Started saved dahlia seeds on 1/23/24, using clean paper napkins on small Styrofoam trays, covered with plastic film cover.
Approximately 3000 seeds were started, but it is clear the majority were never viable. There have been questions about how quickly Dahlia seeds germinate. I setup my oven as a germination chamber, using the light(non LED) of the oven for heat. A thermometer probe inside the oven and an alert set to 91 degrees F helps me tweak the internal temperature, and I prop the door slightly open as needed. Today is day 10 and germination is slowing way down, as listed below.
DAY Number seeds germinated
Day 0 - plant seeds in trays
Day 3 - 4
Day 4 - 15
Day 5 - 86
Day 6 - 72
Day 7 - 11
Day 8 - 4
Day 9 - 4
Day 10 - 20
On day 9 the trays were rewet using very slightly soapy(Dawn) water, then drained thoroughly. Today, day 10, and day 7 the trays were rewet and drained with a .3% hydrogen peroxide solution*.
- 1 ounce Hydrogen peroxide (3%) + 9 ounces water + 1/4 teaspoon table sugar.
I'll follow up in a few days with the seed varieties that germinated and those varieties that didn't germinate.
I'm out of grow lights 😱. Picture below is one of the four trays under lights. The past few days, the trays have spent a few hours outside sunning under floating row cover.
