I found a few Internet references to using a nitrate soak, then just one article saying they found no advantage to doing it that way. Or to using peroxide.
But since none of the original references really said WHY they did it, or under what circumstances it was most helpful, I don't give EITHER the Yea or Nay authors much credence.
But I respect Tom Clothier, so it seemed worth asking about.
I was hoping some ATPers would jump in with "Yeah!" or "Hunnh?" comments.
So far, it sounds like one "Hunnh?"
Of course, any time something is difficult or bothersome, like really slow germination, many "helpful" suggestions are likely to float around. In non-gardening circles, it's a BAD sign when there are many different ways suggested to do something. It means there is no obviously GOOD way!
But gardeners love to find things that seem to help under their circumstances, and then other gardeners propagate the suggestion as The Way To Do It (instead of asking "why?" and "when?" or "under what circumstances?")
>> The other thing I've never understood is, if the seeds are covered with 1/4" of potting mix or whatever, aren't they inherently IN darkness already?
Well, 1/4" of vermiculite MIGHT not block all of a really bright light. (But really, yeah, I agree with you, most potting mixes are opaque.)
I recall someone who said to cover the whole seedling tray with a dark cover if you needed to surface sow AND provide darkness.
If someone recommends "needs light" AND "sow 1/4 inch deep", I hope they explain how to do it. Small glass beads? Fiber optics?
