germing old seeds....HELP!

[thinman]

hope this is the right forum for this subject.


recently had 100% failure germing some older seeds. they had been stored in a cool, dark place---but not refrigerated. i have read about seeds being viable after many years. most of these were less than 5 years old.

looking for advice on how to get these older seeds to pop.

thanks

 

[BENJI]

put the seeds in a matchbox with some sandpaper shake the matchbox for 30 seconds then soak the seeds overnight in a glass of distilled water then u can try and pre crack the seeds using tweezers using the slightest pressure then use the paper towel method or put them straight into rockwool cubes...
Hope this helps..

 

[BigAl]

Plant directly into potting mixture, no pre-soak, and give them at least a week to germinate sometimes even 2 weeks. Old seeds are slower than fresh ones.

Once they are out of the soil you can wash the dirt off the tap root and transplant into whatever medium you are using. You can even cut the tap root back to 1/2" and transplant into 1" rockwool cubes.

 

[toodles]

Once they are out of the soil you can wash the dirt off the tap root and transplant into whatever medium you are using. You can even cut the tap root back to 1/2" and transplant into 1" rockwool cubes.

That's the stupidist advice I have seen in a while. Are you related to Black Velvet?

Toodles

 

[southwind]

what?!!!

what?!!!

Plant directly into potting mixture, no pre-soak, and give them at least a week to germinate sometimes even 2 weeks. Old seeds are slower than fresh ones.

Once they are out of the soil you can wash the dirt off the tap root and transplant into whatever medium you are using. You can even cut the tap root back to 1/2" and transplant into 1" rockwool cubes.

Are you saying to CUT THE TAP ROOT?

I would never do this , ever.


That is just asking for it!

Whats going on this morning I am seeing posts by all kinds of new users that are breaking rules, giving bad advice...are we under attack or something?


Old seeds: Scuff them a bit with the sandpaper matchbox method, soak till they sink, and put in SEEDLING POTTING SOIL.

DONT USE PAPER TOWELS on old seeds , it ALWAYS gets rotten on old ones.

Try to use sterile/distilled water to start and a sterile shot glass to soak seeds.

that keeps the bacteria and fungus down a bit so the old seeds have a btter chance before they get hit with it, remember they are old and tired and slow.



sw