Re: Seed coats

IN RESPONSE TO :
Nic W. sent me seeds to play with last winter.  I tried sanding the seed
coats and lost most of those seeds.  It opens the seed up to infection.  If
you soak in water first you do not have the problem and then there is no
need to sand.  Roger
YES, I REALLY WONDER ABOUT SANDING SEEDS, TOO.  I DON'T KNOW THAT IT 
REALLY SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS THAT MUCH, AND IF YOU GAIN A DAY, MAYBE, 
WHY NOT JUST START SEEDS A DAY EARLIER?  IT SEEMS LIKE SEEDS WOULD BE 
STRONGER AFTER THE STRUGGLE, LIKE BABY CHICKS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY 
BREAK FROM THE EGG.

ALSO, AND THIS IS THE WORST PROBLEM FROM MY EXPERIENCE, SOME OF MY 
SEEDS THAT WERE SANDED BLEW OUT ON THE SIDE.  THAT IS, THEY SPLIT 
OPEN AND THEN THE ROOT DID NOT COME OUT AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO.  THE 
FOR ME THIS REALLY CALLS INTO QUESTION THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF SANDING 
SEEDS BECAUSE THESE TWO SEEDS ARE TWO OF THE STONGEST GROWING PLANTS 
AROUND.  ONE IS THE SPROULE 690 (WHICH HARLEY SAID GREW LIKE A MANIAC 
(WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF HE USED THE WORD "MANIAC"(IT PRODUCED HIS 
968)) AND THE OTHER WAS THE 833 HANDY X 946.5.  I STARTED A SECOND 
ONE OF THOSE AND IT WAS MY FASTING GERMINATING SEED AND IS NOW 
GROWING AT THE SAME PACE AS MY 876.5 LLOYD AND 940 MOMBERT (WHICH IS 
MIND-BOGGLINGLY FAST).

SO, MY CONCERN IS THAT REAL STRONG GROWING SEEDS GERMINATE SO 
POWERFULLY THAT THEY CAN'T HANDLE HAVING THE SEED COAT WEAKENED AND 
THEY TEND TO BLOW OUT THE SIDES OF THE SEEDS. (I DID FIND THAT IF I 
REMOVED THE SEED JACKET AND PLACED THE REMAINING "SEED" ROOT TIP DOWN 
IN POTTING SOIL, LEAVING THE TOP 1/3 EXPOSED TO LIGHT, THAT THEY CAME 
UP).

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