old seeds
piaba (Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:03:36 PDT)
marguerite,
i wouldn't try this, but i read that some scientists a
few years ago germinated seed from a magnolia tree,
that was a few thousand years old (the seeds, that
is). so yes, some seeds do maitain amazing viability.
I found a package of seeds, including some old BX
seeds, while
cleaning this winter, and decided to try some of
them before I threw
them out. Good thing! I planted 5 pkts of
Romulea species and 2 of
Lachenalia from BX 5, sent in August, 2002. They
all germinated and I
have full pots of small seedlings growing strongly.
I was amazed at
the excellent germination rate from seeds so old.
What a miracle
geophyte seeds are! Now to try the remainder.
=========
tsuh yang
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