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I am trying a new method this year of starting the Tropical Milkweed seeds. It was quite a bit faster....these seeds can be slow to germinate. I used a plastic sandwich container - the kind you buy at the grocery store, i.e. Glad, etc. and put a folded damp paper towel in it. I opened the paper towel and put the seeds in between, so they are covered with the damp paper towel. I forgot to soak the seeds, but it didn't seem to matter. I put the cover on the container and placed it someplace warm. This could be the top of the refrigerator, on an electric blanket/mat, or I put it on the floor near a heat register. They germinated in about a week or two, which is faster than when planted in the soil (which is harder to keep warm). Make sure and check them during this time....my paper towels were too wet. There was some water sitting in the bottom of the container, so I emptied the excess water and resealed the container. After the seeds germinated, I planted them in peat pots, both small pots and six packs. It is easiest to use a tweezer or something to handle the sprouted seeds which are very small. Then I put them under the fluorescent lights. I will keep you updated and try to post some pictures of this process. The process below also works, but please note that the Jiffy 7 peat pellets do not disintegrate in the garden, so I will not be using them again. I am trying the peat pots this year, but regular 6 packs work fine, also. NOTE: I just got a tip from a reader on the Jiffy 7 peat pellets. When you are ready to plant the the Jiffy 7s, let them dry out a little and you can remove the mesh before you plant them.
STARTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEEDS:
I usually add many plants that I've started from seed to my garden. This assures me an ample supply of butterfly eggs to raise. I have also used the potted plants to raise Monarch butterflies indoors. One mature plant feeds one caterpillar.
Notice the Monarch Butterfly laying an egg on it's favorite.......TROPICAL MILKWEED.
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