Sink or Swim? seeds

[Bobby Bass]

Sink or swim? I am sure that some of you have heard that if you put seeds in water the ones that sink are better then the ones that float. I have heard this from the old guys but I have never tried it myself. Well I found myself with some radish seeds and I decided to pour them into a cup of water and sure enough about half sunk to the bottom while the rest floated. I got out a bowl and filled it with coconut husk planting mix and put the floaters on one side and the sinkers on the other. I am now waiting to see what side comes up first or if both sides will come up at the same time.

 

Any comments? Has anyone else heard of this and does anyone check their seeds before planting?

[delcecchi]

Empirical testing.   Bravo.  

[Bobby Bass]

well the seeds were planted four days ago and to my surprise when I checked them this morning they had already germinated. I will wait awhile before I tell you who was the winner.. Empirical testing at its best!

[Mike89]

interesting!!

[KEN W]

Looking forward to the results of your experiment.

[delcecchi]

And the suspense builds.......

[Bobby Bass]

Drum roll please................. The clear cut winner was the sinking radish seed by a 4-1 margin over the floaters. I even gave the floaters an extra day to pop up but they didn’t. I know come planting time I am going to check my radish seed this way. I also hear this works for tomato seed so that may be my next experiment but not till I am ready to start growing my tomatoes. Peppers come to mind as another seed to try out.

 

Now the radish I have seeded will not go to waste I saw a program where a guy plants radish and lets it grow to about three inches then cuts the top two and half inches off. He sells the tops to restaurants who use it on plates and also in sandwiches. You are suppose to be able to eat the tops at this stage and it tastes like radish... Kind of like eating sprouts but only eating the top of the new growth not the bottom...

[Mike89]

I have never heard this before and It is interesting.

[delcecchi]

Makes sense. And "micro greens" have been very trendy. 

[bobberineyes]

Dang it, I wish I saw this experiment earlier.  Round one is underway, some jalapeños , Thai, and green peppers with early and some sorta super steak mater's.  With this warm snap I couldn't resist, outside for now but under the lights later.

[smurfy]

not going to do the sink or swim method.......just the plant and hope da heck they grow method. think I am gonna wait a couple weeks yet.

 

just planting peppers, and some flower seeds I saved from last years crop.............cleomes and butterfly milkweed, the orange colored!!!!

[Bobby Bass]

I did cut off the radish tops and they do taste like radish but I am not going to get in the business of growing them..

[Robert perez]

Hey I like that but I'm using a large quantities of seeds also I want to plant bulbs can I use a auger and what size I'm a bit confused about starting this but on PBS a person mentioned that this was the best way.

[delcecchi]

I have never used an auger.   It certainly would be faster than digging with a shovel and less disruptive. 

 

I would think about a 3 inch auger would do.   Big enough hole to drop the bulb in. 

[Mike89]

late wife had set of those, works well.  still have them some where

[Bobby Bass]

We always have just used a one inch wide paddle bit on a drill. But our beds are nice and soft so most of the time a stick works to.