Sorry, my whole post with the instructions disappeared and only the one correction line I did got posted. I used a conglomeration of tips. I put the seeds in layers of coffee filter. I put them in a sandwich bag slightly filled with air. I soaked them in a weak green tea and chamomile tea mixture. I put them in the fridge overnight. Then on a padded heating pad which I turned on a few times a day. AFter a week I took the seeds which had grown the strongest and only planted those. I soaked the peat pots and soil in the same tea mix In just a couple of days my tomatoes were a couple inches high, the onions were right behind them and the peppers have been slowest. The seeds also germinated the slowest.

What he said. The exception is if you've got fir bark that was heated at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes to destroy fungi, bacteria, insects, etc. The only brand I've seen is Rexius, but there may be others. That bark needs to soak for 24 hours. You're fine, either way. :) I know what you mean about something keeps coming up. One of my Phals had its roots in water for 4 days. Whitecat8

When you think about it, bare roots are traditionally harvested in Wasco in late December, perhaps very early January, depending upon the weather that year. They are stored in coolers, processed and sent out to whomever purchases them. I know Otto & Sons one year bought bare root Icebergs from J&P as late as early April as they ran through their entire stock of the variety and J&P still had 'dormant' plants in their coolers. That means those plants can be stored for three, four, perhaps more, months before actually being put into soil. They are 'dormant', but that does not mean they are not using resources...stored nutrients and water. It's at a significantly reduced rate, but their cells continue processing those nutrients to remain alive. The best storage is as close to, but above freezing, as possible with high humidity to prevent the plants from either being triggered into growth or drying out. Compare that to sitting on a store's shelf in body bags of drying out saw dust, under bright lights; or, as I have seen many times, sitting on tables under shade cloth in warm sun; warm, dry wind, being handled, scraped and bumped until either dumped or "rescued". By that time, many have leafed out and some even attempted to flower. Once they are exposed to warmer temps and bright light, the auxins and hormones begin to form, stimulating them to increase their cellular activity, grow leaves, use resources faster, trying to grow. I'm sure many of us have experienced cuttings exploding into growth, leaves and even flowering, only to collapse because they have no roots. The same thing happens to bare roots very easily. Warm and bright generates leaves and flowers. Cool, damp and dark stimulates root growth. I'm more surprised as many bare roots are planted the way many are and they GROW, instead of dying back or outright failing. Heeling them in or giving them a good soak to replace the water they have used, or lost from being held in too dry conditions is obviously the best procedure to follow. Mounding the canes after planting to reduce the amount of green canes exposed to warm, dry air and bright, hot sun until there are leaves being pushed; keeping the bud union damp, dark and cool until the plant is actively growing, produces some of the finest results. Now, add those which hate being dried out such as Peace, Angel Face, Sterling Silver and many others with strong Foetida back grounds. Is there much wonder why so many of those types are such rotten plants? Kim

You can certain soak them from Friday till Monday. Be sure and not cover the crown, just the roots. The daylilies will love having the water. You could change the water at least once to be on the safe side as its so hot and who knows what nasty bacteria grow in this hot weather.