Re: using peroxide.
I usually dilute the 3% solution from the pharmacy by 10.
50 ml of the 3 % and make that up to 500ml with water.
Or a quarter of a cup and make it up to two cups.
That gives a point 3 % solution. ( .3% )

The peroxide acts as a disinfectant.

some people use a 10 to 1 ratio with drug store peroxide .. but you can use up to 50 / 50 to full strength depending on how hard the seeds are.. I buy the 35% food grade peroxide every year.. only need a tiny splash of that in your shot glass... if it was a canna seed you can soak it for a couple of days.. the 4 o'clocks I would go 8 hours... if you peek at them and they are germinating .. pot em up.. depends on the age of the seeds as well.. sometimes they crack open in a couple of hours.. and sometimes overnight

unfortunately there is nothing set in stone on how fast the coats break down.. but if you soak too long it shouldn't hurt them... just be gentle if they do germinate .. I usually use a popsicle stick or plant tag to fish them out.. nice part with the large seeds they won't stick together in the soak

Good to know!
None of these are sprouting,but then they were older seeds.
I find in general that older seeds often , but not always, take a little longer to germinate.

Definitely, Caroline. And eventually, they don't sprout at all.

Karen

Karen - I suspect you're right that they probably rotted in my WS jugs. Kind of looks like there are about as many ways to germinate these things as there are gardeners... I bought another package of seeds, think I'll try several different methods and see what happens!

Well, I put in just about a quarter capful into my little cup yesterday and this morning the seeds definitely look swollen, so maybe that will do the trick! And if that doesn't work, I'll try nicking the next batch, although I've never had to nick 4 o'clock seeds before. It's funny, it's not like these were old seeds; I bought them last October to plant this year.

I'm late (nice vacation on Mount Shasta!) but here are my suggested numbers for future reference. I'm just going by other people's suggestions, and the triple-strength suggested above may be fine even for overnight soaks.

>> I'm going to soak a few more, adding peroxide. How much peroxide would you add to just a little medicine cup (about the size of a shot glass)?

Starting with 3% drug store peroxide, one source suggests diluting another 30:1, for a final seed-soak concentration of 0.1%.

http://www.using-hydrogen-pero...

dilute 1/5th teaspoon up to one ounce (one milliliter is 1/5th teaspoon)
or
dilute 1/4 teaspoon up to 8 teaspoons = 1 ounce plus 2 teaspoons.
or
dilute one tablespoon up to one pint (water potted plants with the rest)

Carolyn suggests three times as strong, so dilute 3 milliliters (3/5 tsp) up to one ounce.

On the plus side, I complained to the supplier of those uncooperative 4 o'clock seeds and even though I bought them last October, they refunded the price! Of course, I'd much rather have the plants growing, but it was nice of them to give me a refund.

Who was the supplier, Woofie?

Karen

Hirt's Gardens (through Amazon). I've gotten a few seeds from them in the past and had no problems. And the seed packet had a 2011 date on it, so I'm really surprised they didn't grow. Second batch isn't doing anything either. Got a third batch soaking today. Darn it, I really wanted yellow ones. Got a specific place I wanted to put them. Anyone got any spare yellow Four O'clock seeds? sniff.

No, sorry, Woofie. I stopped growing them because they reseed so badly here.

Karen

Your area must be quite a bit warmer than here! I've only ever had one stray seedling show up, and that was in late fall from summer flowers.

I like hirts too.. glad they gave you a refund

Yeah, I'm inclined to think kindly of them because I first stumbled upon Asarinas through them, and I just love those little rascals. And they usually have very good prices.

If all else fails and I'm pushed for time, why not just go to your local garden center, buy some starter plants that are in those fiber trays, repot them and no one will know the difference. Have any Mums left over from last year, that you can take cuttings of, stick in rootone and pot up. They usually do fast for me. In a month, they would certainly take hold and root I would think.

Well, I did not make the swap as the seedlings are all small.
I'll keep them under lights, and take them down to the community garden in a few weeks.
None of the Four O'clocks have germinated.

sorry

Caroline, I am holding my breath for next week's plant swap too. I separated and potted up some of my creeping phlox and I'm afraid it should have been done earlier, but they were in full bloom then. I need to learn to take the little bitty seedlings when they first pop up around the Mother plant, potted them up then, even if I have to baby them through bad weather so they will be a good size come plant swap day. Did you still visit the plant swap though?

Sorry, Caroline. It happens to me too. My biggest challenge in seed starting is starting at the right time. I'm usually too early, or too late.

Karen

I did not go to the swap because I really do not need anymore plants right now.
I am anxious to get going on the ones I already have started.
This week I will start doing hanging baskets and planters, but keeping sheets ready as it will dip next Friday.