Re: Freezing Seeds
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Freezing Seeds
- From: D* M* <d*@southconn.com>
- Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 04:00:40 -0700 (MST)
At 03:03 AM 1/9/97 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 97-01-08 20:09:21 EST, you write:
>If you plant the seeds in the ground outside, with freezing over winter,
>germination is ok...BUT if you freeze the seeds in the fridge, germination
>will be very poor...if at all. Don't ask me why. Clarence Mahan in VA
All I have is guesses and speculation, but here are my thoughts on the
subject.
I suspect that the seeds in the freezer get "freezer burned". Also, a
little considered fact is that modern frost-free, household type freezers
go through a defrost cycle every so many hours resulting in freeze, thaw,
freeze, thaw, and on and on. I would assume that this cycling could result
in more damage to seed tissue than the more continuous freeze that seeds
experience outside in the ground. Also soil has additional moisture which
may provide "insulation" to the seed when frozen as opposed to the drying,
cold air of a freezer unit.
-Donald (...and the rain, rain, rain, came down, down, down...)
Donald Mosser
AIS, HIPS, SIGNA, SSI, SLI, SPCNI, and IRIS-L
dmosser@southconn.com
http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/5570
North Augusta, South Carolina, USA
On the South Carolina and Georgia Border
USDA Zone 7b-8
