Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: James on June 23, 2013, 06:52:35 PM

Title: keeping seed
Post by: James on June 23, 2013, 06:52:35 PM

I have heard that some alpine seeds don't store very well is this true? If so what ones will store for at least a year?Do they need special treatment to make them keep? ???

Title: Re: keeping seed
Post by: WimB on June 23, 2013, 07:30:17 PM

James,

there are quite some seeds which are ephemeral (short-lived). Most of those should be sown immediately or stored cool and humid (in a plastic ziplock bag in slightly damp sphagnum or vermiculite in the fridge). As a rule of thumb you can say that most seeds of plants from the family of the Ranunculaceae (Ranunculus, Hepatica, Pulsatilla, Anemone...) are ephemeral, also Jeffersonia, Trillium, Epimedium and some others are short lived.

For most alpines, dry storage at room temperature is adequate.

Title: Re: keeping seed
Post by: James on June 23, 2013, 07:40:33 PM

thanks! Iwill try ur suggestions!

Title: Re: keeping seed
Post by: Chuck on July 16, 2013, 06:22:49 AM

My suggestion is refrigerate. Most alpine things can last at least one year under refrigeration.

Title: Re: keeping seed
Post by: Gene Mirro on July 19, 2013, 08:08:19 PM

I store thousands of species in the freezer at 0 degrees F.  Some seeds will last 30 years or more in the freezer.  Even tiny seeds like Ramonda have germinated after 15 years.  You just have to make sure that the seed is dry before you freeze it.

If you store seeds at room temperature (20C), most will be dead in 3 or 4 years.