Tom_in_TN
Well-Known Member
FmGrowit sent me some Samsun from Bob's 2011 crop, which sprouted very well BTW, and also a couple of Oriental seeds - Yayladag and Trabzon. These are old seeds from who knows what crop year and perhaps had various storage conditions over the years.
These seeds were started late on 03/27 in a weak saltpeter and Gibberellic Acid 3 solution. Recipe: 1/4 teaspoon of saltpeter in a quart of water and 1/4 tsp. of 500 PPM, GA-3 (a very weak solution). I started germinating about 1/2 of the packet in a ziplock baggie on a paper towel soaked with a tablespoon of the 'germinating juice'. Used a heat pad to keep the seed at 80-85 degrees during the night. The remaining seeds were put in the freezer as 'back-up'. About mid-morning when outside temps are 70 degrees+ they were placed in shaded sunlight, but with no extra heating. In the 48 - 60 hour period they swelled up a bit and at 72 hours a few seeds showed very faint signs of life, which is noticeably slower than fresh seeds.
A few Trabzon seeds showed definite signs of sprouting with elongated white tips and were planted on 4 1/2 days later, 04/01. After 6 1/2 days, 3 Yayladag were looking good and those seeds were planted 04/03.
The Yayladag had 2 of the 3 seeds actually show their green cotyledon leaves and started reaching up to the (shaded) sun. The 3rd one has not shown any further signs of life and is presumed dead. I took these pics on April 4th:
But, sadly my friends they were dead this morning, April 6th. Yes, the 'back up' seeds are soaking and again showing signs of life. So, all is not yet lost.
OK, got the bad news out-of-the-way. Time to move on to the good news... 5 Trabzon seeds have their cotyledon leaves and are looking healthy as of April 6th. Here are pics from the 4th. It has been busy, busy, busy here in Baccyville so sorry for not updating the pics today because they are looking even better.
I have no explanation for the sudden demise of the Yayladag seedlings. They were behind the Trabzon seedlings by 36 to 48 hours or so. The Yayladag appeared OK in the afternoon of the 4th. Two seeds were showing some green. Then they started looking a bit puny in the afternoon of the 5th (wish I had taken the time to get photos then) and this morning, 04/06 they were shriveled up and lay dead on the peat. Anyone want to jump in here and offer suggestions or ask questions?
These seeds were started late on 03/27 in a weak saltpeter and Gibberellic Acid 3 solution. Recipe: 1/4 teaspoon of saltpeter in a quart of water and 1/4 tsp. of 500 PPM, GA-3 (a very weak solution). I started germinating about 1/2 of the packet in a ziplock baggie on a paper towel soaked with a tablespoon of the 'germinating juice'. Used a heat pad to keep the seed at 80-85 degrees during the night. The remaining seeds were put in the freezer as 'back-up'. About mid-morning when outside temps are 70 degrees+ they were placed in shaded sunlight, but with no extra heating. In the 48 - 60 hour period they swelled up a bit and at 72 hours a few seeds showed very faint signs of life, which is noticeably slower than fresh seeds.
A few Trabzon seeds showed definite signs of sprouting with elongated white tips and were planted on 4 1/2 days later, 04/01. After 6 1/2 days, 3 Yayladag were looking good and those seeds were planted 04/03.
The Yayladag had 2 of the 3 seeds actually show their green cotyledon leaves and started reaching up to the (shaded) sun. The 3rd one has not shown any further signs of life and is presumed dead. I took these pics on April 4th:
But, sadly my friends they were dead this morning, April 6th. Yes, the 'back up' seeds are soaking and again showing signs of life. So, all is not yet lost.OK, got the bad news out-of-the-way. Time to move on to the good news... 5 Trabzon seeds have their cotyledon leaves and are looking healthy as of April 6th. Here are pics from the 4th. It has been busy, busy, busy here in Baccyville so sorry for not updating the pics today because they are looking even better.
I have no explanation for the sudden demise of the Yayladag seedlings. They were behind the Trabzon seedlings by 36 to 48 hours or so. The Yayladag appeared OK in the afternoon of the 4th. Two seeds were showing some green. Then they started looking a bit puny in the afternoon of the 5th (wish I had taken the time to get photos then) and this morning, 04/06 they were shriveled up and lay dead on the peat. Anyone want to jump in here and offer suggestions or ask questions?
