|
Seed information tables to accompany Seed Saving article.
Table 1. Different seed storing environmental conditions for optimum germination of various species.
|
Category 1 |
Category 2 |
Category 3 |
|
Majority of seeds |
Malus spp (apple) |
Trillium |
|
especially annuals, |
Fraxinus spp (ash) |
Wild ginger |
|
biennuals, herbs, |
Crataegus spp (hawthorn) |
Panax spp (ginseng) |
|
perennial alpine |
Tilia (linden, basswood) |
Cornus spp |
|
plants and |
Robinia (black locust) |
chestnut |
|
vegetables |
Magnolia spp |
Aconite (monkshood) |
|
|
Pyrus (pear) |
Liriodendron (tulip tree) |
|
|
Prunus spp (cherry, plum, peach) |
Corylus spp (hazelnut) |
|
|
Rosa spp (roses) |
Angelica |
|
|
Delphinium |
All aquatic plants |
Category 1: germination not impaired when seeds dried.
Category 2: germinates best when seeds sown fresh but germination takes longer or is poor after seed is dried.
Category 3: seeds only viable when sown fresh or moist cold stored. Seeds dead when dry. Seed should not or cannot be dried due to the immaturity of the embryos. The embryos mature later even if the fallen seed appears ripe.
Table 2. Viability of various dried plant seeds stored under ideal household conditions*.
|
Days |
Years: 1 |
Years: 2 |
Years: 3 |
Years: 4 |
Years: 5 |
|
willow |
parsley |
corn |
asparagus |
beets |
brassica |
|
|
parsnip |
dandelion |
bean |
chard |
cardoon |
|
|
potato |
okra |
carrot |
fennel |
celery |
|
|
onion |
pepper |
chervil |
mustard |
chicory |
|
|
salsify |
black salsify |
cow pea |
rutabaga |
cress |
|
|
sea kale |
|
leeks |
squash |
cuke |
|
|
|
hornbeam |
radish |
sunflower |
eggplant |
|
|
beech |
linden |
sorrel |
tomatoes |
lettuce |
|
|
fir |
elder |
|
turnips |
muskmelon |
|
|
hazelnut |
maple |
pine |
watermelon |
peas |
|
|
oak |
|
robinia |
|
spinach |
|
|
walnut |
begonia |
holly |
|
|
|
|
|
cyclamen |
|
|
lupine |
|
|
most if not |
nicotiana |
aquilegia |
|
|
|
|
all oil |
viola |
nasturtium |
|
|
|
|
seeds |
wallflower |
papaver |
|
|
* In a dark dry cool basement or storage area with desicant added to each seed container
A few odds and ends
Oats: 5-9 years, Barley: 8-10 years, Wheat: 15-16 years, Sweet peas: 10 years
A germination test of 50 year old herbarium stored seeds saw the emergence of 4 kinds of legumes, 1 kind of labiatea, 1 malvacea, and 1 nyphaeacea. 87 year old Cassia seeds sprouted. Ancient beans discovered in an Aztec tomb sprouted in the lab. A thousand year old Indian lotus seed found in a sealed earthenware container germinated without a hitch.
Didn't find what you're looking for? Check out these potentially helpful web resources!
www.gardenguides.com (more seed saving information)
www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/homegardseedsaver.htm (tips for saving specific veggie seed)
www.seedsave.org (the seed savers exchange)
www.seedsancturary.com (seed and plant sanctuary for Canada)
|
