Garden Journal Update: 4/20/2018 - Don't Fear The Reapers
Well, for the most part, my seeds have germinated phenomenally well. I kept them in moist paper towels with the exception of one weekend when the paper towels dried out. This may have affected the germination of a couple of varieties (especially the Dark Galaxy tomatoes). I held the temperature at a constant 73-75 oF, and most everything germinated pretty quickly - with the exception of my Carolina Reaper peppers. They just did not want to come out! Out of the original 10 seeds that I attempted to start, only 2 had sprouted. Finally, on Monday (4/16), I decided to try something a little different. The Reapers were the only seeds left in the incubator, but I was afraid that they might have been bad seeds, so I started 5 more (in addition to the remaining 8) in a separate paper towel. I dampened both paper towels and placed them in a plastic cup with the top covered so they would retain moisture, and I cranked up the heat to about 78-80 oF. By Wednesday (2 days later), I began noticing the tiny root tips protruding from the little seeds... in both paper towels. Today (Friday), I potted the 9 seeds that have germinated so far, bringing my Reaper total up to 11 plants. I don't know what I'm going to do with 11 Carolina Reaper plants. I don't think any of us will end up eating the peppers - I was just kind of growing them as a novelty for my son. I wonder if they would sell at a farmer's market?
| Type of Seed | # Seeds In Packet | Number Planted | # Seeds Germin- ated | Germin- ation % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Black Brandywine Tomato | 82 | 20 | 20 | 100 |
| Abe Lincoln Tomato | 62 | 20 | 19 | 95 |
| Pantano Romanesco Tomato | 64 | 20 | 16# | 80# |
| Gezahnte Red Tomato | 60 | 20 | 16# | 80# |
| Martino's Roma Tomato | 74 | 20 | 20 | 100 |
| Dark Galaxy Tomato | 59 | 20 | 13# | 65# |
| Costoluto Fiorentino Tomato | 81 | 20 | 17 | 85# |
| *Black Vernissage Tomato | 45 | 20 | 17 | 85 |
| Fin De Meaux Cucumber | 98 | 20 | 20 | 100 |
| White Emerald Cucumber | 54 | 20 | 18 | 90 |
| Straight Eight Cucumber | 99 | 20 | 19 | 95 |
| Spanish Mammoth Pepper | 50 | 20 | 16# | 80# |
| Leutschauer Paprika Pepper | 41 | 20 | 14# | 70# |
| Tam Jalapeno Pepper | 71 | 20 | 18 | 90 |
| Carolina Reaper Pepper | 18 | 15 | 11# | 73.33# |
| Clemson Spineless Okra | x | x | x | x |
| Lousiana 16" Long Pod Okra | x | x | x | x |
| Straightneck Squash | 45 | 45 | 45 | 100 |
| Straightneck Squash | x | x | x | x |
| *Odessa Summer Squash | 20 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Smoke Signal Indian Popcorn | x | x | x | x |
| Fisher's Earliest Sweet Corn | x | x | x | x |
| Mary Washington Asparagus | x | x | x | x |
| Tendercrisp Celery | x | x | x | x |
| *Cosmic Purple Carrot | x | x | x | x |