CULT: cloroxing for rot

Not to change the subject from complaints about catalogs and AIS, but I
didn't get an answer to my question about soaking seed pods to stop the rot
process so now that everybody is back from convention (or convent as Walter
Moores calls it), I will try again.

I have some seed pods that have had supporting stalks rot off.  On at least
one, the rot started in the middle of the stalk, not at the base.  I have
tried to salvage them by putting the cut stalks in a mixture of Sprite and
sugar water, but they continued to rot.  I couldn't remember what
concentration of clorox water everybody recommended for rot cure or how long
might be a good length of time.  So I just mixed 'some' in a dishpan and
submerged everybody and sloshed them around a bit and rinsed them off with
cold water.  Two seem to be doing ok now, one is teetering, and two have lost
enough pod that they remind me of the Terminator - lot of innerds showing.  

I assume these last two are not going to have germinable seeds even though
the seeds look full sized.  Most are white, but some have a brownish cover on
them.

Any suggestions on concentration and duration of clorox soak?

Also, is it a good idea to do preventative soaking or Comet dusting of
remaining stalks with pods in the garden?  This rainy spell is really
something.  Every couple of days I dump 1 to 3 inches of rain out of the
gauge.  At least it's still cool - highs in 60s or low 70s.  Hard to believe
temps up the East coast.

Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com east Tennessee USA
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