Re: [The Seed Exchange] - scarifying seeds with a dremel tool
> I recently put a post on one of the many discussion groups I am on about
> scarifying seeds with a dremel tool and many nice people responded with their
> methods of scarifying seeds. One I found particularly interesting was that
> the person nicked the seed with a toenail clippers, which I do, also, and
> soak it in warm water overnight, then when the seed has swelled, simply
> gently "remove the seed coat" (and the germination inhibitors in one fell
> swoop), and plant the cotyledon, root pointing down, it's own diameter
> beneath the potting soil. Well, this evening I conducted a little experiment
> on Velvet Beans (which I think are also called Mucuna), I opened a tiny
> portion of the shell with my dremel tool, soaked them 24 hours, changing the
> water after 12 hours (the seeds swelled to 4 times their original size,
> amazing!), removed the seed coat of one and left the seed coat on the other,
> labelled & dated today's date & put them in the greenhouse to see which one
> would appear above the soil first. My bet is on the one which I removed the
> seed coat, that is, if it doesn't rot, but I made sure that the soil was
> moist, not sopping wet. I used Hoffman's Seed Starter Mix. I am sending
> this post to all my discussion groups, so that I don't leave anybody out on
> this experiment. Will keep you all posted on the results. Judy Showers
> (Greenhouse gardener in Carlisle, PA, zone 6b)
http://www.epix.net/~jshowers
>
>
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