HYB:Seeds:envelopes:drying

In a message dated 6/24/2005 9:01:21 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
chrisdarlington@videotron.ca writes:

Also  open cups is important for drying, 
otherwise the seeds will get moldy  fast.





Thought someone might appreciate knowing the technique I've worked  out.  
About 4 years into my breeding program, I was gone for a week and  came back to 
find seed all over the floor.  A year or two later, a  humid year, I had all of 
my crosses in an envelope rack by an open  window.  Wind whipped the curtain 
over them and knocked several to the  floor. 
 
In desperation I developed this technique.  I found cups to be  impractical 
back when I was harvesting approximately 80 crosses per year.   When my seed 
are removed from the pod they are counted and go straight into a  personal sized 
envelope.  I find these much easier to handle than open  cups, and they don't 
take as much storage space.  
 
The number of seed, the parents, and the field # are printed on the  envelope 
before the seed go into the envelope. The  envelope is sealed!!  Permanent 
cross number is added once all  seed are dry and the year's cross information 
has been sorted (by pod  parent).   Everything is on excel these days.  Number 
of seed is  entered into the permanent records.  Number of pots per cross will 
be  entered later and date planted.  
 
The envelopes are stacked on edge on the bookshelf nearest my  computer.  I 
keep the seed from molding and sticking to the envelopes by  shaking them every 
day.  I reverse the envelopes each day, also.  This  last step may not be 
necessary, but gravity kicks in if something didn't  turn loose during the 
shaking.  Eventually, they will have a dry rattling  sound.  (no mold) Once they are 
dry, I sort them according to the permanent  number, now on the upper right 
hand corner of the envelope.  Then, I forget  them until planting time.  
 
I've used the sealed envelope technique for about 15 years.  I get no  mold 
so long as I remember to shake the envelopes.  Even if mold should  occur, it 
does not damage the seed.  Just looks bad.  
 
 
Betty W. in  South-central KY Zone 6
Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:
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