Franks experiment # 3

In this experiment, the objective was to find a way to select seeds that would deffinitely germinate when wanted. The test was aimed at using size of seed as a
criteria for selecting germinatable seeds. I used I.purpurea seeds because I harvested plenty last year. I soaked these seeds in a film of water with 1/2% Iodine for 6 days.

I separated the seeds into three groups. Large/Mixed/Small seeds.
The large seeds weighed .059grams each for 13 seeds.
Mixed seeds weighed .018 grams per seed x twenty seeds.
The small seeds weighed .025 grams each for 14 seeds.

The large seeds were roughly twice the size of the small seeds.

In the large seeds, germination was 50%
In the mixed seeds, germination was 50%
In the small seeds, germination was 50%

Conclusion. In I.purpurea Star of Yelta, size of seed is not a criteria of germination percentage, on first try germination. What other criteria , could be? Density?
Float an egg in salt water, then use the same water for mg seeds, and test the germination between floaters and sinkers? Im game.

If I.purpurea germination is only 50%, then what about I.tricolor and I.nhil, where the vendor says they have been germination tested.? In the last two specie groups, what are the acceptable percentages of seed germination.? Surely it cannot be anything like peas and beans and carots. Or anyother market crops, that by law have to have a very high percentage of germination . Who is doing the testing on the seeds we buy? Anybody know. Does anybody want to know besides me.

To ship seeds from Japan to the USA they have to be germination tested. But what are the standards of the test. Anybody out there know?

If I pay $5 for 3 fancy seeds, and $7 for shipping, the seeds ultimately cost $12 for 3 seeds. That is $4 each. If the mystery germination percentage is 50%, then one 3 seed order , could be 50% and still only have one seed germinate. You cannot have half of a germination in an order of three seeds. Our luck will vacilate between one seed germinating out of three, and 2 seeds germinating out of three!!!!

Your comments are invited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frank

But then there are other variables to consider. If they germinate like lavender, they don't all germinate at the same time. This ensures that some plants will survive in case there is a late freeze, browsing critter or whatever. Probably in the dna?
but what if they all germinate? then you have to worry about the right conditions for them to survive! how many will succumb to disease, etc?
I'd just say that if you are going to pay $5 for 3 seeds, they probably don't germinate or grow that well (maybe why they're so fancy or rare), unlike bean seeds which are easy and plentiful and cheap.
I'd say buy a hundred of them and don't worry. then you can do the multiplication and say if only 25 seeds germinate and 15 survive to produce 20 seeds each, you could still sell them and make a profit, or keep some and sell the rest which would pay for your original investment.

Thanks Len for you comments. This has been my first year with the mg forum, and it has been very eye opening along the way.

I would never have believed it if someone had told me that they saw JMG seeds for auction at $15 ea. If the germination is only 50%, I might feel safer taking my money to a casino. lol

The nhil I have had best luck with is a tye died blue and purple one called blue sibori. Good germination, and prolific bloomer. I think it would grow well in your climate. Thanks for the comments. Frank

I was going to say Frank, that I also had an excellent crop of the blue sibori - my very first JMG! I still have quite a few seeds left over from my first season 2 years ago.

Nichole