I wonder if Seed Savers Exchange or Baker Creek might have something….
ARG. Just lost the whole long post because I included a link. Frustrating!
*takes a breath* Ok, again.
We are new to fodder growing - just started 2 days ago. We soaked Black Oil Sunflower Seeds for a bit over a day, then rinsed and divided into containers with little holes in the bottom (the bottom half of a bunch of gal water jugs, actually). We have 12 of those, stacked 2 high (bin to collect water - mesh shelf - 6 containers - mesh shelf - 6 containers). We are watering them 4x daily. They are in our extra room, by the glass door which gets a lot of morning sun, next to our chick pen (where we keep the chicks too small to go outside yet). Our current question is - will the seeds dry out too much between watering? We flood them 4x daily but it drains in 2-3 minutes, and then, of course, starts drying out until the next watering. How dry is too dry? Is 'feels moist' ok? Are they fine so long as they don't feel like hard dry seeds? I was considering putting paper towels on top of the seeds, but I'd worry about bacteria or mold growing in the paper towels.
We are following the directions of a certain website (which I apparently cannot link). But I will add the photo they show of their setup.
This is NOT our setup, but it's what we are working towards. As you see, there's no plastic sheeting or greenhouse-like lids on the seeds.
Another question. For those of you who do use the timer-pump method of watering... where in the world do you get a timer that will water 4x a day for 5-10min each time? My digital timer only allows 2 'timers' (so 2x a day) to be set, and my non-digital will allow as many as I press in but it's limited to 30-min blocks. Is 30min too long to flush water through the bins, at any stage of growth?
They're doing fine. You don't want them dripping wet as the hulls will retain enough water to help the inner seed sprout and grow. Rinsing twice per day should be plenty. As long as you do this, they won't dry out. By dry out, we mean get really dry like when you got them.ARG. Just lost the whole long post because I included a link. Frustrating!
*takes a breath* Ok, again.
We are new to fodder growing - just started 2 days ago. We soaked Black Oil Sunflower Seeds for a bit over a day, then rinsed and divided into containers with little holes in the bottom (the bottom half of a bunch of gal water jugs, actually). We have 12 of those, stacked 2 high (bin to collect water - mesh shelf - 6 containers - mesh shelf - 6 containers). We are watering them 4x daily. They are in our extra room, by the glass door which gets a lot of morning sun, next to our chick pen (where we keep the chicks too small to go outside yet). Our current question is - will the seeds dry out too much between watering? We flood them 4x daily but it drains in 2-3 minutes, and then, of course, starts drying out until the next watering. How dry is too dry? Is 'feels moist' ok? Are they fine so long as they don't feel like hard dry seeds? I was considering putting paper towels on top of the seeds, but I'd worry about bacteria or mold growing in the paper towels.
We are following the directions of a certain website (which I apparently cannot link). But I will add the photo they show of their setup.
This is NOT our setup, but it's what we are working towards. As you see, there's no plastic sheeting or greenhouse-like lids on the seeds.
Another question. For those of you who do use the timer-pump method of watering... where in the world do you get a timer that will water 4x a day for 5-10min each time? My digital timer only allows 2 'timers' (so 2x a day) to be set, and my non-digital will allow as many as I press in but it's limited to 30-min blocks. Is 30min too long to flush water through the bins, at any stage of growth?
Thank you! No sprouts yet, but I read that BOSS is the slowest sprouter, so we're waiting.
Yeah me too. I don't want to buy them when they are so plenteous world-wide. My aunt thinks I'm crazy already. She says, "I know life's a bit difficult right now, but you plan to eat weeds?"
I explained my purpose to her and she grabbed a few heads that were still in her yard and is mailing them to me!
One thing I told her is that dandelions are extremely nutritious and romaine was probably considered a weed somewhere sometime until somebody tasted it!
