Re: [gardeners] 'maters -> Margaret
Barbara J. Davis (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 1 Oct 1998 18:38:31 -0500
I've followed Linda's method for many years and haven't found
germination at all inhibited the following year when planted. I put
them into water, skim off the floaters and allow them to stay there for
a few hours. I change the water after 24 hours, then drain it and
any floaters and put the seeds on the bottom on a plate or aluminum
foil to dry. I've never tried to bend any seeds, but you can tell from
the looks whether they are dry or not. I store them in sandwich
bags in a box with an accumulation of other seeds.
I Barbara Davis zone 7/8 southwest of Fort Worth, TX
>>Margaret Lauterbac wrote:
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> >I follow Suzanne Ashworth's instructions (from "Seed to Seed") and ferment
> >tomato seeds for 4 or 5 days, then scrape off the mold and rinse seeds in a
> >sieve. Pour seeds onto a plastic or china plate and set aside to dry in
> >the china closet, where critters (including humans) are unlikely to spill
> >them. ID them, of course.
> >Tomatoes are the only thing I know of (haven't studied the whole book) you
> >treat this way, and the reason is that jelly-like substance surrounding the
> >seeds is a germination inhibitor. Fermentation destroys that capability.
Margaret
>
> Thanks, Margaret, for the reply. I appreciate knowing another method. The
> one thing that the fermentation process doesn't address is separating the
> viable and nonviable seed. Supposedly, with the water method for 'mater
> seed, only the viable seed sink. The method was in the Horticulture mag
> several years ago. Maybe it doesn't matter for 'maters.
>
> Regarding peppers, I follow the method you describe above. The arthritis
> in my hands limits my seed-bending (and other bending, as well) ability but
> what I do seems to work.
>
> Also, thanks for the tip on the book!
>
> Linda in NW Ohio near Toledo/Lake Erie, USDA Zone 5
> llbs@mail.glasscity.net
>
>