Well, basically it's starting seeds in a damp paper towel/coffee filter in a plastic baggy. Once the seeds sprout, they would need to be planted immediately.

Here's a great link with helpful pictures of the process.
http://www.robsplants.com/seed...

I did this a few times.. and found I am not gentle enough with the seedlings.. it did work well though

Allison, I have the same thoughts. I'm wondering how people pick up and handle the sprout to plant it in soil? My hands and fingers aren't all that nimble. In the posted link the guy says he uses the blade of a pocket knife to handle them? I don't see me handling that well. I might crush them with hemostats. Hmmm...... what do others use?

Do you just poke a hole in a soil-filled cell and insert the radicle downward? then firm around it with your fingers?

Karen

Oh, wow, watch how this lady does it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Karen

she wasn't too gentle with them .. maybe it's just the confidence I lack.. took me forever to separate the ones that stuck into the paper towel

She was rough. She even planted pieces of paper towel- I'd probably plant them root up-stem down.

Karen

I planted the towel when they stuck through.. yeah well... we have all done that one time for another.. either seeds or bulbs

I tried this with my artichokes last year (at least they are large seeds). And yes, I did manage to plant a few of them upside down. Lesson learned: wear my glasses when planting seeds. It severely stunts the growth for a while when you plant upside down, in case anybody was wondering (slinking off in shame)

no shame!!!

I have tried this method with great success this winter. I use tweezers to pick up each seedling down close by the paper towel. Works like a charm for me.

It was actually pretty funny. I just absolutely was not paying attention to how I was planting those darned seeds (and it took me two tries to get enough to even germinate). I couldn't figure out why they looked so odd when they started to sprout. It took me a day or so to realize I was seeing the root instead of a stem. You will be relieved to know I now have bifocals, so my glasses are on ALL of the time. Sighhhhh....

I've used the deno method for a few other things with good success. I usually do this each year for my Bells of Ireland, which like a stratification period.

Thanks Mom, I never had great success with Bells of Ireland

Joanna--last year I started my Bells of Ireland way too early. They actually bloomed under my grow lights. Not quite the result I was hoping for, as I wanted them for my cutting garden. Another lesson learned.

I've wintersowed Bells of Ireland successfully. As I remember I don't think the germination rate was too high. They're pretty early in the year but they don't do very well once our real heat sets in. Our summers are usually pretty hot.

Karen

Hello, I am still trying to germinate seeds after years of trying and failing. I can take any plant, do a cutting and it will grow, but for me to start seeds, it is a big zip. Nothing. I get them to a point and then I water them too much, or I left the tops on too long, or something stuupid and I loose all that time and effort.
This year, just for kicks, I thought I would try a few seeds I had gathered and some I traded, using the Deno Method. Much to my surprise, they are all germinating. Now the trick will be, how to plant them. I use a tweezers I purchased from a catalog and I do not remember which one, but I think it was to use on my birds..........works great. It is big and has plenty of room for my arthritic fingers to grab on. I planted a few of the longer ones, but I am not sure if I planted them upsidedown or not. Oh well, we will see. I can not believe I am so stupid when it comes to seed germination and planting. LOL Have a good day.

JB: Congratulations! Good start.

Your history sound like damp-off.

Karen

JB, You are not stupid. I had an awful time with dampening off before I started using coconut coir. What medium are you using?

Molly, I have started to use coconut coir last year for my cuttings. I love it and decided to do the seeds in the same thing this year, so maybe I am learning the hard way. I love that stuff and it is so easy to keep and deal with. I get mine from CocoBob by the case and I would not be without it. Dampening off has been my problem for years and I just can not seem to get a handle on how to stop it from happening. At my age you would think I would have learned by now. LOL I just keep on trying. It is snowing again. I think I will go hide in a hole someplace. I am sick of this and so are my greenhouse plants. Look out you all in the Carolinas and Georgia, there is another one coming and if it goes south, instead of turning north, you all are in for some snow too. Good luck. We have had over 70 inches this month. I am not used to that and hate every damn flake. Have a good day. JB

I've had it with snow and cold, too. This has been the record for snowfall here - more than any Feb. ever measured. Most of it fell in the last 2 weeks. In fact, most of the snow for the year has fallen in that 2 weeks. Now it's 31° with freezing drizzle. I think I hate that more than snow. Awful to drive in.

At least enough snow has melted that I can see my wintersown milk jugs.

Karen

JB,

No, no, no. You can just keep your cold weather up there. Actually, I am on the FL border so I doubt it will be too much snow just cold. The last cycle through here it only snowed for 10 minutes. I just want it to warm up so my plants can live outside again.