Lee wrote,
>But I had heard that in the case of mediterranean-climate seeds,
>which tend to ripen in mid-to-late spring and then have to survive a
>dry, warm-to-hot summer before the rains return in the autumn in
>their natural conditions, there might be a need or expectation built
>into the seeds to experience a period of dryness and warmth before
>they will germinate once moisture arrives. And in some
>mediterranean-climate locations, they might not get enough rainfall
>some winters and so the seeds will have to survive yet another
>period of heat and dryness before successfully germinating.
I have found this to be true not only of Mediterranean area seeds but
also of those from the dry parts of Chile, particularly Alstroemeria.
In the true desert, of course, seeds of annuals can survive many
years until they get enough moisture to germinate. However, if I were
to plan to keep seeds more than one year, I would refrigerate them.
As for the interior US Southwest, their rainfall is not on the
Mediterranean cycle; I think it's mostly from mid to late summer
("monsoon" pattern). And the Western and Eastern Capes of South
Africa have different rainfall cycles, too.
Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA