Re: CULT: "Popping" seeds

If you had potted the seeds immediately after splitting open the capsule the seed may not have closed sufficiently at the end where the seed attaches to the pod wall.  just a guess.

Do you use a fungicide when you plant them and maybe for a month or so after?  Iris seeds get moldy Easily and quickly, probably bcasue of their highr water content at harvest.  that's why tey need to dry some I believe.

Also, I have noted many times that some seeds are hollow and you can sort these out by letting them dry a day or two before planting.  They will shrivel MUCH quicker than a seed with a full endosperm inside.

Keep in mind some crosses may produce lots of seeds and have zilch on germination, even after cutting the seed (a forced germination method that works fairly well for stubborn seeds sometimes).

But this doesn't really sound like your case.  

Is your reason for planting so close to harvest for a particular reason?  Maybe the claims in some articles I have read that germination can start this year without going through a cold treatment?  I'm not saying that that doesn't work.  I just prefer the cold treatment method and cutting of stubborn seeds.  It works very well for me and get far too many plantlets as it is now.  As I stated earlier in another Forum email 500-1000 each year.  That is usually from about 20-25 crosses.




-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Cordes <adambo_iris@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sep 2, 2005 8:15 AM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: [iris] CULT: "Popping" seeds

Greetings everyone!
 
I'm now in my second year of hybridizing . . . OFFICIALLY!  
 
I have 817 seeds potted up and getting watered daily. :-)
 
However, I had very poor germination last year. Out of 937 seeds, only 5 germinated!!!  I have full intentions of holding the pots over for another year, but I encountered a problem when I dug up a few of the seeds to investigate them.  I gave them a squeeze, and they POPPED!!!  Yikes!  The one squirted me right in the eye, too!
 
Okay, so what does this mean?  Is the seed rotten in the pots? Did I overwater, or did they just die??   The pots are dry right now.  I had used 8 inch wide pots to hold the seeds . . . sometimes up to 60 seeds in the largest pots.  They were planted in sand.  What's the deal?
 
Any input will be greatly appreciated!
 
Adam~
 
President, Mio Irisarians
Region 6
Zone 4.5
Hillman, Michigan
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