Re: HYB: seed ripening & temperature?
- Subject: Re: HYB: seed ripening & temperature?
- From: L* M*
- Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 13:15:24 -0400
<Simply my oppinion, but I've always believed the temp does have
everything to do with dormancy. Linda, I think you feel the same way.
Donna in NC>
Until this year, I had way too little experience to have any thoughts or
feelings on the matter, but based on my tiny bit of experience and the
little bit I've read here & elsewhere, I'm starting to agree. A very
brief period of too hot and I think they may pack it up till better
times seem more reliable. Data - seeds pots in the shade where it
doesn't suddenly heat up for a day or two have given me better
germination than those with partial sun (but of course, other things
were going on than just temperature); last winter, seeds were
germinating indoors until I let them get pretty warm one day - then they
stopped; optimal temperature reported for TBs is quite cool compared to
usual ambient during the growing season; I've never seen TB seeds
germinate in the fall, yet they apparently do in areas where summers are
not as hot as here.
Bill, I dont' think anybody is suggesting that white seeds would
germinate - all the folks who have suggested planting fresh/"green"
seeds have said to wait till the pod splits by which time the seed coats
will be tan and plump, not white. If the seeds (seedcoats) are white,
most folks have said the seeds are too immature to germinate.
If the seed coat of plump tan seeds from freshly split pods is removed,
the inner seed is white for a day or so - is that what you meant? If
left to dry naturally, the outer seed coat shrivels, becomes tough and
dry, and is a darker reddish tan (or sometimes black from mold etc).
I've tried planting them every way I can think of - seed coats intact,
fresh seed coats partially & fully removed when inner seed lining is
white or as well as some a few days later when it's turned black. So
far, nothing has come up - oldest were planted on July 13.
Some are also in the refrigerator. Some of the ones in smaller cell
paks outdoors will go back into the fridge for a few weeks after they've
cooked outdoors for a couple of weeks. Some of the ones in the fridge
for a few months will go outdoors once soil temperatures drop below
60oF.
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
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