Cotton wool!

[veggiechicken]

Do any of you start seeds on cotton wool? I've grown mustard/cress as a kid but that's it!

I have a roll of it and some cotton wool pads and balls that have been decluttered
Seems a nice sterile medium to start seeds that could be transplanted intact and would decompose.
Any thoughts please?

[Bren In Pots]

We (kids and grandkid) used to stuff cotton wool into egg shells and grow cress but thats the only time I've tried it.

[Jungle Jane]

I was looking at this earlier,growing beans in a few balls of cotton wool in a jar,only problem is,it isn't strong enough to support the weight of the plants,but adding a bit of soil on top would make it sturdy.
Growing Beans on Cotton Balls - The Imagination Tree

[Baldy]

I did a quick google VC - seems "weed" growers are (mostly) in favour - so I'd go for it! as they tend to know their onions I'm (possible not so) reliably informed.

[Kirk]

I have a roll of it and some cotton wool pads and balls that have been decluttered

Wasn't the idea of "decluttering" to throw things away and so reduce the amount of clutter, rather then locate a declutterable item and then think of a reason to keep it?

[veggiechicken]

Ssshh, Kirk
If it has a use its not clutter Have you found the re-purposed ironing board yet

[Bigmallly]

Due to me being of a rather barmy nature, I thought I'd join in and give it a go. So here are 40 different types of Veg scattered on cotton wool & will be placed under the grow-lights to germinate & grow on a tad..........this is for experimental purposes only...........

[veggiechicken]

I always knew you were nuts!
It does work though and here are my Mangetout to prove it

[Snoop Puss]

So what happens next, VC? Do you plant out the whole lot or just pick off the germinated seeds?

I ask because the cotton wool you get here has a weird feel, as if it were synthetic, and I'm not sure how well it would decompose.

[veggiechicken]

I'm keeping them as clusters, Snoop. That's the plan at the moment
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1517752

You could try makeup removal pads, I've germinated brassica seeds on those.

[lottie dolly]

Anythings worth a go,no matter how small the bit of wool,even if it did not degrade away,the roots should simply grow away,the only possible issue is food,but if fed some liquid stuff and planted lot,later,i not see a bother,even cut into narrow strips so you get a cotton wool seed tape,at planting time,spipe between the plants to separate and bing.

[Bigmallly]

Well, not bad for 3 days under't lights.........so far these have germinated:

Cucumber, Courgette, Cabbage, Swede, Calabrese, Sprouts.

Very pleased with the experiment.

[Bigmallly]

spipe between the plants to separate and bing.

I couldn't have put it better myself...................

[Bigmallly]

5 Days on:

The seedlings are loving their polythene bag under't lights...........

37 out of 40 sections have germinated, just awaiting Milkweed x2 plus Parsnips.....................................

............

[veggiechicken]

I knew it would work!