Not-quite-ripe seeds

[Treevly]

I have some seeds which are full size but are still rather light in colour, not as dark as ripe seeds of this strain should be. Perhaps another week would have done the trick.
Are such seeds likely to sprout and grow, and might they grow to full growth and full ZAP! ?
Thanks for advice.

 

[midwestkid]

It's just a lesson you have to learn that an over ripe seed is way better than not quite finished.
Do a germ test and see how it goes.
I recently planted a bunch of "not quite old enough" seeds and I was pleasantly surprised by the germination rates.

 

[f-e]

I got some mail order, that having paid for them, I planted just to explore the germ rate. I expected near total losses, but instead they were alright. Though ultimately, non were keepers. So perhaps not alright..

I felt stitched up regardless. There is plenty of money in seeds, without having to sell stuff that's a rubbish souvenir

 

[Mithridate]

Close to ready, paler seeds should germ about as good as mature seeds. I don't think they'd do too good in long term storage tho

 

[mean mr.mustard]

It really depends on how light, but I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised when you test them.

The only thing that I wonder is if it was ripeness or diet that has led to the diagnosis of "pale".

Green beans and straw pale don't do much, whereas your fully formed yet lighter than average seeds that you spoke of should be able to get the same results as "darker" of the same variety.

I have seen immature seeds sprout but grow poorly. I have seen plants that were fed lower levels of nitrogen and/or micronutrients (but went a five or six week minimum) yield fully formed, but paler, seeds that germinated and grew just as vigorously as the same clones' seeds yielded when fed with higher nitrogen and micronutrient levels... But the result of the latter variety of diet yielded darker seed. The former also had many more immature seeds.

This is probably complicated moreso than necessary, just test them and find out!

How many weeks did you go?

What kind of nutrition are they drinking??

 

[Treevly]

Thanks, there is good information there. Thanks for the replies.

They aren't drinking anything because they aren't started yet. Others are, but I am considering the big greenish ones. Well, I was. They came off early, definitley, the colour is not from other causes.

 

[Creeperpark]

I've grown light-colored seeds many times. They don't store well but if you grow them within the first few years they will grow.

 

[ConeSmoker]

only way to know is to find out