Best place to nick or file?

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KevinTernes Goodlettsville, TN(Zone 6a) Apr 02, 2006

What is the optimum place on a seed to nick it?

Many MG seeds have one or two flattened sides and then a rounded back. Should the nick be on one of the flat sides? Or on the back?

Also, there is a "navel" on one end. Should the nick be on the end with the navel? Or on the end opposite to the one with the navel?

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kmom246 Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Apr 02, 2006

I've never paid that much attention! I've never nicked them - just a 12-24 hour soak in tepid water. I don't think it matters where you nick it as long as you don't actually nick the "navel". The nicking just lets the water soak in faster and let the seed know it's time to grow now. Good luck!

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PerennialGirl Winnipeg, MB(Zone 4a) Apr 02, 2006

I was told not to nick at the flat end where it has been attached to the vine, but to nick at the tip or at the edges. That's what I've been doing.
:) Donna

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RON_CONVOLVULACEAE Netcong, NJ(Zone 5b) Apr 03, 2006

Donna has the right idea and that is to nick the end tip distal to the hilium as the safest and least likely to do any damage to the embryonic parts...the side edges(again distal to the hilium) displayed on some seeds may also be the easiest to nick without incurring damage to the inner embryo...the primordial root runs down along the 'back' of the seedcoat starting at the hilium,and it is very important not(!) to damage this primordial root...

The small usually softer seedcoats of the smaller species will usually not require any additional scoring,but some large harder shelled seeds species may benefit by some additional partial strategic 'pre-emptive' scoring by allowing the expanding embryo to more easily shed the seedshell which can sometimes stubbornly cling to the very young seedling...the seedshell must be shed or the plant will not survive...sometimes carefully wrapping a piece of wet tissue paper to stubbornly clinging shells and keeping the tissue paper wet by misting will allow the shells to be sloughed off by the seedling...

TTY,...

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