Seed fermenting question

[tash11]

Originally Posted by kchd..

Hmph. It doesn't taste like pudding.

I've been drying my seeds for week(s) in the A/C. Anyone have a good idea of minimum drying time before packing seeds up? I don't want to rush things, but the longer they sit out drying, unsecured, the more chance there is for catastrophe...

I am both paranoid and lazy. I dry mine on labeled paper towels (I don't have a problem with sticking if they were well cleaned first) and when the towel looks dry (2 days ish?) I fold or burrito roll the whole thing up into a little packet, rewrite the name and year on the outside and stuff it in a box. Then when I am ready to pack up for trade or when I have time to organize in the depths of winter I take out one packet at a time and bag up. I used to just leave them in the towels until planting or trade time, but now I keep seed in a book (like for trading cards) and the towels don't fit.

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[wildcat62]

Good info here....

[Hntrss]

If the seed coating is green, are the seeds ripe enough? I dried some Large Red Cherry seeds today, the fruit was ripe as could be but the seed pods were green. The seeds do look fully developed.

[pixlpush]

Thanks for all the tips, you also reminded me to get things started before I eat everything and realize I'm not ready for next year! Just getting started.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Hntrss

If the seed coating is green, are the seeds ripe enough? I dried some Large Red Cherry seeds today, the fruit was ripe as could be but the seed pods were green. The seeds do look fully developed.

The green gel is fine, as long as the outside was getting some or all color, your seeds are ripe enough. I get green gel all the time, especially with dark tomatoes.

[Hntrss]

Thanks- I used heirloom Guy's recipe of peroxide and baking soda. An hour and a half they were free from the gel sacks. Drying now and they look really good! It's my first attempt

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Hntrss

Thanks- I used heirloom Guy's recipe of peroxide and baking soda. An hour and a half they were free from the gel sacks. Drying now and they look really good! It's my first attempt

Would you please post the recipe' ?

My usual fermenting takes an average of 5 to 7 days and I run out of patience.