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LunchBox's GLOG - WARNING: POD PORN

Hi...I'm new to growing, and having a problem germinating seeds. I've used the damp paper towel in a ziplok before, and it usually works. Over the summer, I seeded about 3/4 pound of t-scorps, and have tried to test-germinate 10 or so seeds, 3 times now. They go from a firm, straw colored seed, to a yellowish brown, and start looking slimey after a few days. I'm not sure if I harvested the seeds wrong, but have done this a few times before with jalapenos, and scotch bonnets, (and a few others) and they germinated just fine.

Any ideas what I may be dong wrong, or suggestions? I have a few hundred seeds, but I don't want to waste them all trying to geminate them unsuccessfully.

Thanks
 
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there are too many variables to say exactly what is going on LB...

cleanliness is of utmost importance as is temperature and moisture...how you stored them after the pods were deseeded is also important...

if you want to try a few of my scorpion seeds to test germinate and compare with yours, let me know and I will send you a few...or if you are in my area, you can just come by and get them...
 
I seeded them by gently scraping them off, then placed them in a paper bag for a week, turning them frequently so they wouldn't stick together. I then put them in a ziplok bag with a desiccant, and the air pushed out of the bag. I put this in the door of the fridge, in the butter storage shelf.
 
I know a lot of people refrigerate their seeds but I never do...I just put them in a baggie after they are dried and place them in a dark place (top of a closet)...I have a large tin container that is full of seed packs...some are 3-4 years old and still have a decent germination rate..

seems I remember reading something about seeds that are refrigerated need to be "shocked" into the actual germination process...don't quote me on that since my memory is not what it used to be...
 
Sounds like immature seeds sometimes it takes 10 days or more for my TS seeds to sprout as opposed to 3-7 for Jals and other regular peppers using the napkin/ziploc method
 
AJ...I might try to come by sometime...maybe over the break, if you're there. I'd like to give you about 20 seeds or so (they came from your peppers anyway, lol), and see what you think, or what you can do with them. Maybe a seasoned vet like yourself can give me some insight. Are t-scorps particularly finicky? I've literally picked a random seed up from under a table, or out of the dust pan, and germinated it...dunno why these aren't cooperating.

Maybe I should take them out of the fridge, and laeve them out for a day before adding water.
 
LunchBox said:
AJ...I might try to come by sometime...maybe over the break, if you're there. I'd like to give you about 20 seeds or so (they came from your peppers anyway, lol), and see what you think, or what you can do with them. Maybe a seasoned vet like yourself can give me some insight. Are t-scorps particularly finicky? I've literally picked a random seed up from under a table, or out of the dust pan, and germinated it...dunno why these aren't cooperating.

Maybe I should take them out of the fridge, and laeve them out for a day before adding water.
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sent you a PM...

by the way...what temperature are you trying to germinate at?
 
Hey Lunchbox,
From what you've written it appears the seeds picked up some condesation from the enclosed zip bag, and they began to mold . I stored some hard to find not available anymore type seeds in plastic film containers in the crisper of the fridge, although they were also wrapped in a paper towel. No problem with germination and some seeds were a few yrs old...

Greg
 
LunchBox said:
Window sill, but out of direct sunlight...probably 80 degrees(ish). I wonder if it's an issue of the temp varying there...although I've tried this twice before.
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you need to strive for 84-86F constant...the germination rate and time to germination decreases as you go further away from the temperature on either end...and if you get above 94-95F, your germination percent drops to almost zero...you have a lot more room to play on the lower end...even down to 65 or 70...but...the further away from 84-86 you get on the low end, the longer it takes to germinate...
 
AlabamaJack said:
you need to strive for 84-86F constant...the germination rate and time to germination decreases as you go further away from the temperature on either end...and if you get above 94-95F, your germination percent drops to almost zero...you have a lot more room to play on the lower end...even down to 65 or 70...but...the further away from 84-86 you get on the low end, the longer it takes to germinate...
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I guess I'm concerned, because the seeds don't "look like" they want to work...they change color, which I've never seen a seed do...it's almost as if they're getting soggy, even though there is very little water on the PT. I will try the laundry room, which stays in the low 80's year round due to the furnace.
 
you might try to "sanitize" them first

try putting a few in a bleach water ( about a tablespoon of bleach per cup of water)
soak for ten minutes to a half hour before putting them on the toweling

please understand the seed coat may got a little stuff on it
that the bleach might knock the crap out of

maybe they "will look better" :eek:

the warm spot might just do the trick even on "funny" lookin' ones you already have
 
nitwit said:
you might try to "sanitize" them first

try putting a few in a bleach water ( about a tablespoon of bleach per cup of water)
soak for ten minutes to a half hour before putting them on the toweling

please understand the seed coat may got a little stuff on it
that the bleach might knock the crap out of

maybe they "will look better" :eek:

the warm spot might just do the trick even on "funny" lookin' ones you already have
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See...I even asked a while back if placental matter on the seeds will affect germination, and was told they wouldn't. Maybe I'm not being patient enough. maybe I need to keep AJ on a retainer.
 
UPDATE: After moving them to the laundry room, at a constant 80 degrees I have embryonic roots, BAY-BAY!!! Looks like about 80% right now. I'll watch them for the next week or so, and I guess I'll start the babies, and get them going indoors.

I'm so f'in stoked right now...you don't even know!
 
LunchBox said:
UPDATE: After moving them to the laundry room, at a constant 80 degrees I have embryonic roots, BAY-BAY!!! Looks like about 80% right now. I'll watch them for the next week or so, and I guess I'll start the babies, and get them going indoors.

I'm so f'in stoked right now...you don't even know!
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way effin cool man...
 
Yeah...to celebrate, I posted this on my facebook:

ME - (I) may bust out the bubbly...there is new life a-growin'! Just found out a few seconds ago...and...I'm trying not to get all gushy, but this is AWESOME!!!

*You can imagine what the next 20 responses were...especially from my family. The teacher in the room next to me at school, who is as much of a chile-head as me called it:

Teacher friend - Pepper plants is my guess...
 
LunchBox said:
Yeah...to celebrate, I posted this on my facebook:

ME - (I) may bust out the bubbly...there is new life a-growin'! Just found out a few seconds ago...and...I'm trying not to get all gushy, but this is AWESOME!!!

*You can imagine what the next 20 responses were...especially from my family. The teacher in the room next to me at school, who is as much of a chile-head as me called it:

Teacher friend - Pepper plants is my guess...
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You're a Jeff and a teacher, AND a chile fan? This is getting weird.

and you're germinating seeds now? I'm waiting until mid-December to start my seeds for spring. California must be colder than TX.
 
Ají hombre said:
You're a Jeff and a teacher, AND a chile fan? This is getting weird.

and you're germinating seeds now? I'm waiting until mid-December to start my seeds for spring. California must be colder than TX.
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LOL. Actually, I was test-germinating seeds, to see if I could get a sprout or two...I changed the location, and they took off! I can probably keep them alive throughout the winter, and hopefully get an early jump on the season next year. Normally, I would start them the weekend before we head back from the break...New Years, or so.

Hey AJ...now that I have babies, what would you suggest to start them in...since you're very local...

Thanks!
 
My babies:

379492_2116533686743_1647752299_1728779_66906295_n.jpg
 
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