Riesentraube-Trouble with Germination?

kimpossible · March 24, 2006

This is one of the varieties I am growing for the first time. I have had poor germination (25%), and am considering starting more. The other varieties started at the same time, with same methods, are at 90-100%. The seed was bought from a mail order company, and the other seed I received from them seems to be fine. Has anyone else experienced poor germ. with Riesentraube, or do I just have a bad batch?

MikeH · March 24, 2006

I've never had any trouble with the variety.The last 2 years has been in the 80-90% germination range from my saved seed.

Maybe some very old seed?I can't see a seed company doing that,but maybe

**carolyn137** · March 24, 2006

I think you must have a bad batch as long as all your other varieties are doing fine. Whether it's older seed or a fermentation gone bad, which can happen, they should not be giving you a difficult time.

I've been growing Riesentraube since the second year that Curtis Choplin reintroduced it to the US in the SSE Yearbook and I'd have to check but that was in the early 90's I think, via seeds he got from Prof Klaprott at Gatersleben, and I've not once had problems germinating it.

kimpossible · March 25, 2006

Thanks for the info Mike & Carolyn - I'm starting more today!

SelfSufficient1 · March 25, 2006

I started just a few seeds this year from seeds that were 4 years old and got 75% germination.

melody · March 26, 2006

I started seeds this year to replinish old stock...my old seeds were from 2001. They were a bit slower than the fresh seeds I sowed of other varieties at the same time...but are going gangbusters now with nearly 100% germination. My fresh seeds were about 4 to 6 days on average...the old Riesentraube didn't start to show for just over a week..(I didn't soak them)

These were from my own saved seed, so I know that seed harvest and prep were consistant with what I usually do.

pooklette · March 26, 2006

I just got 100% germination within 5 days on my Riesentraube seeds from TGSC. This was my first time growing it too but so far so good.

March 24, 2006	#1
kimpossible Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Z5b SW Ont Canada Posts: 767	Riesentraube-Trouble with Germination? This is one of the varieties I am growing for the first time. I have had poor germination (25%), and am considering starting more. The other varieties started at the same time, with same methods, are at 90-100%. The seed was bought from a mail order company, and the other seed I received from them seems to be fine. Has anyone else experienced poor germ. with Riesentraube, or do I just have a bad batch? __________________ *So Many Tomatoes ... So Little Time*

March 24, 2006	#2
MikeH Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Central Illinois Posts: 47	I've never had any trouble with the variety.The last 2 years has been in the 80-90% germination range from my saved seed. Maybe some very old seed?I can't see a seed company doing that,but maybe __________________ Mike

March 24, 2006	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I think you must have a bad batch as long as all your other varieties are doing fine. Whether it's older seed or a fermentation gone bad, which can happen, they should not be giving you a difficult time. I've been growing Riesentraube since the second year that Curtis Choplin reintroduced it to the US in the SSE Yearbook and I'd have to check but that was in the early 90's I think, via seeds he got from Prof Klaprott at Gatersleben, and I've not once had problems germinating it. __________________ Carolyn

March 25, 2006	#4
kimpossible Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Z5b SW Ont Canada Posts: 767	Thanks for the info Mike & Carolyn - I'm starting more today! __________________ *So Many Tomatoes ... So Little Time*

March 25, 2006	#5
SelfSufficient1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 188	I started just a few seeds this year from seeds that were 4 years old and got 75% germination. __________________ I could spend all day here!

March 26, 2006	#6
melody Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 162	I started seeds this year to replinish old stock...my old seeds were from 2001. They were a bit slower than the fresh seeds I sowed of other varieties at the same time...but are going gangbusters now with nearly 100% germination. My fresh seeds were about 4 to 6 days on average...the old Riesentraube didn't start to show for just over a week..(I didn't soak them) These were from my own saved seed, so I know that seed harvest and prep were consistant with what I usually do.

March 26, 2006	#7
pooklette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zone 5 Posts: 262	I just got 100% germination within 5 days on my Riesentraube seeds from TGSC. This was my first time growing it too but so far so good.