Fruit seeds, drying = necessary ??
I have a quick question, do seeds from a fruit you eat have to be dried out? most places say it does... I have a bunch of cantaloupe seeds next to me and I'm thinking about just going outside and planting them, why is this or not a good idea?
Think about the way fruit-bearing plants spread their seeds naturally. The fruit drops from the tree or bush, or is eaten by a bird or other animal. The ones that drop to the ground just rot. That rotting process enriches the soil for the seeds to sprout. I doubt the seeds ever dry much. And an animal that has eaten the fruit just digests it and the seeds pass with the feces. Again, I doubt they ever dry completely.
Some seeds, however, need a period of cold weather in order to sprout. If you want to grow those, you might need to dry the seeds, before placing them in cold storage.
Some seeds, however, need a period of cold weather in order to sprout. If you want to grow those, you might need to dry the seeds, before placing them in cold storage.
Oh, no! I didn't mean that at all. They'll probably do just fine if you dry them before you plant them. 
I just meant that, in general, drying seeds prior to planting them isn't a requirement. I can't imagine it would do any harm, if you wanted to dry them. I wouldn't recommend using heat to dry them though, just air-dry them.
The seeds you buy in packets have all been cleaned and dried, too, of course, and they grow just fine.
I just meant that, in general, drying seeds prior to planting them isn't a requirement. I can't imagine it would do any harm, if you wanted to dry them. I wouldn't recommend using heat to dry them though, just air-dry them.
The seeds you buy in packets have all been cleaned and dried, too, of course, and they grow just fine.
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applestar
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Put your cantaloup seeds in a bowl of water. The ones that sink are good viable seeds. discard the floaters and any pulp. I repeat the process a couple of times so water is clear and I only have sunken seeds, then drain in a colander or strainer and dump on a paper towel. Pick the fattest of the seeds that sunk and sow them when the soil is warm -- you can probably skip this step of "waiting" for the early spring chill to pass. Due to need for waiting until ideal planting time, my seeds are dried by the time I plant them.
Remember that if the melon you ate had been grown near other variety melons or Armenian cucumber, they would likely have cross pollinated and these seeds will not grow identical melons.
Remember that if the melon you ate had been grown near other variety melons or Armenian cucumber, they would likely have cross pollinated and these seeds will not grow identical melons.
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WinglessAngel
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Was looking for topics on cantaloupe and I found one yay!! That being said...I did buy a cantaloupe from the store...dried the seeds at home and stored them in little tiny ziplocks in a cupboard and then planted them a few weeks ago...I am now the proud plant mommy of 4 cantaloupe sprouts Home drying of seeds does work...but for some reason, none of my green bell peppers sprouted, maybe one, forgot to mark the dirt I sprouted them in LOL but my red yellow and oranges sprouted like crazy....it just took a bit longer than store bought seeds to sprout, but then again my purchased seeds for kohlerabi and brussel sprouts sprouted indoors in 2 days! (we keep the house at a warm 76 degrees anyway, probably had a lot to do with it).
That also being said...may I also pose a question?
It may prove useful for the original topic poster as well to get feedback on this as well....
I am trying a new tactic with my cantaloupe plants...I am containering them, 2 in each container, but I am placing them next to a trellis and have 2' chicken wire to protect from animals, as they have the garage wall on one side, and the trellis on the other (think triangle pattern), and I am going to try to train the vines to grow onto the concrete driveway (up and over the chicken wire) , that way when the fruits grow they wont be sitting on dirt....good idea or not so good?? I know the fruits like to rot when sitting on dirt so I thought the concrete would take the place of slinging them, although if they produce and some of the vines manage to grow up the trellis I will still have to do that, but I am going to try to train them to grow in the direction of the driveway (ours is really long so plenty of room, wide too)
Any feedback anyone??
Sorry for the long winded message! LOL
Home drying of seeds does work...but for some reason, none of my green bell peppers sprouted, maybe one, forgot to mark the dirt I sprouted them in LOL but my red yellow and oranges sprouted like crazy....it just took a bit longer than store bought seeds to sprout, but then again my purchased seeds for kohlerabi and brussel sprouts sprouted indoors in 2 days! (we keep the house at a warm 76 degrees anyway, probably had a lot to do with it). That also being said...may I also pose a question?
It may prove useful for the original topic poster as well to get feedback on this as well....
I am trying a new tactic with my cantaloupe plants...I am containering them, 2 in each container, but I am placing them next to a trellis and have 2' chicken wire to protect from animals, as they have the garage wall on one side, and the trellis on the other (think triangle pattern), and I am going to try to train the vines to grow onto the concrete driveway (up and over the chicken wire) , that way when the fruits grow they wont be sitting on dirt....good idea or not so good?? I know the fruits like to rot when sitting on dirt so I thought the concrete would take the place of slinging them, although if they produce and some of the vines manage to grow up the trellis I will still have to do that, but I am going to try to train them to grow in the direction of the driveway (ours is really long so plenty of room, wide too)
Any feedback anyone??
Sorry for the long winded message! LOL
Vorguen, you asked just about this question at : "Are many of you growing fruit trees this year", in the Organic Gardening Forum. My long(er) answer is there.Vorguen wrote:I have a quick question, do seeds from a fruit you eat have to be dried out? most places say it does... I have a bunch of cantaloupe seeds next to me and I'm thinking about just going outside and planting them, why is this or not a good idea?
The ultra readers-digest answer is: NO. Drying woody plant seeds kills them.
Yes, you can plant annual seeds fresh from the fruit of oh as you mention a cantalope.
Long term storage of annual plant seed needs to be dry, & kept out of direct sunlight.
Many benefit from fermentation to remove seed inhibitors and some plant diseases on the surface of seeds.
Muskmelons usually have male and female flowers just like squashes so they may or may not get pollen from the same plant depending on the bees (the flowers do not self pollinate). additionally, you can assume that a grocerystore melon is a hybrid so its offspring will have a mix of characteristics. Size shape, flavor, productivity etc will not all be exactly like the parent plant, but probably close enough that a home gardener wouldn't notice.
All cucumber, squash, mellons luffa-gourds have both male and female flowers. All are dependent on pollinators.Vorguen wrote:Hey guys, I read that Cantaloupe's and Honeydew melon's are self pollinating, this means the chances of the fruit being like the one you ate from the seed is Significantly higher right?
Just a thought, thanks
The short answer is; yes, you can probably grow out seed of a supermarket mellon and get some back good enough to eat.
As far as dependably true-to-type? No.