What is the percentage?

[SDB777]

When picking the seed heads off a plant, what is your percentage of germination from these?


I have noticed that the plants I've done, that the percentage is very low. Maybe a lacking pollinating insects? Haven't seen a huge number of any kind of bees, and I'm pretty sure those wasps I've seen aren't doing the honey bees job(they are just too busy chasing me)...
Does weather effect the seed pods? Because it's been overly wet this year.






Scott (shooting for 50%, and getting 10%) B

[GARDEN GUY]

I would have to say it depends on which seeds you are trying to germinate.....all plants will have different percentages of success.

[SuddenlySpring]

Wasps are better at pollinating than bees in my yard. They go to the same plants over and over again. They do chase me too! I hate them, but I've had more seeds this year than any other year. So far from what I've read, wasps are excellent pollinators. But little brats!! Sometimes on a seedhead there are parts that look like seeds, but are not. Like on Zinnias and stuff.... There aren't as many seeds as you think there are. I think If I remember correctly, you like a lot of the tropical stuff, so maybe that's not the case. So in this instance, I'd bet that you're going to get a better rate if you know what each seed's dormancy is :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_hibernation just a place to start.
Also, some people use Gibberellic acid to break the dormancy. That's how I got my Aubrieta to finally germinate. Gibberellic acid is basically the same thing as Hydrogen Peroxide. Beware that this acid will kill off the seedling once it has broken it's dormancy. So only use it to break open the seed shell, and then stop. I water down Hydrogen Peroxide in this ratio: 10 parts to 1, and spray the soil with it.
Maybe this will give you a better rate!

[SDB777]

Well, my pervious percentage are much lower now. Out of 75 seeds I have tried to germinate/plant....I've only had one to grow.
Now I must be doing something wrong...but I am at a lose to what it is?



Scott (and the wife got the one to grow) B

[bali]

They claim hand picked seeds like we do, is a much less rate of germination, because they are not treated and sorted by modern ways.
Which we do not do.

There fore us hand pickers..........get less germination.

They are cleaned ,dried , sorted, treated before they are marked..

[SuddenlySpring]

Bali's right, they have these methods that let the "good" seeds drop and the bad seeds go into another bucket perhaps. I just saw something on this, but it was for commercial fruit and veggie seeds. They prob do the same thing for flowers?
But awwww man you're not having very much luck. Did you try the gibberellic acid? You're not having damp-off are you? Er... Well, I wish I could help more. I do know that a lot more flowers have "fake" seeds or "false" seeds than I had previously thought....
Grrr wish we could help more, but I'm sure it can be solved. Good luck!

[Mandy]

Scott don't feel bad, I also have problems growing seed from companies. Seems to be a hit or a miss. You're not alone, trust me.

[dirtyfingernails]

When I get my seed I normally put them in a dated zip-lock and put them in the veg. keeper drawer in the fridge. I remove them after three weeks. The better seed companies do this in a curing room automatically. I was told this long ago by a seed saver that once worked at a seed company.
My germination rates are usually pretty good.
I don't do this with seeds I have collected though because of lack of space.I wait till I'm ready to plant them.
Also a seaweed fertilizer pre-soak can do wonders. I use this too when I have it available.
Bill

[bali]

Very good.

Actually I had my seeds in the frigerator all winter.
But didnt seem to help germination.

I think mom nature has lots to do with it>////////She doesnt like me.

[ok_nurse]

Doing the seed drawing-I noticed some people are pulling the seed before it is ripe-while the pod is still green. Just like an immature fetus isn't viable-neither is the seed. Let it ripen on the plant and the pods get brown or at least make sure they've been on the plant a couple weeks until the seeds are big. I've especially been seeing weak datura seed lately. They won't grow unless they are brown seed inside the large green pod-white half grown seeds just won't grow-no matter how much you dry them out and prep them. If we get too over zealous, picking the pods and seed too early, the seed is useless.
Not saying you've done this but its something to consider when you harvest seed-for our newbies.

[bali]

Your correct .....
Why not tell the me or the others when they arent correct ..PM of course.

That is how we learn.
Do you know anything of the cup/saucer vine seeds?

Thanks bali

[ok_nurse]

I'm not sure on so many of the seed-I'm just not that knowledgeable. Some things you can't tell by looking at a dry seed-some things you can. I try to let people know when I can if there looks like something is amiss-but I've been very busy lately so I haven't had much of a chance. Today I'm celebrating getting through my midterms this week. Now I have a week off. Spent alot of time catching up on here (heck-I just got the seed list posted for Oct 15th today-ugh!).

[bali]

I forgot you were gettimg educated ..
I was picking hycintha seeds today.. Noticed they pods were perfectly brown.
When they were opened, some were green. But the ones that were crinkley brown pods were dark colors.

And the sweetpea pods must take forever to brown.. mine are mostly green an they been on really long.

[ok_nurse]

Some things stay green but you can tell they are ready. LIke green pods for trumpetvines. Brown on inside but still green on inside. But not white-usually white is immature-unless its a cuke. If they've been on the plant and the plant is looking rather pathetic cause its getting cold outside-its safe to harvest. They just need time to get grown. LIke the flower heads need to turn brown and dead before harvest. The longer they're on the stalk-the better the germination.
Also, the seeds that sink in water will germinate better-while the floaters-prolly not.

[bali]

Thanks ........Like boiling an egg.