Is there a sprouting seed trick ?

[Alex]

Ive recently ordered 1kg Virkon S but while waiting for it to arrive I thought Id try practicing sporuting some seed (and NOT feed to the birds) however I cannot get it to 'chit'. I have followed Mike Fidlers instructions with smaller quantities of canary seed twice and finch mix once and not had a single seed 'hatch'.
They were soaked in tap water for 2 hrs - drained with lid on for 12hrs - then lid removed each time and nothing.
I think the seeds themselves are fine as I have planted both types in pots and have foot tall grass.
The room here is abt 20C is that too cold ? (My 2nd attempt of canary seed though was placed a foot above the birds heat lamp and is a bit warmer there - same result.
Does it matter what temp the water was in the first place?
Any other suggestions ?
Alex

[GregH]

Well you've probably got the same problem as me - most of the seed is already dead either too old or has been deliberately heat-treated and rendered inviable. For my sprouting mix I buy small quantaties for numerous sources and germination test each separately - a tea-spoon full in a petri-dish on filter paper first. Canary is slower than white millet or panicum to "chit", here in the Philippines the current temperature is around 26-32oC and it takes 3 days for Canary to get going. Leave it for longer and see what happens is my recommendation but there is a risk of it going moldy without the virkon so don't feed it to your birds.

Certainly Feidler's "black seed mix" really does chit in the 24h period after soaking but as for doing your own "white mix" then you've got to experiment. Next time I find viable canary seed I'm going to soak for 3h rather than 2 h and see if that speeds things up as there won't be one one size fits all solution. If it's really inviable and you don't want to waste the seed you can dry it back down and use it in your general mix if you have the facilities (although not every one works for the International Rice research Institute).

[gomer]

Here in southern Vic it take 24 to 30 hours on average to chit,This time of year here.Some times if i am only doing a small amount,I put it ontop of my vivairium which is on about 25 degrees,It takes a little less than 24 hours there.

[jusdeb]

I soak mine overnight in warm water then in the morning and a couple of times through the day I rinse it and drain it then once I see tiny shoots ( they get soaked and slightly sprouted seed )it goes in the fridge ...I do small lots every couple of days in a plastic seive .
I use a seed mix from the parrot rescue centre as I have parrots and finches and they all love it ....

[gomer]

looks that good,I think I would eat that.Better then a bean salad.