{Disarmed} Re: Seed Question

BJ  --  The seeds become darkened and wrinkled in the process of drying out.  The "fuzziness" may be mold, which doesn't seem to do the seeds any harm.  October is a good time to plant them outside, whether in pots or in the ground.  You will probably increase the odds of germination by soaking the seeds for 5 days or so, then rinsing them vigorously, before planting.  This helps thin the germination-inhibiting "shell" on the surface of the seed.  The soaking softens that outer membrane and the rinsing loosens or strips it further.  I find an easy way to rinse them is to put an entire lot (that's all the seeds from a single pod) in a wire lint trap, clamp the top around a faucet with your hand, then turn on the water full-force.  I do this only once and get good germination.  By the way, just as a precaution against spilled seeds, I spread a paper towel over the drain while doing this.  --  Griff
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: bj
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2006 4:23 PM
Subject: [iris-photos] Seed Question

Hi folks,

Stupid beginner seed starting question here. I have harvested some open
pollinated seed pods from my median iris but am a bit concerned about their
appearance. Bill Shear's book says the seeds should be tan colored and
glossy but mine don't look like that now. They were relatively glossy
looking when fresh but after a week of drying, they are sort of a dark
brown and sort of wrinkled. I have discarded all those that were covered
in a bit of fuzz or that do not look substantial. Are they still viable or
should I throw them all out and wait until next year???

Any help, gratefully accepted from this novice, would be seed starter.

Thanks,

BJ in SW MB

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