- IndyGerdener
- Green Thumb
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- Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Do seeds need to dry to germinate?
Do seeds need to dry to germinate, or can you plant a wet seed and grow a plant?
- lorax
- Greener Thumb
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I'd say not - otherwise how would plants propagate in nature? From personal experience, I've planted whole tomatoes and had plants come up, as well as pumpkins right out of the gourd, and any number of fruits, so I don't think that drying is necessary at all - provided you're planting the seeds right away. In fact, some seeds need to be still wet from their fruits for a good chance of germination - oranges and passionflowers both come to mind.
Drying has more to do with storage of seeds from one season to the next without them going moldy.
Drying has more to do with storage of seeds from one season to the next without them going moldy.
Some folks are rather startled to find seeds in tomatoes or apples that they have just sliced into - already sprouted! It happens with fully ripened fruit.
What is more important than whether the seed is directly from the fruit or not is whether the seed has matured. It is possible that the seed on your plate is not fully matured because the fruit didn't ripen naturally. Now, let's think when that might happen . . . .
Oh, just about always with commercially harvested fruit. So, if your lovely red pepper was picked green, then gassed until it turned red - some of the seeds in that fruit may have not matured. Some of them may have, however, altho' the percentages may be low. The plant is genetically "set up" to reproduce, after all. Unless, it wasn't . . . .
Steve
What is more important than whether the seed is directly from the fruit or not is whether the seed has matured. It is possible that the seed on your plate is not fully matured because the fruit didn't ripen naturally. Now, let's think when that might happen . . . .
Oh, just about always with commercially harvested fruit. So, if your lovely red pepper was picked green, then gassed until it turned red - some of the seeds in that fruit may have not matured. Some of them may have, however, altho' the percentages may be low. The plant is genetically "set up" to reproduce, after all. Unless, it wasn't . . . .
Steve
- IndyGerdener
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 392
- Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:32 pm
- Location: Greenwood, Indiana
As stated, seeds need to be dry for storage. Seeds kept moist but not planted will get moldy, mushy and not germinate.
Moisture is the number one requirement for seed germination, so dry seeds planted but never watered will not sprout.
Moisture can be a tricky thing... Seeds planted in the spring that get moisture but soil temperature is too cold for germination can sit in the ground and rot.
Same for seeds started in containers and in greenhouses.
Moisture is the number one requirement for seed germination, so dry seeds planted but never watered will not sprout.
Moisture can be a tricky thing... Seeds planted in the spring that get moisture but soil temperature is too cold for germination can sit in the ground and rot.
Same for seeds started in containers and in greenhouses.
- IndyGerdener
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- Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:32 pm
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