How to a Seed Boosting Solution
We all have a neighbor who seems to have a green thumb--on steroids. Her tulips bloom earlier, his tomatoes are the size of softballs when yours are still green and her lawn is ready for mowing while the seeds you've sown are still just sitting there. Well, Grandpa knew a few things about giving seeds an strong start and you can use a home made seed starting solution that gave his lawn and garden a fast start. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tea bag
- Water
- Glass jar
- Garage or basement cement floor
- Broom and dustpan
Instructions
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Make yourself a cup of tea. Then make a second using the same tea bag. Use regular black tea as it has the tannins required for this use. Drink the first cup of tea. Put the second in a large glass jar. Pour your grass seed into the jar. Fill just to the top of the grass seed with water, cover and refrigerate for three days.
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Find a nice dusty part of the garage or basement, free of oil stains, that needs to be swept. Lift the seed out of the jar by handfuls and cast upon the floor. Sweep it around in the dust until well coated. The cold storage convinces the seed that it's winter time and the dust on the warm floor is its signal to start growing.
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Sweep the dust-coated grass seed up with a stiff-bristled broom into a dustpan and spread on your prepared lawn. This gives your seed a coating to keep it warm. The tea solution and dirt coat jump-start germination. Your grass should pop up within a few days.
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Know that many large seeds, such as morning glory, benefit from a soaking before planting. Be sure to read up on each variety before using the starter solution. Some require light to germinate, in which case they should be put on a cool windowsill (never near a heat vent or radiator) for a couple of days instead of a refrigerator. Check unrefrigerated seeds often for signs of mold.
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Tips & Warnings
Put your seed jar in the refrigerator out of reach by late night snackers and small children. It won't hurt them but you may end up with a mess.
This procedure will not compensate for lack of preparation of the area you wish to seed. Be sure to rake and grade properly.
Be careful to avoid getting your seeds in oil while sweeping them along the floor. It will stop the germination process dead.
- Photo Credit Microsoft Office clip art
