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Does fresh seed germinate more quickly?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:50 am
by Primrose
I ask because just over a week ago I saved some seeds from a particular type of Waitrose plum salad tomato which we really liked in the hope of growing a couple of plants this summer to see what they turned out like. To my surprise they've germinated already, even though they'd barely dried out before sowing, ahead of all the other tomato seed packet varieties (of various ages) which I sowed about ten days ago.
Re: Does fresh seed germinate more quickly?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:12 pm
by Geoff
Undoubtedly!
Re: Does fresh seed germinate more quickly?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:37 pm
by alan refail
Very much depends on which seed!
Some seeds need to dry out and survive till the next growing season.
Some seeds need the cold of winter before they germinate.
Some seeds (especially some Australian plants) need to be awakened from dormancy by bush fires!
Tomatoes are very hard to stop from germinating. My commonest autumn weeds in the polytunnel are bunches of seedlings from tomatoes which have fallen from the plants when ripe.
Re: Does fresh seed germinate more quickly?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:53 pm
by Ricard with an H
And whilst I'm no expert on the germination of seeds I had noticed tomato self seeders on the outskirts of my compost heap. Doubtless as a result of all the horrible tomatoes I've thrown away.
When you dig ground over its usual for seeds that have been dormant for years to spring into life yet my new packet of sorrel only gave me a 50%germination whilst two years old parsley has given me 100%.