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What is the 'oddest' pre-treatment you've run across?

14 years ago

I've seen some odd pre-treatments of seeds in my life. Often they are listed before I purchase the seed, and I will stay away from all that fuss.

What I am talking about are directions to condition seeds before they receive a cold treatment for speedier germination. Some seeds can take years to germinate if they don't have their needs met.

Right now I have to wash some seeds, every day for a week in dish detergent. Then dry them. Then the next day do it again.

I'm going to have the cleanest quince bushes in town if I can ever get these things to germinate!

I know Token is going to say "cloner"....but these were varieties of quince I could not get my hands on any other way...and I had to have them for part of my "security Garden" - or garden of "you might get in, but I will darned well be sure you're never getting out in one piece". We currently have to secure our properties more effectively where I live. I thought Quince might be a nice way to do it.

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Comments (3)

token28001
14 years ago
I was going to tell you to plant poncirus trifolata. It's got some nasty thorns, but it's considered invasive in zone 8. I have three plants here in the yard, but have never seen any seedlings. It's a great root stock for citrus in our zones though.

I've heard quince can be difficult to germinate. They have a very protective seed coating. You might also want to scratch them with sandpaper and maybe a bit of citric acid. Just soak them in Orange Juice for a couple days.
terrene
14 years ago
Just the other day I was reading an old thread on GW, and a poster was saying he scarified some Black Mondo grass seeds by mixing them with sand and grinding them between two boards. He said it simulated what happens to the seeds when they are swallowed by birds, get ground up in their gizzards, and are then pooped out.

I was thinking it might be easier to just rub them between 2 pieces of coarse sand paper. But whatever works right? LOL

Gizzard: Also called ventriculus. a thick-walled, muscular pouch in the lower stomach of many birds and reptiles that grinds food, often with the aid of ingested stones or grit.
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token28001
14 years ago
Some seeds need physical pre-treatment. Others can require chemicals. Usually, wintersowing takes care of that, but not always. Nandinas are quick to seed if eaten by birds, but can take 2-3 years to germinate if they drop to the ground.

Another good method is to take a bottle with a lid, put a piece of coarse sandpaper inside, lining the inside of the bottle, rough side in. Put the seeds in and shake it all around. Put it in the trunk of your car for a couple days. That should do it, especially on I-285 in Atlanta. ;)

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