End of first season's growth for JBP seedlings I started under lights indoors in February. The germination rate was 75%. I forgot to note the survival rate of the cuttings after a month but it was above 90% IIRC.
The Anderson flat is all seedling cuttings started per Jonas' instructions: bedding the seeds in a thin layer of coarse sand above the substrate. Some interesting results:
- Substrate on left half: boon mix. Survival rate: 28%.
- Substrate on right half: 60% grower size granite (chicken grit), 40% pro mix BX (mostly peat with mycorrhizae). Survival rate: 72%. The seedlings in this mix were also substantially larger.
The smaller tray has seedlings I didn't turn into cuttings. I picked all the strongest seedlings for cuttings, so it isn't surprising these are small, but I thought it interesting to show how much more vigorous the cuttings can be.
I kept the cuttings indoors under lights (16,000 lux) for 8 weeks then hardened them off outside, eventually under full sun. The flat was over my grow bed of DE and some of the more vigorous seedlings had 8" or more of roots growing out of the flat. I took good care of them outside for a month and then I moved across the country, so while they were watered automatically they otherwise had to fend for themselves. When I was around, I fertizilized with a cheap synthetic
Some other thoughts: several of the cuttings have buds right at the soil line, some of the "weaker" cuttings have more internodes per inch which might be better for shohin.
@markyscott thanks for inspiring me. See you at Boon's next week.