½ an inch of the little leaves.

During the seedling stage, it is better to use a high quality potting soil, and then transplant a little later into nutrient rich soil. You're doing fine, though. Keep up the good work, bro'! It'll all gel together nicely for you. - RT