Re: nail clippers and germination

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I get so discouraged by iris germination that takes forever.

Pacific Coast Iris are great - not only do they relish the conditions
here on the Pacific coast, but they germinate in a month. No fuss.

Almost everything else is completely different.

Last week I hauled in my ungerminated seeds which had been through all
the changing of the seasons prior to now, sometimes close to freezing,
but never frozen, and did some surgery with nail clippers. I have
done only two lots so far, and have ten more to go.

Great success so far! Nipped January 2 and pushing out radicles
today, January 5. After I nipped, I wrapped them in a little bit of
paper towel, put them in a plastic bag, and kept them in my kitchen
( temperature about 18 C, about 62 F, in the daytime, and a bit less
at night.).

Iris hookeri collected in Newfoundland From last year's SIGNA
exchange. 3 nipped, 3 growing.

Iris ibericum elegantissima from the AGS exchange, which had been
soaked before sowing in Dec 2007, to no avail. 3 nipped, 1 growing
already.

On to the rest of the pile.

And when my 40 packets of NARGS seeds arrive, they are going to be
treated to some surgery a lot sooner than the earlier ones.

Diane Whitehead
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8, cool Mediterranean climate
mild rainy winters, mild dry summers