Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 156
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Hello folks I am relatively new to tomatoes but not to peppers. I have always heard that floaters are not viable seeds. I have been fermenting my black krim maters in a mason jar with half goo and half water. So I figure I would try to see if they would germinate. after 4 days I took the 6 seeds on the top and tried to germinate them. I put them in salad dressing container with a snap top and a piece of paper towel and threw them on the heating mat. So 3 days later 5 of 6 have germinated and the 6th looks like tomorrow it will sprout its tail.
I took 4 brownish pepper seeds from pods and will try the same test. I will give them a few more days since they can take up to 20 days. I will let the tomatoes go to see if they will grow stronger or be a weakling. I figure either way this time of year it would be a great test. |
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#2 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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It never was a myth to me there are too many variables that can make a seed float.
![]() Think about lead floating in mercury. ![]() If the density or specific gravity of the fluid the seed is in is greater than the seed the seed will float. Sometimes surface tension will have an effect like a needle floating in water. Worth |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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This is not proof that floaters are generally viable.
It is very clear that in many cases floaters are seed coats containing non-viable (and sometimes un-formed) embryos. Sometimes floaters are attached to maternal tissue, and they are buoyed by that tissue. It is still a very good general rule of thumb that you plant seeds that sink, and do not depend on floaters to germinate. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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Worth,
Surface tension is another reason for floating. As is non-viability. There are exceptions to many rules, that does not make them invalid. If I was packing seeds, would you guys prefer the seeds that sank, or would you prefer the floaters? As a seed business, should I now consider floaters good seeds as a general rule? Or should I follow the rule-of-thumb that has been labeled a "myth" in this thread? |
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#6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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![]() Quote:
Myself if I were to soak seeds overnight in water with a pinch of MG and some floated I can just about guarantee they wont sprout. ![]() Last edited by Worth1; October 11, 2015 at 07:28 PM. |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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I misread your last post, Worth.
It was labeled a myth, and I thought you were agreeing. |
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#8 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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![]() I don't do that until the fermentation is complete and I've taken off the mold mat and then have done multiple water rinses to get rid of tomato debris. It's only then that I swirl the container and look for floaters and when I do they are not fully formed seeds,sometimes look just like white sliversif you will, and they don't germinate b'c they can't b'c they are immature seeds. ![]() Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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