I am so excited - seed germinator

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:01 am

While shopping online for my fids, I stumbled across a seed germinator.
I could not resist it.

I am very excited because my fids soon will have freshly sprouted seeds and I am sure they will love it.
This will be especially helpful during our long snowy winters when dandeloin leaves and grass are gone.

tolig · Post by **tolig** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:32 am

Where did you find a seed germinator? I would like to get one too.

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:13 pm

oh neat, when you get it and try it let us know how idiot proof it is. I'd like something like that but it's have to be REALLY idiot proof, so far since June I've killed 1 rosemary, 1 basil, 1 sage and 1 oregano, my 2nd rosemary is on it's last legs as we speak

j · Post by j » Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:43 pm

I have one on my wishlist, too!

http://www.justbirdstuff.com/product.ph ... 277&page=3

I have a horribly brown thumb, too, but I think I can manage sprouts, since they only take a couple days to grow.

Post by **Sally** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:18 pm

I sprout seeds using regular canning jars. I glued screen mesh inside the lid bands, so the jars have a screen top. However, since you need to drain the jars very well after rinsing, I have to lean them against something so they are at an angle, and one or more always fall over, leaving too much water inside. I am interested to see how yours works, as it would also be a little more attractive in the kitchen than all these canning jars laying around.

BTW, Thalia, are you overwatering your herbs? Most of these come from the Meditteranean (sp?) area and they need lots of sun and absolutely perfect drainage--too much water will rot them.

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:44 pm

I think I overwatered the first batch, now I wait until the rosemary gets dry before watering and it's still turning black and dying

It did really great outside last year, but the neighbours have a dog and they "didn't think" he's been peeing on my herb garden, so I bought new ones to live inside. They're inside the window from where they were growing outside last year and they're doing really poorly

I even tried misting the rosemary and adding a little sea salt to the water since apparently they come from coastal areas. I sat them out on the picnic table yesterday so hopefully a day or two outside will perk them up. I love my fresh herbs but can't keep them alive to save my life

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:07 am

I have to say that my excitement wore off very quickly, as soon as I tried to use it. Bulky and seeds do not stay in place when you slowly pour the water in a tray - they start floating and clump in just one spot.
I tossed it in a trash.

Yes, it was the one from justbirdstuff.

j · Post by j » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:42 am

Hmmm, that's good to know. Thanks for sharing your experience with it!

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:23 am

I'm sorry to hear you gave up on the sprouter so quickly.

Depending on the amount of seed you put in each sprouting tray, not all seeds may get wet the first time you add water. Approximately 1/2 -3/4 cup of seed per tray is ideal. I also like to just sprout my seed (about 1/2 inch sprouts). I find that the longer you let the sprouts get, the more chance you have of mold growing - especially in the summer months.

I usually run water through the sprouter 3 times initially to make sure all seed gets sufficiently wet and then I run water through it 2-3 times per day after that (sometimes more during the warmer summer months). You also need to be sure that you are using a seed mix suitable for sprouting - one with no pellets or colored seeds.

I hope you dig it out of the garbage and give it another try.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:39 am

hi all
i have had a sprouter for a long time and it never ever fails me it sprouts seed in a couple of days and it was made for vegetarians but works just as well for my birds and sprouts any seed in 2 days no matter the weather and it is so simple..
ken

this is the one i use but there are bigger ones you can buy from the same place ..if you like sprouted seeds

http://www.bioforceshop.co.uk/products/ ... inator_jar

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:25 am

The germinator is gone for good. No digging in a trash.

I guess I was not happy with it from the very beginning because it was too big than I was expecting it to be. My mistake, I should have asked for dimensions.

Another thing is that I thought it would complicate my life. Not sure how to explain it but I am pretty sure it would. All the rinsing, watering, too much to worry about every day.

I am back to germinating/grow garden cress on a small plate lined with wet cotton. Never fails and I don't have to worry about rinsing, because they eat mostly greens.

j · Post by j » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:02 pm

I've always just made sprouts in a glass jar (like the one you posted, kenny), but I find it to be a total pain and I thought the trays sounded nice. I've decided to give a cheaper method a try and do the wire mesh strainer like the one pictured on robirda's. My strainer is a lot smaller, but I'm actually trying it out right now...soaking some alfalfa seeds!

allgirlsmom · Post by **allgirlsmom** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:37 am

It's been while since I sprouted alfalfa seeds for my own consumption (pre-finch) but it was fool proof. I used a canning jar, but instead of screen I used a clean foot piece of a pantyhose with the canning ring screwed on. The nylon weave enhanced the moisture level in the jar since it allowed draining but stayed wet for a while. I rinsed it whenever I thought of it or saw it at my kitchen sink. I never had a mold problem either.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:33 am

how on earth did you get your shoe on after screwing the jar to the foot of your panty hose

ken

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:26 pm

Hahah, good imagery Kenny!