Well this is embarrassing….

[max316420]

Hey guys I’m kinda embarrassed to have to ask this question but I can’t find any info about this anywhere. Ok so I scooped some beans from fat cat labs of purple flamingo. So I do my usual way of germinating them by putting them into seed starting soil and wetting it. This has always worked for me in the past so this is how I’ve always done it. Anyways, after like 4-5 days of keeping the cuts warm and damp, only 1 out of 6 beans popped up. So I dug them outta the cups and am now trying the paper towel method. Should I take the seeds out of the wet paper towel and let them dry out first or should I leave them in the paper towel? Is there a way to tell of the seed was wet too long and no longer viable for planting?? Thanks guys, I’m so embarrassed I had to ask….

 

[THT]

I always try to manually crack them if they take longer than 5 days, just a light squeeze, I also try scratching the surface a little with something abrasive. In my experience, the seeds basically turn dark/blackish color when they 'die' in germ..

 

[Herb & Suds]

Hey guys I’m kinda embarrassed to have to ask this question but I can’t find any info about this anywhere. Ok so I scooped some beans from fat cat labs of purple flamingo. So I do my usual way of germinating them by putting them into seed starting soil and wetting it. This has always worked for me in the past so this is how I’ve always done it. Anyways, after like 4-5 days of keeping the cuts warm and damp, only 1 out of 6 beans popped up. So I dug them outta the cups and am now trying the paper towel method. Should I take the seeds out of the wet paper towel and let them dry out first or should I leave them in the paper towel? Is there a way to tell of the seed was wet too long and no longer viable for planting?? Thanks guys, I’m so embarrassed I had to ask….

Either way would have given the same results
Only thing the paper towel method does is give you instant feedback if they sprout
Sounds like you may have some duds wether due to storage methods or genetics
One thing I do with seeds I intend to pop is freeze them overnight
Kinda like simulating winter
Good Luck

 

[max316420]

Either way would have given the same results
Only thing the paper towel method does is give you instant feedback if they sprout
Sounds like you may have some duds wether due to storage methods or genetics
One thing I do with seeds I intend to pop is freeze them overnight
Kinda like simulating winter
Good Luck

You know it’s funny you say that because I’ve had seeds before not pop. And they were left in a cold area and then same beans from same batch popped super easy. Wonder if that has something to do with it

 

[crimsonecho]

Either way would have given the same results
Only thing the paper towel method does is give you instant feedback if they sprout
Sounds like you may have some duds wether due to storage methods or genetics
One thing I do with seeds I intend to pop is freeze them overnight
Kinda like simulating winter
Good Luck

do you really freeze them that could damage their cell walls kinda like putting lettuce in a freezer and it comes out all mushy because the cells have popped. man that sounds kinda dangerous

i like paper towel method because as you said instant feedback so i can be sure about the space i’m gonna need and pot counts etc.

this time though i just soaked them 24 hours and sown them into seedling substrate with perlite and a micro tray with humidity dome and got 100% with my 3-4 year old beans. they really retain their viability for a long time in proper conditions lol

 

[Herb & Suds]

do you really freeze them that could damage their cell walls kinda like putting lettuce in a freezer and it comes out all mushy because the cells have popped. man that sounds kinda dangerous

i like paper towel method because as you said instant feedback so i can be sure about the space i’m gonna need and pot counts etc.

this time though i just soaked them 24 hours and sown them into seedling substrate with perlite and a micro tray with humidity dome and got 100% with my 3-4 year old beans. they really retain their viability for a long time in proper conditions lol

I have even seeded a field in the fall and after several feet of snow melted I had a field full of mixed male and females
Never thought it could be bad to simulate nature
Maybe yours are the warm weather type

 

[crimsonecho]

I have even seeded a field in the fall and after several feet of snow melted I had a field full of mixed male and females
Never thought it could be bad to simulate nature
Maybe yours are the warm weather type

i never actually put them in to freezer but the water inside the cells when frozen, expands and shatters the cell walls thats the only reason i dont use freezers for storage, a normal fridge at 4C works wonders in my case. its not bad to mimic nature but nature is chaotic and not well regulated but my environment can be.

the same effect youre talking about is mostly the effect i attain by keeping them at 4C for longer periods of time without risking the viability of my seeds.

but your results are your results

 

[FirstCavApache64]

I've been keeping my seeds in the freezer for 5 years and had zero problems germinating any of them. I just popped an OG kush seed from 2018 that had no problems just germinating in soil, no towels, sandpaper lined pill bottles or seed cracking necessary. I've also had brand new beans fail to germ so I usually put it down to the breeder or seed seller's storage. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I was told freezer for long term and fridge for shorter periods and that's just how I store mine.

 

[max316420]

Thanks guys. I’m gonna try and put them in the fridge for a few days and then try popping a few more. I’ve been growing for like 20 years and rarely ever run into germ’in issues. After I do this and if they don’t pop, I’m complaining to someone lol Luckily I have 5 beans left to work with

 

[max316420]

And this is what scares me when contemplating buying a $300 pack of seeds

 

[Sofa King Smoooth]

I've been keeping my seeds in the freezer for 5 years and had zero problems germinating any of them. I just popped an OG kush seed from 2018 that had no problems just germinating in soil, no towels, sandpaper lined pill bottles or seed cracking necessary. I've also had brand new beans fail to germ so I usually put it down to the breeder or seed seller's storage. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I was told freezer for long term and fridge for shorter periods and that's just how I store mine.

Any idea how long the seeds were dry prior to freezing?

Asking because didn't know if it would make a difference in moisture content of the seed?

 

[Sofa King Smoooth]

And this is what scares me when contemplating buying a $300 pack of seeds

Could do a seed run to have some to store in the freezer and some in refrigerator. Do another run ever so many years

 

[FirstCavApache64]

I have found really good genetics for a whole lot less than 300 bucks from guys like Useful Seeds, Strayfox, Brisco's Bargain Beans, and Guamanian Gardens. I started out with seeds from Amsterdam but found DC Seed Exchange which is my favorite seed bank and got some great stuff from him including some free seeds from GuamMaineian Gardens that are one of my favorites, a Steve Lemme OG cross he doesn't have anymore. I can't swing that much for seeds but if I did they better be keepers for sure.

 

[FirstCavApache64]

Any idea how long the seeds were dry prior to freezing?

Asking because didn't know if it would make a difference in moisture content of the seed?

Not as far as at the seller, I put them in once I got them but they were ordered from the old AMS seed site back in 2017 or 18. Had to go thru customs but I had tracking and back then it didn't take too long with discrete delivery option.

 

[max316420]

So I just talked to the dude at fat cat labs and let me say I’ll never grow their shitty ass seeds again. I went in there politely to ask some questions and the shit bag literally thinks he’s god almighty cause he’s a breeder. Telling me I’m a rookie and all that shit. Like dude I’ve been growing for 20+ years…. I didn’t have ANY problem germin ethos, inhouse or exotics… only “fatcat labs”. Why do some of these breeders think they are better than everyone else cause they breed??

 

[crimsonecho]

I've been keeping my seeds in the freezer for 5 years and had zero problems germinating any of them. I just popped an OG kush seed from 2018 that had no problems just germinating in soil, no towels, sandpaper lined pill bottles or seed cracking necessary. I've also had brand new beans fail to germ so I usually put it down to the breeder or seed seller's storage. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I was told freezer for long term and fridge for shorter periods and that's just how I store mine.

i dont know man all i read was you don’t want below freezing temps and fridge works better for storing and thats what i’ve been doing and getting 100% germ rate too so i guess they both work. but really makes you wonder where these “breeders” are keeping their shit stored if even my pollen chucks can be 100% after 3-4 years.

 

[xtsho]

And this is what scares me when contemplating buying a $300 pack of seeds

No seeds are worth $300 a pack.

 

[Herb & Suds]

So I just talked to the dude at fat cat labs and let me say I’ll never grow their shitty ass seeds again. I went in there politely to ask some questions and the shit bag literally thinks he’s god almighty cause he’s a breeder. Telling me I’m a rookie and all that shit. Like dude I’ve been growing for 20+ years…. I didn’t have ANY problem germin ethos, inhouse or exotics… only “fatcat labs”. Why do some of these breeders think they are better than everyone else cause they breed??

EGO
Well that and keep in mind it is a “seedy” bidness
I’m known as Beans
It’s like going to a club/dispensary with a large group competing for best in class
That room is full of insecure egos

Mine at times as well
In the end if ya can’t deal with the heat avoid the fire

 

[FirstCavApache64]

i dont know man all i read was you don’t want below freezing temps and fridge works better for storing and thats what i’ve been doing and getting 100% germ rate too so i guess they both work. but really makes you wonder where these “breeders” are keeping their shit stored if even my pollen chucks can be 100% after 3-4 years.

I've also heard to use the fridge if it's going to be used in the near term but with a four plant limit and a big seed collection I'm not planning on getting to a lot of these for many years. I thaw mine out at room temp for at least 24 hours before I soak them for 12-24 hours then usually just plant straight into soil or some brand of seed pellets. It's not foolproof by any means but plants never have been in my experience. That's what makes it fun. I know there's a huge genetic seed bank someplace in Europe that's saving seeds and they're deep freezing them. I'm just too tired to remember the country.

 

[crimsonecho]

I've also heard to use the fridge if it's going to be used in the near term but with a four plant limit and a big seed collection I'm not planning on getting to a lot of these for many years. I thaw mine out at room temp for at least 24 hours before I soak them for 12-24 hours then usually just plant straight into soil or some brand of seed pellets. It's not foolproof by any means but plants never have been in my experience. That's what makes it fun. I know there's a huge genetic seed bank someplace in Europe that's saving seeds and they're deep freezing them. I'm just too tired to remember the country.

its norway i guess. but they have lab grade equipment to check for moisture content of the seed which i don’t lol
either way 100% is 100%

edit: oh yeah space and regulations are always limiting i probably have 2-3000 seeds in the fridge atm and i’ll never get to crack most of them before i die haha