Oh my gosh, I’m totally nervous biting my nails watching you cull those seedlings! 😳 I’m the dork who would plant all the culled seedlings in another bed just to make sure all the experts knew what they were talking about 😂😂
I always a get a lot of this reaction when I talk about choosing for best plants! I get it- it's a switch of the mind from gardener to farmer.....it's never easy! LOL
I've used the channel trays for many years even though I don't plant seeds indoors every year. I only water from the top so I just set them in a regular tray (lined with wide aluminum foil if I'm out of solid trays). Top watering is not a problem unless your seeds take a long time to sprout. If I did need to bottom water I'd set them temporarily on a industrial size cookie sheet that I have. I also use the number system making sure to label which end is "1". I can be messy when spread seeds so I've learned to lay a piece of paper or cardboard on each side of the channel I'm planting if the seeds are small. Once the true leaves appear I move them into cell packs. You can start a scarry amount of seeds in just one tray. I LOVE these trays!
I started using the channel trays last year and just love them! They take up no room at all and a game changer for me. I also cut them down to 4 channels so easier to manage. 😁🌱❤ ps I put tape on tray and wrote on the tape.
I sowed my snapdragon seeds in a rectangular empty salad container. I would like to see the potting up if you can manage a video please. It is my first time to grow flowers, you really inspire me! Thanks Nicole! - Zee, N. Cali zone10a
BTW - Thanks for the heads up on the seed organizer sale! I cannot believe they cost so much at full price. But the sale is AWESOME!! I definitely bought one! And I never would have known they were on sale bcuz I normally don't allow myself to even open the door to Micheals! Or Hobby Lobby. It's just a dangerous place for my wallet... It was even hard to buy just ONE organizer!! But I did it. I was strong!! So Thank You ❤️
So interesting about the cotyledons. When I worked for a research greenhouse we would cull out any that were fused or wrinkly (mostly cucumbers) as they are more likely to have issues with disease etc. Other cons I could think of for the trays would be that the roots will get intertwined so you have to be very careful separating and there's also the time it'll take to plant from the pot that you planted up in- the bigger the pot the longer it'll take to plant in the ground. Another idea I used for herbs is the 1020 tray with holes filled with soil and made trenches (size depended on seed size) and labeled the rows with waterproof address labels on the side of the tray. Love watching your videos!
I have the same concern with this type of flat. I had a disaster a few years ago planting a larger seedling (maybe tomato) and all the roots spread out due to the shallowness of the channel, and were very difficult to untangle. I rediscovered the same tray and sowed a very old package of snaps hoping for a few to germinate. They are now the size of a pinhead but coming in thickly. It will be very hard to separate them when they are strong enough to handle. May have to snip off so many babies. Lesson learned, sow thinly if you are not aiming for a clump of plants. Can't wait to see these beautiful flowers in bloom !
Thank You Nicole for that stock information! I do not grow flowers to sell but just for my pleasure. I have never grown stock and definitely did not know how to tell the difference between single and double flowered ones. Thats what I love about gardening. I can still learn new things about gardening even after gardening for many years. I love the flowers on your computer. Where can I get those?
My gosh! Sometimes I believe I am a seasoned gardener, then you post a new incredibly informative video! I had no idea that stock could be selectively culled! It's scent is best described as an aromatic "sweet musk." Just one flowering plant will fill a porch with its delightful scent but it is not noxious or overpowering. For anybody that saves seeds, they can allow the single flowering stems go to seed. Those seeds will still produce some double blooms. The flowers and seed pods are edible! Personally, I love arranging with stems of stock that have curves. They provide a graceful flow to an otherwise rigid arrangement. Nature is best represented as it grows naturally. :)
MOST AROMATIC! I'm just now considering growing cut flowers and I've learned so much from your Channel over the past few months. Thank you! And it doesn't hurt that you're a freaking hoot! LOL 🤣 💕
I grow Stock for the fragrance. So lovely. It goes in the category of Lilacs and Peonies. I could not distinguish the single cotyledons from the doubles. I can't wait to start my seeds. I think I also have the ruby variety from Johnny's.
Used the fused/unfused cotyledons method in my rainbow quartet this season, (without changing the temp). Out of 2 flowering rows only had 1 that came single, will be doing this method again.
Since I found you a couple of months ago I look every day to see if you have a new video. If not I watch old ones. You just make my day and are so inspiring. I lived in Rome, NY for 25 years and we loved it. For the last 6 years we have lived in Northern Alabama, near our daughter and grandbabies, so our growing season is much longer but growing in our summer heat is often tricky. The hear is relentless. Anyway, thanks to you, this year I'm going to have a garden full of flowers and can't wait for Spring.
Long before flower farming was trendy and sexy i worked at a flower farm. We started all of our babies in channel trays. Its great fun to sit in the greenhouse, listen to tunes and pot up seedlings. I believe I prefer that to making soil blocks. Anyway, im doing channel trays this year and retiring my tiny blocker for the rest of the season.
I just found this video one year late to the party. I have used these seed trays for stock, snaps, celosia, feverfew, cress, and probably more. Anything that I want a lot of with somewhat inexpensive seed. However, next week I'm starting my lisianthus in these for the first time ever. I normally always use 128 cell trays for my lisi's, but I'm looking to maximize grow room space. Praying I don't regret the decision to change my practices. Hopefully you ended up loving these trays. I know I have in the past!
If anyone tries to fall sow these be sure to cover with frost cloth!! Lost all mine during a freeze. They were about a foot tall. 😭 Thanks Nicole!! I will have to check these trays out. I did mine in plug trays but I did 2-3 seeds per cell and transplanted ones that had 2 doubles in them.
If pulling those culled babies out puts the other seedlings at risk with possible root damage, check out snipping off the culled plants. That may actually go a little faster. Fiskars make a good pair of garden snips. The sharp tip works great to get between the little plants.
So interesting about the stock! First found it last year at a local nursery and fell in love with the fragrance. Kept a container by my front door in spring and it was wonderful. Hope to grow some so this information about the double blooms is super helpful.
I love watching your videos I learn so much. I just ordered some seeds Of Potomac Apple blossom Snapdragon, Costa Apricot Snapdragon, Katz Formula mix Stock seed & Vintage Brown Stock & Sun-Fill Purple Sunflower seed. all from Johnny's Selected Seeds Company. So excited can't wait to get them I really am happy I found the Sun-Fill Purple Sunflower seeds. They are so different. 🤗💞
Hi!! I just picked 2 of them rainbow bins up from my local Michael store!!! Yoi can't beat that price!! I got 2 extra when I picked my 2 up so I have 4!! Thank you!!
I just tried using a silver metallic sharpie to number the channels 1-20 on the channel trays and it worked great! I also marked both ends of each tray with an A, B, C...etc like you suggested. Thanks for keeping it simple. Hope you do some more follow up on these channel trays.
I have been farming/gardening [farm to table growers + florals ] my entire life and have had to sow hundreds of thousands of trays. For many decades it has been: 1- filling the flat with seeding mix.. 2- USE a RULER and make lines of rows in the seeding mix... 3- using a bent in half piece of card stock,, putting the seeds in there and simply tapping the seeds into the seed mix aiming to have each seed drop in with a small space between. 4- take a sieve, strainer or sifter, and shake dried peat, or the soil mix,, over the top, so the seeds are covered. Its like a fine dusting on top! [Note: There is no need for vermiculite when you top it with dried peat or the very fine potting soil mix, that is dusted on the top in a nice layer]. 5- spraying the flats with water from a sprayer [not a hose or a watering can]. A sprayer bottle like shown in the video Then checking them morning and night. Making sure the top half of the flat is very moist but not saturated.until you see a sprout. 6- We use a germinating chamber to keep them in ideal conditions. Once there is spouts, they get watered from the bottom tray so it wicks up. 7-Once the seedlings are 1 inch or more high, they are transferred into cell units. SO,, these channel Trays are very practical because you don't have to keep creating the individual rows, and making sure to leave the right amount of space between the rows. This has it already determined. It is similar to our RAIN GUTTER systems,, only with those we simply slide the plants right into the ground from the gutters, by sliding them off as we walk. Good video!!!!!!
I’ve used the channel trays for seed starting. All that you say about them is true. I find space for labeling. I actually cut a regular label in half and write the seed name and variety sometimes using abbreviations. I do write a backup list in a book but I do start as many as you do, Yes you need a shallow tray for watering. Also they do dry out sooner. But you can get a whole lot more seeds planted.
You sank my Battleship!!!! Ok, I laughed as well. So funny what simple games we played as kids…keep the jokes coming! I gotta go pick my kids up! Omg, I am dying. You are soooooo funny and relatable. And as far as the gardening stuff, thank you for sharing all these tips. I just bought the pump sprayer this year, invaluable for watering the seeds and trays.
Very interesting! I didn't know about the watering situation with the channel trays. I used one a couple years ago and had a bunch of problems with it so now I know that the water level needs to be higher.
I guess you need to use the same varieties, maybe for each colour would be handy, if you mixed some things that germinate faster you need to get them off the heat mat and under lights, so some might not be ready to leave the heat mat, apart for that it looks really cool. Thanks so much for sharing. Gina sounds like a champion, you should get her in for tea and live chats. Love all your videos x ❤️
This is great to know, I will be growing stock for the first time and have limited planting space. This will help narrow down planting only the best of the best. Thanks Nicole! :)
I have Katz Formula Mix from Johnny's too!! I'm so special. LOL You know what I love to use for bulk starts in a large variety? A recycled Party Cupcake holder- 24 cups.From the Grocery Store. I use it for Petunias. I pot them up into 6 pack cells when they are still tiny. It has a built on dome (I put holes in top and bottoms with soldering iron). I got another one from this past Xmas 6 huge squares! Yas!! All of those clear plastic top containers are little greenhouses. I love it all!!! 😵💫 Edit- Soldering iron from Dollar Tree- Yas!!!
Never seen those trays before, not even on the garden supply sites I shopped last yr. And how interesting about finding the double Stock, my mom grew Stock in her gardens, I've always loved those. BTW, I went to Micheal's yesterday afternoon and picked up a container, I asked the girl at the register if it was still on sale, she too was shocked to see $41.99.
Hi Nicole! Great advice. I would not have known about the cold period, good thing I watch your channel. I would like to see you get the plugs out when it's time ugh! I was trying to picture it. Maybe get a popsicle stick to pop them out? Just worried about ripping roots.
I remembered watching this video before I started my stock. When you mentioned putting the seedlings in your refrigerator or a colder 40-45 degree place, does it need to have light?
We always just use 128 plug trays and plant 4 or 5 seeds per plug and pot them up from there. Not quite as efficient as the channels but works great if you have plug trays and don't want to buy different equipment.
Great video. Very informative 👏. That was so crazy - sowing my stock last ( and my first ) year. I just COULD NOT see the singles after they had germinated. I looked and looked and even sowed a hole new batch. Turned out I only got 3 singles !!! Incredibly lucky I guess !
As much as I try not to be, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to transplanting, so it takes me FOOORRRRREEVVVVEERR to pot things up! I thankfully usually have plenty of grow light space & if I didn't, I think it would still be cheaper for me to buy more lights and shelves than to spend the time it takes me to pot up even 1 tray! 😆 I feel like I have to get the transplant at the EXACT same height as they previously were, & that I have to get the seed starting mix completely flat, etc. But in my defense- I have had a lot of issues with my seedlings rotting at the base of the stem after transplanting, everytime I have planted them deeper... (except for tomatoes!) *Don't worry, it took me forever to learn how to say cotyledons too! Lol!
I’m so glad you posted this video! I LOVE stock! It’s my favorite flower scent! For florists, try for straight stems. We always get them in crooked and they’re hard to design with that way. I had the same idea about the “channel trays” they sell them on Amazon and I was thinking they’d be great for snaps! Good idea about the stock!
This was super helpful! This is my first year growing stock - I may try to sort for the double flowering ones even though I am growing a lot fewer. I was wondering how long you wait between successions of stock?
I am a new gardener and new subscriber to this channel. I had to click the bell icon when I first subscribed so that I could log on and see your latest video. I also make it a point to share videos to my blog page whenever I feel they bring value to my urban gardening journey (this channel is in that category). My husband and I grow an urban garden in our (zone 6) backyard. I absolutely lust over your grow spaces and live vicariously through your interactions with your plants. We grow veggies and a few flowers to attract the "helper" insects. My absolute favorite is marigolds (ALL VARIETIES) my husband loves the Geraniums. I saved seeds from last years flowers but cannot find the Geraniums 🤔 Can you recommend a seed company that has great viable geraniums? Your channel is an absolute 😚MUST WATCH for me because I really want to grow more flowers for the front of the house. I never imagined growing them from seed. I thought that was something ONLY YOU PROFESSIONALS did. You make it look easy enough that I might order some flower seeds for next Spring/ Summer season. Your channel has become one of my NEW FAVORITES. I learned from your Winter sowing video and have started preparing my water containers for Winter sowing. The funniest part of THIS video was at 17:50 I laughed so hard when you pronounced that word. I have had trouble pronouncing it myself but thanks to you, I will say it EXACTLY the way you do (lol). I also cringed when you mentioned "culling" because they look soooooo perfect 17:56 I wish I could reach through the computer screen and have you place them in my hands. I can only hope to grow cotyledons as perfect as those. Thanks for sharing. By the way, how do I make the "cubes of soil" to place one seed in for growing?
Wow, great info that ill be using next week!What do you pot them in once they're big enough? Soil blocks? Also do you wait until they get their first true leaves to pot them up?
No, you can't really pot anything up into the soil blocks (the 3/4 inch ones) once they have roots, the blocks tend to fall apart if you push anything into them. They will be potted up into 200 plug trays or perhaps 128 trays.
Oh i wish i lived close by id help you pit up and rescue all the cast off babies! Is there a list somewhere that tells what seeds are best to grow in the channel trays...ir what not to grow in them. I usually just sprinkle my snaps seeds in pots as they are popping from spent blooms seed pods. I have bought a tray full of seedlings but its been difficult to find starts.
Tip: Find some scraps of 1" foam insulation and lay them in 1020 trays. They help support the 20 channel flats, especially when they are just watered. I've used them off and on over the past 10 years or so. Always had problems keeping these shallow trays from drying out on heat mats when I had a day job. Trying using them again on a larger scale again since I'm full-time here and can keep a closer eye on moisture. Bought some from one supplier that I hated as they didn't have a flange along the long edge and were way to floppy to use. The ones I got through Johnny's and others were fine.
So glad you make this video!!! I just bought channel trays for the same reasons -- perfect timing! Two Questions: 1. Could/Should humidity domes be used while trays are on the heat mats just until they germinate? 2. Should I try to start seeds in each channel tray that have similar days to germination (according to Johnny's germination days)? Thanks so much! You ROCK Nicole!
I used the dome for germination, yes. I typically remove them when I move them to the lights. I am not going to worry about which ones sprout quicker, I'll remove them when they are ready and put the rest back on the heat mat.
I put 10 pop bottles in my front bay window and all of them but the Bartlett pear sprouted! I have no heat mat just sun and I use a spray bottle for watering!! It is going better than my ones outside (I think froze to death lol) I ran out of room on the window sil so I took small water bottles (nestle) and I tapped the bottle up against the window! I can use the whole window space if I wanted to!!!! Important use clear extra strong box tap or gorilla clear tape!!! Down fall on winter sowing is you can't just put a jug in front of another jug or use nontransparent tap. You have to line them up single file so the sun hits them all!!
Seems like more work for yourself, but you do you, girl! 💜🌻 Well, amd I'm too lazy and frugal to waste seed. I'm giving the doubles to florists and singles for market bouquet sales. People love them!!
@@FlowerHillFarm Interested to see how it all goes in the seed trays. I have started tomatoes in those and it is easy/compact. Great success to you this year, Nicole!
I think potting up from the channel trays will be more tedious than from soil blocks. You will probably have to pry the seedlings apart, which will take more time than putting a soil block into a pot/tray.
@@FlowerHillFarm My favorite tool for potting up seedlings is little cocktail forks-just like mini garden forks. You can "dig up" the seedlings without chopping through the roots and they can get into small spaces & cells. Those shallow no hole trays work really well with small cell flats. Small cells in big trays often sag in the middle.
I've watched quite a few of your vids, but I may have missed this. Do you ever plant out from the smallest soil blocks? I am currently growing plants for my gardening customers and space in the greenhouse is deffo being pushed to its limits. Currently have about 1000 3.5cm soil blocks and now that its hit Feb I've got another 1500 or so to add to this. Appreciate your knowledge! And the videos are great as always Sean, all the way from England haha
@@FlowerHillFarm Sorry, I mean would there be plants that you wouldnt move up to the larger soil blocks? So the smallest ones are good to go straight in the ground? That's fantastic if so. I feel like I need 3x the amount of space!
Holy moley. I must've missed the bus for starting stock seeds. I have never started them before and thought you plant them 6 to 8 weeks before last frost date. Ahhhhh!
These are part of my hoophouse experiment so my frost dates are not what I am basing my schedule on. They are a cool flower so they can actually go into the ground several weeks before your last frost date.
@@FlowerHillFarm I thought it might be the one you were looking for. Lol! Thanks for sharing Nicole! You're videos are always so educational and inspiring!! P.S. You're my most FAVORITE flower farmer ever!! ❤
Question about starting stock...I'm in zone 3 and thought I needed to start this 3-4 weeks before planting out. I'm growing it for the first time this year, and that was my plan. You aren't much different from me. You're starting this now. How many days until bloom time? Should I really be planting this now?! I tried to investigate how many days until flowering and cannot find it.
@@FlowerHillFarm Understood. I also have a greenhouse, but use it specifically for seed starting in early spring and it's a lot of work keeping the barrel stove going at night to make sure things don't freeze when the sun goes down. I'll have to think about stock/flowers. It would be nice to have them earlier, but I don't know if I have the energy to keep things warm even longer than I already do. Thanks for the reply.
@@FlowerHillFarm slept on it...and have decided to start some of it early along with my pepper seedlings and attempt to select them for doubles, but I don't think I'll destroy the non doubles. I'll plant those out in the veg garden and see if they actually are singles. Then, in mid march when I fire up the stove, some of the stock will have a jump and maybe I'll get some early to stick in with a few other early spring flower bouquets. As always, thanks for the inspiration.
I hate transplanting and end up with crowded stunted seedlings. I feel for me sowing into plug trsys with a toothpick is going to be my go to method. One and done.
I think the proper word she was looking for was fragrant. Pungent is having a strong odor that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances while fragrant is sweet-smelling; having a pleasant (usually strong) scent or fragrance.
You misting the seeds actually made me think of Morticia Addams haha. She always misted her plants and then Gomez would sneak up on her. So where’s Brad Pitt when you need him??🤣🤣
In Dr A's book, he speculates that eventually the double rates would increase because of that but I'm not sure if anything has changed dramatically since he wrote the book.
Nooooo not the precious stock 😫😢. I’d be tempted to separate them and put them aside to see how well your culling eye is on what you pull in the block tray. For the channel tray, I can see more time being needed to separate out the little plants and potting them up then with your soil blocks. Also with the channel tray if you have plans that take different lengths of time to germinate then you’d still be wasting space on your heat mat waiting for that last row or two to come up after you have put it up earlier spouters. I don’t know, to me it seems faster to pot up a soil block than it is to pull up a row of plants and separate them and then put them into a container. With the soil blocks at least you can pull out dead blocks and then consolidate the sprouted blocks into a smaller space.
I always a get a lot of this reaction when I talk about choosing for best plants! I get it- it's a switch of the mind from gardener to farmer.....it's never easy!
I've seen them called row trays. But would not be good for any plant that does not like root disturbance (ie. Zinnia, melons, cucumbers, most vine crops, etc...) I'm not sure stocks are ones that don't like root disturbance., as I do not grow them much. (Farmer's Market grower) tomatoes, marigolds & peppers examples of plants that benefit from root disturbance.
I tried stock for the first time last year. I got a few flowers however, most of them didn’t bloom. I’m in zone 5. The weather did get hot fast. The plant looked good but no blooms does anyone know why?
The most tell-tale sign is the fused cotyledon, but there are other harder to detect characteristics. I put them on the screen from the Johnny's sheet. There is also a link in the description!
Oh my gosh, I’m totally nervous biting my nails watching you cull those seedlings! 😳 I’m the dork who would plant all the culled seedlings in another bed just to make sure all the experts knew what they were talking about 😂😂
I always a get a lot of this reaction when I talk about choosing for best plants! I get it- it's a switch of the mind from gardener to farmer.....it's never easy! LOL
@@FlowerHillFarm I’m just glad it was you and not me😉 I hope the move brings you and your florists many “doubles”
I've used the channel trays for many years even though I don't plant seeds indoors every year. I only water from the top so I just set them in a regular tray (lined with wide aluminum foil if I'm out of solid trays). Top watering is not a problem unless your seeds take a long time to sprout. If I did need to bottom water I'd set them temporarily on a industrial size cookie sheet that I have. I also use the number system making sure to label which end is "1". I can be messy when spread seeds so I've learned to lay a piece of paper or cardboard on each side of the channel I'm planting if the seeds are small. Once the true leaves appear I move them into cell packs. You can start a scarry amount of seeds in just one tray. I LOVE these trays!
I know very little about Stock. This was very interesting. Thanks for the info.
I am today years old learning all about stock and channel trays! Thank you so much for these awesome tutorials Nicole!
I started using the channel trays last year and just love them! They take up no room at all and a game changer for me. I also cut them down to 4 channels so easier to manage. 😁🌱❤ ps I put tape on tray and wrote on the tape.
Great idea!! I'm excited to try them out.
I sowed my snapdragon seeds in a rectangular empty salad container. I would like to see the potting up if you can manage a video please. It is my first time to grow flowers, you really inspire me! Thanks Nicole! - Zee, N. Cali zone10a
BTW - Thanks for the heads up on the seed organizer sale!
I cannot believe they cost so much at full price.
But the sale is AWESOME!!
I definitely bought one!
And I never would have known they were on sale bcuz I normally don't allow myself to even open the door to Micheals!
Or Hobby Lobby.
It's just a dangerous place for my wallet...
It was even hard to buy just ONE organizer!!
But I did it.
I was strong!!
So Thank You ❤️
I am the same. I stay away from the craft stores, I want everything.
So interesting about the cotyledons. When I worked for a research greenhouse we would cull out any that were fused or wrinkly (mostly cucumbers) as they are more likely to have issues with disease etc. Other cons I could think of for the trays would be that the roots will get intertwined so you have to be very careful separating and there's also the time it'll take to plant from the pot that you planted up in- the bigger the pot the longer it'll take to plant in the ground. Another idea I used for herbs is the 1020 tray with holes filled with soil and made trenches (size depended on seed size) and labeled the rows with waterproof address labels on the side of the tray. Love watching your videos!
I have the same concern with this type of flat. I had a disaster a few years ago planting a larger seedling (maybe tomato) and all the roots spread out due to the shallowness of the channel, and were very difficult to untangle. I rediscovered the same tray and sowed a very old package of snaps hoping for a few to germinate. They are now the size of a pinhead but coming in thickly. It will be very hard to separate them when they are strong enough to handle. May have to snip off so many babies. Lesson learned, sow thinly if you are not aiming for a clump of plants. Can't wait to see these beautiful flowers in bloom !
Thank You Nicole for that stock information! I do not grow flowers to sell but just for my pleasure. I have never grown stock and definitely did not know how to tell the difference between single and double flowered ones. Thats what I love about gardening. I can still learn new things about gardening even after gardening for many years. I love the flowers on your computer. Where can I get those?
My gosh! Sometimes I believe I am a seasoned gardener, then you post a new incredibly informative video! I had no idea that stock could be selectively culled!
It's scent is best described as an aromatic "sweet musk." Just one flowering plant will fill a porch with its delightful scent but it is not noxious or overpowering. For anybody that saves seeds, they can allow the single flowering stems go to seed. Those seeds will still produce some double blooms. The flowers and seed pods are edible!
Personally, I love arranging with stems of stock that have curves. They provide a graceful flow to an otherwise rigid arrangement. Nature is best represented as it grows naturally. :)
More seed videos!!! So exciting.
MOST AROMATIC!
I'm just now considering growing cut flowers and I've learned so much from your Channel over the past few months. Thank you! And it doesn't hurt that you're a freaking hoot! LOL 🤣 💕
I grow Stock for the fragrance. So lovely. It goes in the category of Lilacs and Peonies.
I could not distinguish the single cotyledons from the doubles. I can't wait to start my seeds. I think I also have the ruby variety from Johnny's.
Used the fused/unfused cotyledons method in my rainbow quartet this season, (without changing the temp). Out of 2 flowering rows only had 1 that came single, will be doing this method again.
Good to know! That's really the easiest indicator to pick out!
Awesome. I had no idea.
Found your channel about a year ago and love it. I’ve learnt so much about heat mats and grow lights. Love from the UK.
Since I found you a couple of months ago I look every day to see if you have a new video. If not I watch old ones. You just make my day and are so inspiring. I lived in Rome, NY for 25 years and we loved it. For the last 6 years we have lived in Northern Alabama, near our daughter and grandbabies, so our growing season is much longer but growing in our summer heat is often tricky. The hear is relentless. Anyway, thanks to you, this year I'm going to have a garden full of flowers and can't wait for Spring.
Another delightful video! Thank you for the laughs and the info!! I’m all about the smell-good flowers!!!
I think you have it figured out friend!! Thanks for sharing the process with us!!!
That’s SUCH interesting info! So excited to hear more about your results later in the year. 🌻
I got the same tray at pinetree ,haven't started yet getting my grow room finished. You Inspire me to try new things plus you're so funny too.
Long before flower farming was trendy and sexy i worked at a flower farm. We started all of our babies in channel trays. Its great fun to sit in the greenhouse, listen to tunes and pot up seedlings. I believe I prefer that to making soil blocks. Anyway, im doing channel trays this year and retiring my tiny blocker for the rest of the season.
That! Was extremely informative!!!! Thanks so much!
I just found this video one year late to the party. I have used these seed trays for stock, snaps, celosia, feverfew, cress, and probably more. Anything that I want a lot of with somewhat inexpensive seed. However, next week I'm starting my lisianthus in these for the first time ever. I normally always use 128 cell trays for my lisi's, but I'm looking to maximize grow room space. Praying I don't regret the decision to change my practices. Hopefully you ended up loving these trays. I know I have in the past!
Queen mothers hair looks good 😍😍.
Fascinating. Thank You So Much For Sharing This Information. I'm not a flower farmer but this is so interesting to me. 🌱💚
I love plants and so enjoy all the info
If anyone tries to fall sow these be sure to cover with frost cloth!! Lost all mine during a freeze. They were about a foot tall. 😭
Thanks Nicole!! I will have to check these trays out. I did mine in plug trays but I did 2-3 seeds per cell and transplanted ones that had 2 doubles in them.
Thank you for this very helpful information! This is my first year of growing Stock and this will sure be good to know.
Can not wait to see you potting all of these up.
It shall be a potting up party!
If pulling those culled babies out puts the other seedlings at risk with possible root damage, check out snipping off the culled plants.
That may actually go a little faster.
Fiskars make a good pair of garden snips. The sharp tip works great to get between the little plants.
Yes, I have a few snips! They're handy for "pinching" plants too
Trying some winter sowing rosanne brown stock for the first time. Very interesting info. on how to tell double from single plants. Thanks!
So interesting about the stock! First found it last year at a local nursery and fell in love with the fragrance. Kept a container by my front door in spring and it was wonderful. Hope to grow some so this information about the double blooms is super helpful.
I love watching your videos I learn so much. I just ordered some seeds Of Potomac Apple blossom Snapdragon, Costa Apricot Snapdragon, Katz Formula mix Stock seed & Vintage Brown Stock & Sun-Fill Purple Sunflower seed. all from Johnny's Selected Seeds Company. So excited can't wait to get them I really am happy I found the Sun-Fill Purple Sunflower seeds. They are so different. 🤗💞
Hi!! I just picked 2 of them rainbow bins up from my local Michael store!!! Yoi can't beat that price!! I got 2 extra when I picked my 2 up so I have 4!! Thank you!!
That is awesome!
I just tried using a silver metallic sharpie to number the channels 1-20 on the channel trays and it worked great! I also marked both ends of each tray with an A, B, C...etc like you suggested. Thanks for keeping it simple. Hope you do some more follow up on these channel trays.
I tried the silver marker but it did not work for me.
Sweet! Was curious about those trays. You could DIY a capillary mat for watering those
That would be cool!
Yas! I use the channel trays a lot and I love them for tomatoes 🍅 they work well fo shaw
I have been farming/gardening [farm to table growers + florals ] my entire life and have had to sow hundreds of thousands of trays. For many decades it has been:
1- filling the flat with seeding mix..
2- USE a RULER and make lines of rows in the seeding mix...
3- using a bent in half piece of card stock,, putting the seeds in there and simply tapping the seeds into the seed mix aiming to have each seed drop in with a small space between.
4- take a sieve, strainer or sifter, and shake dried peat, or the soil mix,, over the top, so the seeds are covered. Its like a fine dusting on top!
[Note: There is no need for vermiculite when you top it with dried peat or the very fine potting soil mix, that is dusted on the top in a nice layer].
5- spraying the flats with water from a sprayer [not a hose or a watering can]. A sprayer bottle like shown in the video
Then checking them morning and night. Making sure the top half of the flat is very moist but not saturated.until you see a sprout.
6- We use a germinating chamber to keep them in ideal conditions.
Once there is spouts, they get watered from the bottom tray so it wicks up.
7-Once the seedlings are 1 inch or more high, they are transferred into cell units.
SO,, these channel Trays are very practical because you don't have to keep creating the individual rows, and making sure to leave the right amount of space between the rows. This has it already determined. It is similar to our RAIN GUTTER systems,, only with those we simply slide the plants right into the ground from the gutters, by sliding them off as we walk.
Good video!!!!!!
I’ve used the channel trays for seed starting. All that you say about them is true. I find space for labeling. I actually cut a regular label in half and write the seed name and variety sometimes using abbreviations. I do write a backup list in a book but I do start as many as you do, Yes you need a shallow tray for watering. Also they do dry out sooner. But you can get a whole lot more seeds planted.
You sank my Battleship!!!! Ok, I laughed as well. So funny what simple games we played as kids…keep the jokes coming!
I gotta go pick my kids up! Omg, I am dying. You are soooooo funny and relatable.
And as far as the gardening stuff, thank you for sharing all these tips. I just bought the pump sprayer this year, invaluable for watering the seeds and trays.
Very interesting! I didn't know about the watering situation with the channel trays. I used one a couple years ago and had a bunch of problems with it so now I know that the water level needs to be higher.
I guess you need to use the same varieties, maybe for each colour would be handy, if you mixed some things that germinate faster you need to get them off the heat mat and under lights, so some might not be ready to leave the heat mat, apart for that it looks really cool. Thanks so much for sharing. Gina sounds like a champion, you should get her in for tea and live chats. Love all your videos x ❤️
This is great to know, I will be growing stock for the first time and have limited planting space. This will help narrow down planting only the best of the best. Thanks Nicole! :)
I use those trays for onion seeds 👍
Great video, Nicole. 💐. Best. Of luck with the seed tray. Will be interesting to see the results.
It is very very very beautiful Work to seedlings and a lot of..😄💏❤💚🎓👒🎩🇺🇸🇺🇸
I have Katz Formula Mix from Johnny's too!! I'm so special. LOL You know what I love to use for bulk starts in a large variety? A recycled Party Cupcake holder- 24 cups.From the Grocery Store. I use it for Petunias. I pot them up into 6 pack cells when they are still tiny. It has a built on dome (I put holes in top and bottoms with soldering iron). I got another one from this past Xmas 6 huge squares! Yas!! All of those clear plastic top containers are little greenhouses. I love it all!!! 😵💫 Edit- Soldering iron from Dollar Tree- Yas!!!
Love it!! I've saved those cupcake things before too! LOL They work!
Never seen those trays before, not even on the garden supply sites I shopped last yr. And how interesting about finding the double Stock, my mom grew Stock in her gardens, I've always loved those. BTW, I went to Micheal's yesterday afternoon and picked up a container, I asked the girl at the register if it was still on sale, she too was shocked to see $41.99.
Great video thank you !😍I’m about to start mine and first time growing them 🤞🏻this is so helpful 🥰 🌸
Hi Nicole! Great advice. I would not have known about the cold period, good thing I watch your channel. I would like to see you get the plugs out when it's time ugh! I was trying to picture it. Maybe get a popsicle stick to pop them out? Just worried about ripping roots.
Thanks for great info as usual! Maybe pot up the single stock at your seedling sale.
It seems so early for starting these, will you be putting them in the tunnel?
I remembered watching this video before I started my stock. When you mentioned putting the seedlings in your refrigerator or a colder 40-45 degree place, does it need to have light?
TFS Nicole! So much research needed! I thought about stock but I might have to wait until next year? I thought that they seemed very short.
Yay! I’m starting my stock today! Still don’t know if I want to cull 😬
That's how I was last year and then the doubles really stole my heart (and my nose!)
We always just use 128 plug trays and plant 4 or 5 seeds per plug and pot them up from there. Not quite as efficient as the channels but works great if you have plug trays and don't want to buy different equipment.
I've seen that method!
Great video. Very informative 👏. That was so crazy - sowing my stock last ( and my first ) year. I just COULD NOT see the singles after they had germinated. I looked and looked and even sowed a hole new batch. Turned out I only got 3 singles !!! Incredibly lucky I guess !
Wow that's amazing!
As much as I try not to be, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to transplanting, so it takes me FOOORRRRREEVVVVEERR to pot things up! I thankfully usually have plenty of grow light space & if I didn't, I think it would still be cheaper for me to buy more lights and shelves than to spend the time it takes me to pot up even 1 tray! 😆 I feel like I have to get the transplant at the EXACT same height as they previously were, & that I have to get the seed starting mix completely flat, etc. But in my defense- I have had a lot of issues with my seedlings rotting at the base of the stem after transplanting, everytime I have planted them deeper... (except for tomatoes!)
*Don't worry, it took me forever to learn how to say cotyledons too! Lol!
This was interesting! Thank you! Cotyledon!!
The 55% zoom in!!😂😂😂
I’m so glad you posted this video! I LOVE stock! It’s my favorite flower scent! For florists, try for straight stems. We always get them in crooked and they’re hard to design with that way. I had the same idea about the “channel trays” they sell them on Amazon and I was thinking they’d be great for snaps! Good idea about the stock!
This was super helpful! This is my first year growing stock - I may try to sort for the double flowering ones even though I am growing a lot fewer. I was wondering how long you wait between successions of stock?
I am a new gardener and new subscriber to this channel. I had to click the bell icon when I first subscribed so that I could log on and see your latest video. I also make it a point to share videos to my blog page whenever I feel they bring value to my urban gardening journey (this channel is in that category). My husband and I grow an urban garden in our (zone 6) backyard. I absolutely lust over your grow spaces and live vicariously through your interactions with your plants. We grow veggies and a few flowers to attract the "helper" insects. My absolute favorite is marigolds (ALL VARIETIES) my husband loves the Geraniums. I saved seeds from last years flowers but cannot find the Geraniums 🤔 Can you recommend a seed company that has great viable geraniums? Your channel is an absolute 😚MUST WATCH for me because I really want to grow more flowers for the front of the house. I never imagined growing them from seed. I thought that was something ONLY YOU PROFESSIONALS did. You make it look easy enough that I might order some flower seeds for next Spring/ Summer season. Your channel has become one of my NEW FAVORITES. I learned from your Winter sowing video and have started preparing my water containers for Winter sowing. The funniest part of THIS video was at 17:50 I laughed so hard when you pronounced that word. I have had trouble pronouncing it myself but thanks to you, I will say it EXACTLY the way you do (lol). I also cringed when you mentioned "culling" because they look soooooo perfect 17:56 I wish I could reach through the computer screen and have you place them in my hands. I can only hope to grow cotyledons as perfect as those. Thanks for sharing. By the way, how do I make the "cubes of soil" to place one seed in for growing?
Wow, great info that ill be using next week!What do you pot them in once they're big enough? Soil blocks? Also do you wait until they get their first true leaves to pot them up?
No, you can't really pot anything up into the soil blocks (the 3/4 inch ones) once they have roots, the blocks tend to fall apart if you push anything into them. They will be potted up into 200 plug trays or perhaps 128 trays.
@@FlowerHillFarm Thanks so much! How big or old do you let them get before moving them to the tray cells?
Oh i wish i lived close by id help you pit up and rescue all the cast off babies! Is there a list somewhere that tells what seeds are best to grow in the channel trays...ir what not to grow in them. I usually just sprinkle my snaps seeds in pots as they are popping from spent blooms seed pods. I have bought a tray full of seedlings but its been difficult to find starts.
Great video. So do they take a long time to grow? Why start them already? Thanks!
Tip: Find some scraps of 1" foam insulation and lay them in 1020 trays. They help support the 20 channel flats, especially when they are just watered.
I've used them off and on over the past 10 years or so. Always had problems keeping these shallow trays from drying out on heat mats when I had a day job. Trying using them again on a larger scale again since I'm full-time here and can keep a closer eye on moisture.
Bought some from one supplier that I hated as they didn't have a flange along the long edge and were way to floppy to use. The ones I got through Johnny's and others were fine.
Just got some of these this year! Did you use seed starting mix or regular potting soil?
So glad you make this video!!! I just bought channel trays for the same reasons -- perfect timing! Two Questions: 1. Could/Should humidity domes be used while trays are on the heat mats just until they germinate? 2. Should I try to start seeds in each channel tray that have similar days to germination (according to Johnny's germination days)? Thanks so much! You ROCK Nicole!
I used the dome for germination, yes. I typically remove them when I move them to the lights. I am not going to worry about which ones sprout quicker, I'll remove them when they are ready and put the rest back on the heat mat.
I put 10 pop bottles in my front bay window and all of them but the Bartlett pear sprouted! I have no heat mat just sun and I use a spray bottle for watering!! It is going better than my ones outside (I think froze to death lol) I ran out of room on the window sil so I took small water bottles (nestle) and I tapped the bottle up against the window! I can use the whole window space if I wanted to!!!! Important use clear extra strong box tap or gorilla clear tape!!! Down fall on winter sowing is you can't just put a jug in front of another jug or use nontransparent tap. You have to line them up single file so the sun hits them all!!
I sowed 25 stock seeds in soil blocks on 24 Feb. Only five seeds popped. On heat pad and light. Package said 79% germination rate.
Any comments?
Your homework, until the next video, is to learn the pronunciation of "cotyledons":))) Elementary, Nicole:))) And yes, the Queen Mother looks great!
"I don't like that word." Hilarious.
Could you sell the singles in plant sale? Just a question for the next round
I am not sure it would be worth the time and effort to prep them for sale, but I guess if someone wanted to, they could!
Seems like more work for yourself, but you do you, girl! 💜🌻 Well, amd I'm too lazy and frugal to waste seed. I'm giving the doubles to florists and singles for market bouquet sales. People love them!!
Like I said, it's not for everyone! I let them all grow last year and regretted it after seeing the doubles.
@@FlowerHillFarm Interested to see how it all goes in the seed trays. I have started tomatoes in those and it is easy/compact. Great success to you this year, Nicole!
I think potting up from the channel trays will be more tedious than from soil blocks.
You will probably have to pry the seedlings apart, which will take more time than putting
a soil block into a pot/tray.
Perhaps! I've gotten pretty quick at taking seedlings apart and potting them up. I am no longer "gentle" with the seedlings.
@@FlowerHillFarm Yup. It's easy once you get the hang of it. It's actually kind of fun.
@@FlowerHillFarm My favorite tool for potting up seedlings is little cocktail forks-just like mini garden forks. You can "dig up" the seedlings without chopping through the roots and they can get into small spaces & cells. Those shallow no hole trays work really well with small cell flats. Small cells in big trays often sag in the middle.
I've watched quite a few of your vids, but I may have missed this.
Do you ever plant out from the smallest soil blocks? I am currently growing plants for my gardening customers and space in the greenhouse is deffo being pushed to its limits. Currently have about 1000 3.5cm soil blocks and now that its hit Feb I've got another 1500 or so to add to this.
Appreciate your knowledge! And the videos are great as always
Sean, all the way from England haha
Hi Sean, I do not pot up out of the soil blocks. They will go straight into the ground.
@@FlowerHillFarm Sorry, I mean would there be plants that you wouldnt move up to the larger soil blocks? So the smallest ones are good to go straight in the ground?
That's fantastic if so. I feel like I need 3x the amount of space!
I only use the small blocker and never pot anything up.
Holy moley. I must've missed the bus for starting stock seeds. I have never started them before and thought you plant them 6 to 8 weeks before last frost date. Ahhhhh!
These are part of my hoophouse experiment so my frost dates are not what I am basing my schedule on. They are a cool flower so they can actually go into the ground several weeks before your last frost date.
I had the same reaction. The seed packets say 5-6 weeks. I’m going to seed them earlier and see what happens.
@@FlowerHillFarm ooooh! Okay! I thought I messed up and did something wrong. Yay! Good luck on your experiment. Looking forward to seeing the results
Most fragrant! 😉❤❤
Fragrant is a good word!
@@FlowerHillFarm I thought it might be the one you were looking for. Lol! Thanks for sharing Nicole! You're videos are always so educational and inspiring!! P.S. You're my most FAVORITE flower farmer ever!! ❤
How do you know they are singles with seedlings that little?
Question about starting stock...I'm in zone 3 and thought I needed to start this 3-4 weeks before planting out. I'm growing it for the first time this year, and that was my plan. You aren't much different from me. You're starting this now. How many days until bloom time? Should I really be planting this now?! I tried to investigate how many days until flowering and cannot find it.
I have a hoophouse. Changes dates for me.
@@FlowerHillFarm Understood. I also have a greenhouse, but use it specifically for seed starting in early spring and it's a lot of work keeping the barrel stove going at night to make sure things don't freeze when the sun goes down. I'll have to think about stock/flowers. It would be nice to have them earlier, but I don't know if I have the energy to keep things warm even longer than I already do. Thanks for the reply.
@@FlowerHillFarm slept on it...and have decided to start some of it early along with my pepper seedlings and attempt to select them for doubles, but I don't think I'll destroy the non doubles. I'll plant those out in the veg garden and see if they actually are singles. Then, in mid march when I fire up the stove, some of the stock will have a jump and maybe I'll get some early to stick in with a few other early spring flower bouquets. As always, thanks for the inspiration.
What book were you referring too. You held it up.
There is a link in the description to the book, Specialty Cut Flowers by Dr. a
I'm curious if using a fridge for days with lack of natural or grow lights will effect their color in itself.
I don't think so. The research was conducted by experts in horticulture, so I think they would consider that and rule it out.
I hate transplanting and end up with crowded stunted seedlings.
I feel for me sowing into plug trsys with a toothpick is going to be my go to method. One and done.
Hello from snowy Ohio. LOL I think the word you were looking for is Pungent.
I think the proper word she was looking for was fragrant. Pungent is having a strong odor that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances while fragrant is sweet-smelling; having a pleasant (usually strong) scent or fragrance.
You misting the seeds actually made me think of Morticia Addams haha. She always misted her plants and then Gomez would sneak up on her. So where’s Brad Pitt when you need him??🤣🤣
If someone saved seeds from only double plants, would the germination rate for doubles go up?
In Dr A's book, he speculates that eventually the double rates would increase because of that but I'm not sure if anything has changed dramatically since he wrote the book.
can you sell the seedlings at your spring sale? Just sell the whole dang plant.
When are you starting your ranunculus?!
I already started a couple batches. I did a video earlier this week!
Love your "cotyledon" pronunciation. Try this - kaa tuh LEE dn : )
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Oh yes, I know how it sounds. I just will never get it right! 🤣🤷♀️🤣
Nooooo not the precious stock 😫😢.
I’d be tempted to separate them and put them aside to see how well your culling eye is on what you pull in the block tray.
For the channel tray, I can see more time being needed to separate out the little plants and potting them up then with your soil blocks. Also with the channel tray if you have plans that take different lengths of time to germinate then you’d still be wasting space on your heat mat waiting for that last row or two to come up after you have put it up earlier spouters. I don’t know, to me it seems faster to pot up a soil block than it is to pull up a row of plants and separate them and then put them into a container. With the soil blocks at least you can pull out dead blocks and then consolidate the sprouted blocks into a smaller space.
I always a get a lot of this reaction when I talk about choosing for best plants! I get it- it's a switch of the mind from gardener to farmer.....it's never easy!
Could you not sell the singles to the public? I would buy them, but would they take up too many pots? I’m sure other people would too.
I've seen them called row trays. But would not be good for any plant that does not like root disturbance (ie. Zinnia, melons, cucumbers, most vine crops, etc...) I'm not sure stocks are ones that don't like root disturbance., as I do not grow them much. (Farmer's Market grower) tomatoes, marigolds & peppers examples of plants that benefit from root disturbance.
Cot-a-leeee-den
Maybe that will help you say it better...
I tried stock for the first time last year. I got a few flowers however, most of them didn’t bloom. I’m in zone 5. The weather did get hot fast. The plant looked good but no blooms does anyone know why?
Too hot. They are a cool flower and fizzle out in the heat. That's why mine are already started. I had similar issues last season.
@@FlowerHillFarm That’s what I thought. Thank you!
Zone 5b. Same happened to me. Short and sad. Though some bloomed again in the fall. I’m going to try the earlier start date.
@@amysgardenstead2879 me too!
What's wrong with single stocks ?
Welcome Nicole 😣🤑💏💏✌💪and how are you so so much more to showing
Where is that seed mister from?
I just found it on Amazon
How do u recognize a single stock when it is at that stage?
The most tell-tale sign is the fused cotyledon, but there are other harder to detect characteristics. I put them on the screen from the Johnny's sheet. There is also a link in the description!
The most fragrant blossoms but why, oh why, is it called Stock?
It deserves a more fitting name!