Taproot pointing UPWARDS?

When germinating seeds with the paper towel method, and the root is 1/8" - 1/4" visible should the taproot be pointing UPWARDS when transferred to starting media? What if the root is longer than 1/4"?
Thanks

Tap root down always

Bought some seeds from Dr Greenthumb and he says "making sure the taproot is pointing UPWARDS" What does anyone think?

gene fetter said:

Bought some seeds from Dr Greenthumb and he says "making sure the taproot is pointing UPWARDS" What does anyone think?

Click to expand...

I would not take germination advice from someone recommending paper towel method for anything other than a germination rate check on seed stock or a 5th grade science fair project. It is a technique for making germination far more complicated and risky than it ever needs to be, but I guess it makes people think they are somehow important to a process that works perfectly without their help. Consider how may commercial farmers start their corn or soy bean fields by germinating in paper towels. So I personally would not put any faith in what Dr. Greenthumb has to say.

gene fetter said:

Bought some seeds from Dr Greenthumb and he says "making sure the taproot is pointing UPWARDS" What does anyone think?

Click to expand...

If you look at a plant that's been pulled up. If the tap root was pointed up. It'll have a swirl in the tap root about a couple inches below the soil. Tap root down and it will grow straight down. No kink in the tap root. As for it making a difference.

I vote NO. The seeds fall off the plant in nature every which way. With tap root up. The seed pod won't break over the top of a grodan cube as fast as it would with it pointed down. But the time is mere hours. Then they all reach the same height.

no matter really, because the root knows exactly which way to grow, usually. If not, and it flips up out of the hole, turn that girl upside down. the root twists out of the seed and sets into the dirt and lifts the seed up

He might want you to go tap root up because it's easier to stick in a hole. With the tap down, using tweezers on the seed. It takes a little bit of positioning to fish the root down the hole.

Root up, less chance of you fucking it up and you ending up being happy with your purchase...would be my guess...

I use the paper towel method and wait until the taproot is an inch long before putting her into dirt. Most important thing when first putting a new seedling into dirt :
1) make sure the soil is moist, and
2) have the root pointing down.
Try leaving them in the paper towel an extra day and you fill find it is easier to get them into dirt without problems when the root is longer.

Good luck, BigSteve.