Re: TB: CULT: seeds and germination?

Dear Donald and Steve,
    I contacted Linda Mann last summer and asked her to send me her
instructions for the toilet tank method.
I kept them in stockings in the water tank about five days and then wrapped
them in moist paper towels and placed them in plastic sandwich bags in a jar
in the refrig.   I checked them several times and in Jan. I found that some
were starting to germinate.   I moved them into pots of potting soil and now I
have about sixty small iris plants.   I had three packages of seeds   This
represents around 75% germination.   There are still more coming up.   All of
these will have to go into pots until fall, because now I have nowhere else to
plant them.   Last year I put one batch of seeds into the fridge without any
water bath.   I got two
plants out of that bunch, so I am really delighted with this process.   From
my limited experience, I would say that when you see some of them starting to
grow, you can move them all into pots and keep them watered.
                                                                    Pat in
Dallas































































Donald and Steve,
    I contacted



























----- Original Message -----
From: Donald Eaves
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 8:01 PM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: Re: [iris] TB: CULT: seeds and germination?

Hello Steve,

> I recently acquired some TB seeds.

Did someone give you some seeds?  I've been known to store dried seeds in
the freezer until I was ready to plant in the fall.  Those stored that way
germinated as well as those I've kept otherwise.  In my case, neither way
has been anything to brag about.  I have had some seeds sprout pretty
quickly.  That has made me wonder how much chilling they actually need.
That may depend on the genes they contain.  If your little seedlings look
like iris plants, then you certainly have some sprouting.  I've also kept
some in the fridge and those often began to sprout after about three days
out.  Some didn't and got put back in and there was germination later.  Some
people in California have good germination rates growing them in the milder
parts of the state.  Knowing that has me wondering how much chilling a lot
of iris seeds really need.  I do think they have germination inhibitors that
may have more effect than chilling.  I have 4 year old seeds sprouting in a
pot this year.  None in that pot sprouted at all last year.  Sometimes I've
had more germination the second season from planted seeds than in the first
spring when I was looking for them.  You might try taking another tray out
and see what happens.  As for sunlight or artificial light, my own opinion
is the sooner the better.  Makes for sturdier seedlings.

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA

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