Late summer I went through the effort while really busy, to send Rainlily seeds to the PBS so they would be fresh. Recipients have commented at times how well the seed I sent, germinates. Not only on the PBS seeds offers. The fresher the seed, the higher the germination %. Hence making the effort to post them. These seeds then languished for 6 months before being offered on the BX. Yes, quite a few will germinate. In fact old seed often will germinate, although storage has something to do with that. Others, who were aware of the hiatus in time of receiving and sending, have then labelled them short lived as then they are offered within a shorter time. And germination will have a higher percentage. I have also been sent seed which had no germination or barely any. Which can be due to how old the seed is. Also there are some special ones which are more difficult to germinate. In which case the fresher the better chance. For myself I sow Zephyranthes and Habranthus seed when I receive it. Regardless of the time of the year. But I live in a mild climate. I think there was someone in Sweden who sowed hers as she received it and it did well. Others may know more. Ina Crossley Auckland, New Zealand On 5/09/2015 3:26 p.m., rrodich@juno.com wrote: > The one time that I grew Zephyranthes from seed leads me to question the > veracity of seed short viability claims. > ----- From the NARGS seed ex, and seed harvested in 2011, I planted five > different lots on 21 April 2012. > Zz. citrina, dromondii, minima, primulina, rosea, Sunset Strain. All > except the Sunset Strain had surprisingly good germination (50-90%), with > first emergence on 4-6 June. > > Seed came from four different donors, and only citrina and Sunset Strain > had the same source. I can't say how they were stored beforehand, but > when I received them sometime in late February/early March (second round > ordering), they were kept dry at about 60 F. > > I'd love to hear what the real experts have to say...... > > Rick Rodich > near Minneapolis, MN > ____________________________________________________________ > Want to place your ad here? > Advertise on United Online > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/…