Welcome to Montana! Here in the mountains, we get crazy weather patterns like that frequently. In the past 34 years I've seen it it snow in every month of the year.
Deluxestogie Grow Log 2026
- Thread starter deluxestogie
- Start date
Starting my tobacco seeds today gives me about 6 weeks until the start of May, and 8 weeks until my "historical average" date of last frost. It's becoming more difficult to predict. Today is up into the 60s°F, and I will be down to ~18°F in two days.
My starter mix consists of:
My starter mix.
I fill my germination cups to within about ½-inch of the top rim of the cups. I label both the cups as well as their caps. Prior to sprinkling seed over the surface, I add ¼-cup of water to the mix in each cup. These particular cups are Ball Freezer Cups, which I purchased over a decade ago. They are no longer made, since they function poorly as freezer cups. Prior to use each year, I thoroughly clean them, sanitize them with Clorox, and then rinse them several times.
My germination cups.
I always make sure that my fingernails are well trimmed, prior to sprinkling seed into the germination cups, since the edges of fingernails can become a source of electrostatic transfer of the seed from one variety to another. Since I simply cannot see the seed that has landed onto the surface of the moist starter mix, I watch the seed gliding out the opening of its tiny Ziploc bag (while I thump my fingers with my other hand, to urge them along). I sprinkle generously: seed is cheap; labor is expensive. Once the seed is sprinkled, the cup's lid is closed, and left that way until I begin to see the green of cotyledons.
Seed sprinkled onto the surface.
I arrange my 1020 trays in this order (bottom to top):
My 1020 trays.
Since I am starting only 3 varieties this season, I can nest the germination cups into a little carton, and place it on a bookcase in my study. There will be no watering until after germination. Plan B could be placing them onto a seedling heat mat on my back porch.
Bob
My starter mix consists of:
- Miracle Gro sphaegnum moss 2/3
- Miracle Gro Perlite 1/6
- Vermiculite 1/6
My starter mix.
I fill my germination cups to within about ½-inch of the top rim of the cups. I label both the cups as well as their caps. Prior to sprinkling seed over the surface, I add ¼-cup of water to the mix in each cup. These particular cups are Ball Freezer Cups, which I purchased over a decade ago. They are no longer made, since they function poorly as freezer cups. Prior to use each year, I thoroughly clean them, sanitize them with Clorox, and then rinse them several times.
My germination cups.
I always make sure that my fingernails are well trimmed, prior to sprinkling seed into the germination cups, since the edges of fingernails can become a source of electrostatic transfer of the seed from one variety to another. Since I simply cannot see the seed that has landed onto the surface of the moist starter mix, I watch the seed gliding out the opening of its tiny Ziploc bag (while I thump my fingers with my other hand, to urge them along). I sprinkle generously: seed is cheap; labor is expensive. Once the seed is sprinkled, the cup's lid is closed, and left that way until I begin to see the green of cotyledons.
Seed sprinkled onto the surface.
I arrange my 1020 trays in this order (bottom to top):
- a 1020 mesh tray on the bottom (for structural support when moving the tray)
- a 1020 tray with no holes (as a water reservoir)
- a 1020 tray with holes (to allow excess water to drain into the tray beneath)
- a sheet of 1020 tray 48-cell inserts (to hold the starting mix)
My 1020 trays.
Since I am starting only 3 varieties this season, I can nest the germination cups into a little carton, and place it on a bookcase in my study. There will be no watering until after germination. Plan B could be placing them onto a seedling heat mat on my back porch.
Bob
Last night, I added 2½ quarts of water to the tray assembly, covered it with the dome, and placed it onto the heat mat. Today, I used my fingertip to poke a shallow dimple into the center of each cell, then used forceps to gently lift a tiny clod of soil containing a single seedling, and placed one per cell. [The forceps never grasp the seedling itself. A flat toothpick works almost as well for this task.]
After all 24 were placed, I used a spray bottle to settle each seedling into the soil of each cell.
My clear dome has yellowed with age.
Bob
Today, seedlings for Dutch (Ohio) NP and Long Red were transferred (12 of each) into 1020 cells. That sets up all 3 of my varieties for 2026.
Sometimes Bob is really dumb.
After extensive scientific evaluation and statistical analysis, I was able to reduce the yellowing of my "clear" dome by an impressive 50%! By removing the additional clear dome that had nested itself so completely into its companion that I had not noticed its presence, I now have a single clear dome that is only slightly yellowed by age.
Bob
Sometimes Bob is really dumb.
After extensive scientific evaluation and statistical analysis, I was able to reduce the yellowing of my "clear" dome by an impressive 50%! By removing the additional clear dome that had nested itself so completely into its companion that I had not noticed its presence, I now have a single clear dome that is only slightly yellowed by age.
Bob
Flashback
Today
Bob
Today
Bob
A week has passed since I transferred seedlings to the 1020 tray cell inserts.
Every cell contains a happy seedling. The tiny clump of soil that I transferred with each seedling sometimes also contained a hidden seed or two (of the same variety), so some cells have multiple seedlings. The weakest will be thinned in another week or so.
Below is the very same photo, with a section magnified.
I'll continue to keep the dome on for another couple of days, since I'm expecting two freezing nights. After that, I'll permanently remove the dome, and disconnect the heat mat.
I check the water content of the 1020 tray each morning, by simply lifting a corner of it in order to feel its weight. If I feel more water is needed, I add some water to the tray.
Bob
Every cell contains a happy seedling. The tiny clump of soil that I transferred with each seedling sometimes also contained a hidden seed or two (of the same variety), so some cells have multiple seedlings. The weakest will be thinned in another week or so.
Below is the very same photo, with a section magnified.
I'll continue to keep the dome on for another couple of days, since I'm expecting two freezing nights. After that, I'll permanently remove the dome, and disconnect the heat mat.
I check the water content of the 1020 tray each morning, by simply lifting a corner of it in order to feel its weight. If I feel more water is needed, I add some water to the tray.
Bob
My heat mat has been disconnected for about a week now. Since I have closed the door between my kitchen and my back porch (in an effort to reduce my electric bill), the temp on the porch typically drops into the low 50s°F overnight on the cooler nights. So growth has been a bit slower than typical.
But my transferred seedlings seem to languish for a couple of weeks every year, before they suddenly exhibit rapid growth. I expect to see significant growth over the next week.
I continue to check the water level each morning. And the obvious moisture wicking within the wood of the name sticks indicates that those cells continue to have sufficient moisture.
Bob
But my transferred seedlings seem to languish for a couple of weeks every year, before they suddenly exhibit rapid growth. I expect to see significant growth over the next week.
I continue to check the water level each morning. And the obvious moisture wicking within the wood of the name sticks indicates that those cells continue to have sufficient moisture.
Bob
