Shrinking seeds.

It seems like since I started growing 4 years ago that seed banks are turning out smaller and smaller seeds. Has anyone else noticed this? My germination rate has gone way down and I assume it's because the seeds are less healthy/given less time to mature or just genetically altered where they turn out great plants if they live but have less viable seeds.

Is there any seed bank where you still get those big robust seeds? I imagine the gold rush on seeds is pretty massive and the incentive to turn out seeds faster when it's like $12-20 a pop and 1 plant can produce hundreds or thousands has breeders going for volume and not quality pretty quickly.

I just had 20/20 seeds pop from barney's farm.
Their seeds are never tiny ones.
I've seen those, but I've just recently started growing from seeds.
So I can't really tell if the seeds used to be like dinosaur eggs in comparison to today.

Ya I have gotten from Barney's I remember them being robust good call.

I've had some royal queen seeds they were tiny and 10/10 didn't open but I suspect the shop owner tossed me something really old as well.
Switched to Barney's and never had a 2nd thought about it ever since.
Even visited them at a convention, the guys were super nice.

I've never had a germination issue with either large or very small seeds.

MickFoster said:

I've never had a germination issue with either large or very small seeds.

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Exactly seed size is genetics first environmental second and size don't mean anything as far as germination is concerned selection can play a role too anything used for seeds for food as well as for hash will have larger than average seeds too

The size of the seeds varies depending on the female plant that makes them. I make seeds on most plants I grow. Sometimes they're fat and sometimes tiny. I find that seeds made outdoor are fatter than on the same clones indoor.

What's more important is that they are allowed to fully mature before harvest, and they are dried, handled, and stored properly.

MickFoster said:

I've never had a germination issue with either large or very small seeds.

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When I started I had maybe a 80% rate going now it is more like 40%. I am getting a lot of seeds growing upside down too. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

I have been using Peet pods and they seem to dampen off. Maybe I should just go back to dirt. I cannot figure it.

PhilGrows said:

When I started I had maybe a 80% rate going now it is more like 40%. I am getting a lot of seeds growing upside down too. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

I have been using Peet pods and they seem to dampen off. Maybe I should just go back to dirt. I cannot figure it.

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I have nearly 100% germination rate with rapid rooters. I can't remember one that didn't sprout, and I've never had a damping off problem.

MickFoster said:

I have nearly 100% germination rate with rapid rooters. I can't remember one that didn't sprout, and I've never had a damping off problem.

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Cool thanks I may get those. They look pre-wetted. They must have a short shelf life no? Anything moist out here winds up with black mold.

PhilGrows said:

Cool thanks I may get those. They look pre-wetted. They must have a short shelf life no? Anything moist out here winds up with black mold.

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They have no shelf life.......you can either freeze them or let them dry out and re-hydrate.......I've had some for years.