CULT: seed germination technique(s)

I have had a private e-mail question about my seed 
planting 'technique' as I wrote this yesterday and 
realized, belatedly, that the following was not too clear:

>>> ....to me who plants iris (and other seeds) indoors in
February. Before that I dry them thoroughly and put them in
paper envelopes and then freeze them (yep) for about 2 wks. and
then refrigerate them until almost read to plant. <<<

I use labeled coin envelopes after drying in on my kitchen
counter. I freeze to preserve the seeds since I dry them in
September/October and don't start planting them indoors until
Feb. or March. I put the envelopes in zip-lock plastic bags for
freezer protection and they stay in the bags until planting.  

I started doing this because of poor germination following 
other ways of seed germination that worked in other climates.
Soaking or wetting the seeds led to rot (for me) so I only
water the seeds when I plant them in trays or pots then cover.

I have experimented with just putting dried seed in the ground 
in September. I have just one seedling that survived and is is
dire straits this year (planted two years ago). I also have one
'volunteer' Siberian sdlg. of unknown parentage that is
surviving and bloomed the past two years. 

If pollen can be preserved by freezing, I thought why not try 
the seeds since nothing else seemd to be working up here? So I
did and have some hardy germination which I need for my frigid
climate. The ones that survive are extremely hardy and vigorous.
I follow this method with both bearded and beardless classes
mainly MTBs,IBs,Siberians and Japanese. I grow and bloom TBs and
dwarfs but do not plant seed...plenty of others do that much
better than I.

Ellen Gallagher / New Hampshire's northern White Mts. / Zone 3

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