Old seed

Okay here is my situation,
I've got some seeds that are between 5-7yrs old. I am trying to germinate them, I started by soaking for 24 hrs then wet paper towel for about 4 days,nothing happened, then I put them in soaked peet pots under a dome.
I got impatient after about 10 days total and cracked one open expecting to find nothing, but there was a white healthy looking sprout in there! However the seed shell was extremely hard to crack.

My question is do you think I should try to gently open the seeds manually, either by cutting the shell or cracking them(risky I know). Or should I just be patient and let them try to come out by themselves? I'm afraid they will not be able to break the hard shells.

Thanks

You can very gently- before soaking them- scrape down the sharp edge of the seed with a very sharp knife. Just a tiny bit. The sharper edge is where the root will pop out. Scraping it helps weaken the shell and lets it absord moisture faster.
Seeds are 'good' for 5 years and after that they just have a lower germ rate or slower 'pop' decreasing ~10%/year. You could just let them pop on their own actually if you have the patience! :D

stinky you are my godess. I am in awe.

thanks :)

another advice w/old seeds in particular is germinate them on a heat pad.not too hot just enough to warm the water there in some.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by divestoned

another advice w/old seeds in particular is germinate them on a heat pad.not too hot just enough to warm the water there in some.

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lol I have a gas stove so I set the seeds in their water over the spot where the pilot light is, or in a little box on top of one of my flourescent lights!

It's true they seem to LOVE it.

too b a lil more specific...one method is put your wet paper towel in a ziploc bag-blow air in and seal it-place this on your heat pad-what you end up w/is a cool lil terrarium/greenhouse deal :)

dive:stoned:

I germ mine on top of my computer.

I've tried the top of the fridge but mabey a floor vent would be better.

Do you think the seeds that are in the peet now will be able to break through without any help?

you're using PEAT!?
peat as in peat moss, not 'coco peat' like the aussies call coco?
No peat or peat pellets... crap pH... you'll have high seedling mortality compared to other media

I'm such a noob! Damn it. What do you suggest my stinky fantasy?

I suggest soil in little 6-packs like you buy annuals at the garden center in.
They are the preferred growing container for commercial flower nurseries for a reason!
You have a number of choices for your soil mix.
It should be light, well drained, of fine tilth, and not too 'hot' chemically.
Seedling starter mix would be the obvious choice. I would still flush it after putting it in the pots just for safety.
I play it on the edge, using my normal soil base which is composted cow manure with leaf humus 60% and perlite 40%, and yes, I DO frequently see a bit of tip burn if I don't give the soil a nice flush first. I don't recommend my mix for seedlings though.
I sprout(ed, damn.) under a new wave T5 fixture.
For the first couple days between planting the sprouted seed and the time it breaks dirt, I put a piece of card over the 6pax to keep the soil from drying unevenly.
Watering is by standing the 6pax in like a styrofoam meat tray and pouring water into that until it absorbs, and throwing any standing water away. This prevents disturbing the seedlings before they have a chance to really get rooted.
Anyway that's it!
If you are stuck on preformed pellets, Rapid-Rooters are far safer pH wise. You will have to figure out how to not have the seed fall too deep into the pellet. I'd suggest flipping it over and making a small slit with a sharp knife for the seed, rather than using the pre-formed hole, which is the right size for the stem of a CLONE.
:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

I suggest soil in little 6-packs like you buy annuals at the garden center in.
They are the preferred growing container for commercial flower nurseries for a reason!
You have a number of choices for your soil mix.
It should be light, well drained, of fine tilth, and not too 'hot' chemically.
Seedling starter mix would be the obvious choice. I would still flush it after putting it in the pots just for safety.
I play it on the edge, using my normal soil base which is composted cow manure with leaf humus 60% and perlite 40%, and yes, I DO frequently see a bit of tip burn if I don't give the soil a nice flush first. I don't recommend my mix for seedlings though.
I sprout(ed, damn.) under a new wave T5 fixture.
For the first couple days between planting the sprouted seed and the time it breaks dirt, I put a piece of card over the 6pax to keep the soil from drying unevenly.
Watering is by standing the 6pax in like a styrofoam meat tray and pouring water into that until it absorbs, and throwing any standing water away. This prevents disturbing the seedlings before they have a chance to really get rooted.
Anyway that's it!
If you are stuck on preformed pellets, Rapid-Rooters are far safer pH wise. You will have to figure out how to not have the seed fall too deep into the pellet. I'd suggest flipping it over and making a small slit with a sharp knife for the seed, rather than using the pre-formed hole, which is the right size for the stem of a CLONE.
:D

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Thanks! You are the best.:jointsmile: I will try again and keep you updated.