Re: HYB: germination experiments/cold climate

Yes, that could work. However what about the seeds that germinate at the usual 3-3 1/2 months and start to grow in the paper towels/bags/soil/pots while still in the refridgerator?  They need light.  Even though they are cold they are still growing.  Plants grown at very low temperatures don't need as much light to grow properly.  So if you could devise a way to give them light, say with a flourescent bulb in the refridgerator they should do ok.

Probably more trouble than ou want to go into but here's an idea.  Decide on some pots that are just big enough to hold a decent amount of soil and wide enough to place all the seeds of a cross in a single flat layer (or multiple pots for a large lot of seeds).  Then place the pots in a bedding flat tray with a piece of glass or plastic dome and a lightweight, portable, single-bulb, undercounter flourescent light on top of the dome.  This way the roots will grow down and leaves grow up, the seeds will stay moist and the ungerminated ones will sit there until they are ready.  The pots could then be moved into bigger pots at a later time in the Spring for temparature cycling.  Temperature cycling would only be necessay depending on how well the cross germinated on its own.  Seedlings could separated out indiviually and ungerminated seeds replanted.  Sand might be helpful in the pots instead of actual soil as it would be easier to separate roots and see seeds.

Paul Archer
Raleigh, NC  Zone 8


-----Original Message-----
>From: autmirislvr@aol.com
>Sent: Feb 21, 2008 5:55 AM
>To: iris@hort.net
>Subject: Re: [iris] HYB: germination experiments/cold climate
>
>For those of us that plant outside--Is it possible we could trick the seed by putting them in the refrigerator after collection, and then planting outside in pots normally?? Virtually eliminate second year germination?? 
>
>Betty-KY- where we are under an ice storm warning.? 
>
>
>
>7 months of chilling to germinate? Could 7 continuous months of chilling be equivalent to two winters of 3 1/2 months??
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Linda Mann <lmann@lock-net.com>
>To: iris@hort.net
>Sent: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 5:54 am
>Subject: [iris] HYB: germination experiments/cold climate
>
>
>After leaving ungerminated seeds in the fridge another month (after a day every other week at room temperature), I gave up on any more seeds germinating this winter.?
>?
>But as I was planting them in pots to spend the rest of the winter outdoors (unlikely to get below low 20s F the rest of this spring), I noticed several seeds <finally> starting to germinate in one more cross.?
>?
>7 months of chilling to germinate? Could 7 continuous months of chilling be equivalent to two winters of 3 1/2 months??
>?
>Or were those few days in between at room temperature enough to fool those stubborn seeds!?
>?
>Chuck, others in cold climates, how many months do you have outdoor low temperatures below 40oF (4oC)? (? do seed temperatures below freezing count?)?
>?
>?--?
>Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8?
>East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.DiscoverET.org/etis>?
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