Seed #10 - Straightening Out

This one is almost pointing straight up, but the seed coat still seems to have a pretty firm grasp. I'm never too optimistic about the seed coat coming off when it's on that tight.

Seed #3 - Pushing Cotyledons From Seed Coat

I gave up on my toothpick method for this seedling. The seed coat was slipping out from the toothpicks, and the stem didn't look like it was responding well to the force. It's not looking too bad, however. If the cotyledons keep pushing, they might break free from the seed coat.

Seed #3 - The "Toothpick Method"

After so much success with seed #14, I'm trying again, this time with seed #3. This one didn't lend to my new method as well as the other - it was already pointing upwards, so I had to carefully bend the sprout in half so I could pin down the seed coat. I'm hoping to see the sprout opened in the next day or so, leaving the seed coat behind.

Seed #14 - Further Out of the Soil

By tomorrow, this should be in a mostly upright position. So far, my sprouts that emerge from the soil without their seed coats seem to be the healthiest. What's happening is, as one stands up, if its seed is buried deep enough in the soil to be held down, the rising stem and buried seed coat help pull them apart.

I thought I'd try a little experiment here. I just placed two toothpicks (not pictured) in an X across the seed coat, with the hopes to keep it pinned down as the stem stands up. Hopefully, later tomorrow, the plan will have worked, and the seed coat is laying on the soil, with the cotyledons fully exposed.

Seed #9 - More Progress With Seed Coat

I wish I could just pop off the seed coat to help out, but I think it'll fall off in the next few days on its own.

Seed #3 - Cotyledons Emerging

A little more progress - you can see the green cotyledons poking out of the bottom of the seed coat. In a few days, they should begin to open up and push the seed coat off.

Seed #14 - Seed Coat Sprout

Originally planted 5/14/07, seven days ago.

Seed #10 - Seed Coat Sprout

Originally planted 5/14/07, seven days ago.

Seed #3 - Seed Coat Sprout

Originally planted 5/7/07, fourteen days ago.

Seed #9 - Cotyledons Pushing Seed Coat Off

This seed coat should fall off in the next day or two. The cotyledons are looking healthy, as is the stem. I can't be sure from these photos, but I would guess that there's four cotyledons, based on the stem thickness and heartiness it's shown so far.

Seed #9 - Seed Coat Sprout

Seed #9 pops out of the soil after six days.

Originally planted 5/9/2007, six days ago.

Seed #2 - Taller Stem, Still Hasn't Shed Its Seed Coat

Four days after first sprouting, seed #2 is now 3/4 of an inch tall. He still hasn't shed his seed coat, which isn't out of the ordinary. The sides of the seed coat have split, showing that it won't be long now before we see how many seed leaves it's hiding.

Seed #2 - Showing Off

After five days in the soil, seed #2 has sprouted. Unlike seed #1, this one brought the seed coat up with it. Just today alone, the sprout has grown over half of an inch - it's going to be pretty exciting when the seed coat opens up. These two photos show the sprout from either side.