PAPER TOWEL GERMINATION

Imagine if you can grow your own food, in your own backyard or even in pots and containers.... then you will be able to eliminate the problem of buying expensive veggies and fruits;  You will never ever stress yourself, not knowing if your green supplies have been treated with pesticides;  and its really just a happy feeling to have a constant supply of healthy stuffs, within your reach!

That is why I love my small organic garden.  

Hmm..... I can hear all the pessimists out there saying "oh, you can grow your own food because you have a green thumb"!   Believe me, before I got into this, all I can grow were monggos.... from the school's cotyledon project :)

So lucky that I have a constant supply of seeds.... imported from Australia.  Super big thanks to my BFF Liza, for all the seeds!  

And this is the discovery that I would like to share --- that it is easier to germinate the seeds in a paper towel, than direct sowing to the soil.  This process doesn't only work for pre-packaged seeds, but also work wonderfully for the seeds from rotten and discarded veggies.  If I clean the ref, and find not-so-fresh tomatoes, I gather the seeds, let it stay on top of a tissue paper for it to dry -- then off to the "tissue germination".  Same with what I do with the seeds of bell pepper, squash, lima bean (patani), lemon and honeydew. 

These are the steps on how to tissue germinate:

1.  Seeds need to be dry.  If it comes from a pre-packaged pouch, proceed to step #2

2.  Get a paper tissue, lay out the seeds properly.  With at least half an inch space to each other.  Then fold the paper tissue over the seeds.

3.  Put water using a spray on bottle.  It shouldn't be dripping wet.  Just a bit wet and moist.  

4.  Put inside a sealable plastic bag  (ziplock).  Label, so as not to confuse yourselves if you are germinating different kinds of seeds.  You can also put the date you started germinating, so you have an idea of how long does it take to germinate a particular seed.

5.  Put in a bright area, away from direct sunlight.  

CARROT SEEDS

Thru paper towel germination, you can clearly see the strongest and healthiest seedling for replanting.  You won't create much damage to the root system, when you harvest it from the paper towel.  

HONEYDEW SEEDLINGS FROM FRESH FRUIT

HONEYDEW SEEDLINGS, 6 DAYS AFTER PAPER TOWEL GERMINATION

CARROT SEEDLINGS, 10 DAYS FROM GERMINATION

TIP:  IF you transfer the germinated seedling into a container, you have to create a DIY green house effect for them.  Just cut the upper part of a Coke pet bottle and put it on top of the seedling, to protect it.  It will also give the seedling its much needed moisture as it grows.  

CARROT SEEDLING, 9 DAYS AFTER TRANSPLANTING

CARROT SEEDLING 12 DAYS AFTER TRANSPLANTING

PATANI, TRANSPLANTED FROM PAPER TOWEL GERMINATION

Thriving pepper, seeds from kitchen scrap to paper towel germination.  Now it gives us constant supply of that chili kick!

Looks like a tomato... but this is my growing honeydew  :)

Isn't it about time for you to try paper towel germination?  And start your own organic garden.   Don't fret if you don't have a huge garden or space, you can start planting in plastic containers, terra cotta pots or even in a rice sack  :) 

Happy Gardening.....  

May the GREEN  THUMB force be with you  :)