URGENT - can I zap seeds in the microwave?

I harvested a whole bunch of foxglove seeds, and had them in a closed container (for about an hour), when I went to stuff into envelopes, there were tiny green bugs in them, i squised a lot of them by hand, but can I just zap it in the miccrowave for about 10-15 second to kill them> I dont want to send the seeds with bugs in it.
I need to get these seeds out today, by the way...

I'd have thought microwaving seeds would kill the germ or at least some of the enzymes inside them. It is thought that it can cause some mutation in the seedlings too.

To get rid of these bugs I harvest seed, wrap in paper towel and store for at least 2 weeks by that time the bugs have gone or died and it gives me time to test the germination of them.

baa,pebble
yes putting seeds in the microwave can kill the seed

Last winter I tried keeping them in the freezer for a few weeks and the little buggers thawed out!

This may work if you keep them there until next year!

Sounds like a plan in the freezer for the bugs, but what about those seeds that don't like the cold?

Maybe then the fridge????

I dust my seeds with rose/flower dust, then wrap them in paper towel, or waxed paper, kills the bugs, seed ok. Seems hollyhock and delphinium seeds always have bugs or worms in them, if you don't do something they eat the core out of all the seeds while stored.

Been there hibiscus, lost a bunch of hollyhock seeds on the plant to weevils last year. Thanks for the tip.

I have heard that about hollyhocks. In fact one gal was furious that someone had sent her hollyhock seeds that were infested with bugs....

i never have any problem drying or storing seed where i live, probably because it is so dry and and windy where i am. here is a url that might help ... http://www.freetechsupport.com/csr/seeds.htm

Mavie, thanks for the insightful link....

u're very welcome Pebble :)! my pleasure.

Great link MaVie, I told Dinu about it as I believe it will answer a lot of his questions. Thanks!

u're very welcome Haighr :)! i learn in the process too!

You always have the best info MaVie !!! I never seem to have time to really just surf looking for things so I appreciate your making it so easy for me!

This message was edited Wednesday, Jul 24th 6:59 PM

Candee... those were bookmarks from years and years of compilation, gathered by a very inquisitive mind LOL!!! we are all gathered here to help one another.

Each time I open a link which MVR provides, there is always something new to learn. Thanks MVR and Haighr.

geee Dinu, u make me blush! u're very welcome dear friend. i visited ur webshot url and left feedback. did u see it? see yah around. :)!!!

Yea, I saw it MVR. Well, making you blush wasn't my intention :) Just mentioning a happy fact! And one should blush for the right reasons.

Thank you, MaVie for your great link. All you needed to know about seed saving!

Believe it or not, Martha Stewart featured the Seed Savers Exchange on her show and has a link to them from her website. They showed drying the tomato seeds...letting them ferment to break down the seed coat, then washing and drying them.


If you want to visit the seed savers exchange...go here: http://www.seedsavers.org