Dark until they crack open and tap root. Then get them into the soil. A little ambient room light won’t matter, but no grow lights in the paper towel.
I bury them about to my first knuckle. If they attach/root to the paper towel don’t try and separate it just tear the paper towel around the stuck root and plant it bit o stuck towel and seed together. Also, if one gets tap root long, I use a pencil to make a deep slender hole. Then as I slide out the pencil I simultaneously drop in the long taprooted seed before the hole collapses. Ideally you get it into soil when the tap root is only 1/4 inch to a 1/2 inch long. I would say the root over an inch is gettting too long. These are ideal length.
Thanks, I’m a total novice at growing this plant. I live in county, 10 miles south of Fargo. I’m going outside with a few plants and I’m also going to try to grow inside. I started the germination process yesterday and some have started to grow. Should I put them in soil right away? Do I put my lights on right away and how far above the plants? How about light period? Is the length of day changed as they grow?
Yeah if they are growing get them in the soil. The longer the tap root gets out of soil, the more likely you will damage the root and potentially kill it. If that root is over an inch long it is way harder to not mess it up. They start twisting up on themselves and making loops. Then they are wasting their stored energy looking for some soil. Rather than growing up into a plant.
Once you see the sprouted seed re emerge from the soil. That’s when I give it light. Many run the lights right away. They will stretch up and get thin stems if there is no light when it breaks the soil. Stretching is bad because thin stems fall over and kink dead. If you aren’t home to check them just run the light. I like to start the timer 18on, 6 off. That’s pretty standard for photo seeds.
If you have a big grow light you will have to play around. Usually lowest setting “ close-ish” to the plants. Most growers have a small old fluorescent light or low power led dedicated to just sprouting. The big light is separate usually. Keep them at 18 hours until you stick them outside. Anytime up to the solstice works. If yours are sprouted, as soon as frost risk has passed.
If you plan to flower inside then you drop the lights to 12on/12off when you are ready. This simulates days getting shorter (fall to winter) inside. It signals them to bloom. So many ways to grow its up to you when you are ready. Maybe read some journals when high and waiting for them to grow up. It’s like asking how do you cook chicken? Depends how you like it.
