Brilliant’, cosmos ‘Sunny Red’, dahlia ‘Redskin’, dill ‘Bouquet’, dusty ritiller ‘Silverdust’ , eggplant ‘Burpee Hybrid’, forget—me—not ‘Blue Bird’, geranium ( ‘Earliana’ ‘Hybrid Orbit’ and ‘Scarlet Border’), impatiens (‘Parade of Stars’, ‘Shady Lady’ and ‘New Guinea Tango’), marigolds (‘Climax’, ‘Gay Ladies’ and ‘Nugget’), oregano (sweet), pepper ‘Park’s Early Thickset’ , petunia ‘Total Madness’, salvia ‘Red Hot Sally’ and tomato (‘Better Boy’, ‘Big Boy’, ‘Early Girl’ and ‘Good ‘N Early’).

The propagation media was Jiffy Mix Plus, a media containing sufficient nutrients for seedling production. Prior to sowing seeds, the moistened media was wetted thoroughly with a one percent solution of ROOTSt~ prepared with distill-ed water. Controls were wetted with distilled water only. No wetting agents were used. Flats were placed on heating mats set at 22.2 °C (72 oF), except for broccoli, chives, dill, dusty miller and forget-me-not, which were germinated.at 18.3

°C (65 OF). Flats were covered with clear plastic and illuminated daily with 16 hours of fluorescent light.

Plastic coverings were removed at the first sign of germination. Flats were then transferred to greenhouse - benches for further growth at a day/night temperature of 20/16.7 O~ (68/62 OF) Germination of seeds were recorded on a day and numerical basis. Normal watering was carried- out until the first true leaves were well—developed. Then flats were watered with a one percent solution of ROOTSt. Subsequent treatments with ROOTSt. followed at 14 day intervals. Normal watering was used between treatments. Controls were watered normally. When the first true leaves touched, seedlings were transplanted to flats with i~ncreased spacing. Depending on size, flats held either six or 12 transplants.

At normal transplanting times, some plants were sacrificed for examinations of their root systems. Plants and their propagation media were removed intact from their flats. The root/sofl ball was then placed in a pan of water. After the media disintegrated, the transplants were removed carefully and placed on paper towels to absorb moisture. Roots were carefully teased and spread with a metal probe for better visualization of the root system. Measurements of total root length were taken. The best and worst transplant from control and treated flats were chosen and photographed to indicate the range and extent of experimental differences.

Small garden field plots were set-up during 1990 in Stamford, Connecticut and Killington, Vermont. Prior to field planting, transplants were hardened gradually outdoors over a two week period. Then transplants were carefully removed from flats and planted through black plastic mulch.

Cold—toleranL t.rInspI ants were planted On Hay 2nd at. the