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Added by: snoofer
Contributed by: Locutus
Thanks to: Lonestar
If you look at the edges of a seed, you'll notice that there's aseam all the way around, and that it's more pronounced on one side -like a ridge. This ridge comes off quite easily and then allows theseeds to pop right out of their shells with ease.
Scarification
Grip the seed between your thumb and forefinger with the ridge sideup, then using the sharp edge of a small pocket-knife or paring knife,very gently scrape at a 90 degree angle across the ridge and you'll seeit come right off, exposing a slight opening along the edge of theseed.
Take extra care not to squeeze the seed at all, but spin itaround to finish scraping the other end of the ridge (on the same side)
Contributed by: strawdog
Submitted: March 30th, 2001
Seeds can take anywhere between 12 hours and 3 weeks to germinate.Most seeds that do not germinate under good germination/grow conditionsare considered non-viable seeds. The 4 main reasons why a seed is notviable is as follows.
(1)Seed has been damaged.
(2)Seed is immature.
(3)Seed is too old.
(4)Seed can not absorb water.
Sometime 3 and 4 go hand in hand. If a seed does not pop, then mostpeople chuck the seed. Here is method to help you germinate seeds thatmay still be viable but are having trouble germinating. The process iscalled Scuffing.
Dig up your seeds that have not germinated (wait at least 3 weeks).
Get a small box (match box is good)
Put sand paper into the box.
Put seeds into the box.
Shake around for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
The sand paper will wear down the seedcoat, making it easier for the seedcoat to absorb water and split open.
Seed Prep
Then put the seed into a small container of room temperaturefiltered/distilled water without any additives for about 18-24 hours.
Next gently transfer your pre-soaked seeds to a pair of wet papertowels (pre-warmed to room temp), maybe in a large tupperware-likecovered container.
Misting the paper towels daily so it stays nice and damp (but without any standing water puddles in the folds of the towels).
Don't let the towels get too cold, because the wet paper towelswill always get chilly fast, so they must be kept in a constantly warmarea (but dark). A heating pad may be required to maintain 78f to 80fthroughout germination.
I use a regular heating pad set on low, covered with a light towelto buffer the heat, and on a timer, set to go on and off everyhalf-hour. Make sure they are kept in a very temp stable area. I use adigital temp gauge, the kind that cost about $10 US and have a probe onthe end of a wire, so you can place the probe right into the wet papertowels.
[editor’s note: place seeds on top of the fridge if you don’t have a rootmat]
Sprouting
Seeds should sprout within a few days; when they do, they must betransferred to the medium with great care when the taproot has come outabout 1/4" to 1/2". I find that a 1/2" tap root seems to be the best.When it's much shorter, they tend to get shocked and die easier, and ifit's much longer, there's more risk of damage.
They are very delicate at this stage; sprouted seeds can be killedby rough handling, damaging the tap root, or if the soil or mediumthey're put into has not been properly prepared in advance to the rightmoisture and temp.
If you're using a soil mix, I usually add about 25% perlite and 25%vermiculite to 50% pre-sterilized Supersoil. Using a pencil orsomething to prepare a hole for your seedling, and lower it in with thetaproot down first and the seed end up. Gently pack or fill in the holefairly loosely around the taproot, covering the top of the seed byabout 1/4", and I water them with an eyedropper or a spray bottle seton mist.
Post germination
Now you'll want to place them under fluorescent lighting about 4"to 6" away and mist them down daily. Continue to ensure they are keptwarm enough, because when the wet medium cools off at night down toward60f it can shock and slow them down or possibly even kill them.
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