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SueGee1950 Annapolis, MD Jul 28, 2010

I have had some success and some failures. Last year I harvested mature seeds, cleaned them, dried them slowly, and then put them in paper envelopes and stored them in wooden box outside on porch. Do some seeds needs cold weather (freezing) in order to germinate, but some seeds will die if frozen and therefore won't germinate? I thought seeds would last forever if not exposed to moisture (told seeds in Pyramids would germinate).I had some older commercial pkgs of beet and turnip seeds which I left in same wooden box, but when I planted them this year, NOTHING. I saved some squash seeds from store produce over the winter in same box and they did great! Is there a secret? I have some commercial seeds that are 8 yrs old. Advice?

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Jul 28, 2010

Quoting:
Do some seeds needs cold weather (freezing) in order to germinate, but some seeds will die if frozen and therefore won't germinate?


I don't know about freezing and not germinating, but I have read and learned that some seeds need the freezing, thawing cycle in order to germinate.

For the old seeds, you can sprinkle them on a paper towel, then moisten it, fold it over lightly and put it on a plate or something to test germination. That'll let you know if your seeds are still viable. Just test a few from your batch. They can be planted by gently picking them up with a tweezer.

Ok. That's all I know (for now!).

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jjsgramma Woodhull, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 28, 2010

I came across this websit when looking for info on seed germination.
Not sure if it has vegtables in it or not.
Hope it helps.
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page02.html

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SueGee1950 Annapolis, MD Feb 29, 2012

Thank you, Gramma, very helpful site!

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dreaves Hutto, TX(Zone 8b) Feb 29, 2012

Sue,

This is a modification of GymGirl's method, but I use dampened paper coffee filters, fold them, then put them into a ziploc bag. Once a the seed root starts to peek out, then I also use tweezers to gently remove the seed and plant it. I like the coffee filters better than paper towel since it doesn't have the same fibrous surface and the tiny root hairs on the seedlings don't grow into the filter like they do paper towel.

David

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speediebean Somewhere in, MD(Zone 7b) Mar 01, 2012

Gymgirl and David, do you put the paper towel (or coffee filter) in the sun for this test?

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dreaves Hutto, TX(Zone 8b) Mar 01, 2012

I do not put the seeds in the sun. If I'm sprouting pepper seeds, I lay the bags on the heat mat I bought several years ago,

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speediebean Somewhere in, MD(Zone 7b) Mar 01, 2012

Will the top of the fridge work if one doesn't have a heat mat? ;)

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Mar 01, 2012

It should. That, or the top of your water heater...

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speediebean Somewhere in, MD(Zone 7b) Mar 01, 2012

Oh cool, thank you! =)

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