Tropaeolum
Jane McGary (Thu, 25 Aug 2005 08:09:18 PDT)
Eugene wrote,
I've tried germinating Tropaeolum speciosum seed a couple of times. They
never germinated, but developed a healthy coat of mold. I suspect these
seeds must be sown soon after harvest and do not tolerate extended dry
storage.
It's possible but seems unlikely to me. T. speciosum does come from the
"wet" end of the Tropaeolum range, but plants experience a dry season about
the time their seeds would be ripening, which usually means tolerance of
dry storage. The climate where they grow is similar to that of coastal
northern California/southern Oregon. The seeds would probably germinate in
quite cool conditions -- maybe warmth stimulated the mold?
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon