Do seeds need a cold treatment?

WildLife · February 26, 2007

Last year I recieved some Aunt Ruby German Green
seeds from an online seed co.
The germ rate was so low I wasn't able to get crop.
I placed the seeds in the refrig with all my other
seeds.
I have 95% germ rate in all my seeds and
the ARGG have popped like crazy.
So now I have too many extra ARGG.
Did the cold soak over 6 mos make them better?
Wild "brrr is better" Life

**carolyn137** · March 1, 2007

Did the cold soak over 6 mos make them better?

****

You left the seeds in water in the fridge for 6 mo, which is what I read from the above?

I think I'd concentrate more on why the ARGG seeds didn't germinate the first time around when I assume all your other varieties did germinate. Right?

Tomato seeds do not need a cold treatment in orfer to germionate, but it is one of the ways that you can increase the percentage of seeds that germinate, along with several other methods.

Again, I'd concentrate more on the age and nature of the original ARGG seeds rather than the sugggestion that tomato seeds in general need a cold soak.

But I'm still not sure if you're saying they were left for 6 MONTHS in a soak in the fridge. For sure that would have rotted them in to a slimey goo.

WildLife · March 1, 2007

Hi Carolyn

No I did not soak in water in the fridge.
I purchased the ARGG last year. I sowed them last
year and had very poor germ.
I stored them dry in the orig package, with all my
seed stock. I placed them in zip lock and put in the fridge.
This year I sowed the ARGG "heavily" and to my
surprise had a high germ. So now I have more
ARGG than I know what to do with

My germ method this year is the exact same method
as last year.
I was half heartedly giving the 6 mos dry storage in the
frig as the key to the germ rate.
I am glad the seeds are good, just surprised

landarc · March 2, 2007

Wild,
I have never done a cold treatment on tomato seeds and generally have good germination rates. Although, I have certainly heard of cold treatments and that they can be effective.

**carolyn137** · March 2, 2007

Although, I have certainly heard of cold treatments and that they can be effective.

****

That's true Bob, but the cold treatments are involved with putting the seeds in liquid, such as green tea, for example, or others, and then leaving them in the fridge, or putting them in paper towels that have been soaked in similar.

Which is not quite the same as just putting dry seeds in the fridge. All that might do would be to lengthen the viability of the seeds, but would not increase viability.

February 26, 2007	#1
WildLife Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, Calif Posts: 144	Do seeds need a cold treatment? Last year I recieved some Aunt Ruby German Green seeds from an online seed co. The germ rate was so low I wasn't able to get crop. I placed the seeds in the refrig with all my other seeds. I have 95% germ rate in all my seeds and the ARGG have popped like crazy. So now I have too many extra ARGG. Did the cold soak over 6 mos make them better? Wild "brrr is better" Life

March 1, 2007	#2
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Did the cold soak over 6 mos make them better? **** You left the seeds in water in the fridge for 6 mo, which is what I read from the above? I think I'd concentrate more on why the ARGG seeds didn't germinate the first time around when I assume all your other varieties did germinate. Right? Tomato seeds do not need a cold treatment in orfer to germionate, but it is one of the ways that you can increase the percentage of seeds that germinate, along with several other methods. Again, I'd concentrate more on the age and nature of the original ARGG seeds rather than the sugggestion that tomato seeds in general need a cold soak. But I'm still not sure if you're saying they were left for 6 MONTHS in a soak in the fridge. For sure that would have rotted them in to a slimey goo. __________________ Carolyn

March 2, 2007	#4
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	Wild, I have never done a cold treatment on tomato seeds and generally have good germination rates. Although, I have certainly heard of cold treatments and that they can be effective. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

March 2, 2007	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Although, I have certainly heard of cold treatments and that they can be effective. **** That's true Bob, but the cold treatments are involved with putting the seeds in liquid, such as green tea, for example, or others, and then leaving them in the fridge, or putting them in paper towels that have been soaked in similar. Which is not quite the same as just putting dry seeds in the fridge. All that might do would be to lengthen the viability of the seeds, but would not increase viability. __________________ Carolyn

March 1, 2007	#3
WildLife Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, Calif Posts: 144	Hi Carolyn No I did not soak in water in the fridge. I purchased the ARGG last year. I sowed them last year and had very poor germ. I stored them dry in the orig package, with all my seed stock. I placed them in zip lock and put in the fridge. This year I sowed the ARGG "heavily" and to my surprise had a high germ. So now I have more ARGG than I know what to do with My germ method this year is the exact same method as last year. I was half heartedly giving the 6 mos dry storage in the frig as the key to the germ rate. I am glad the seeds are good, just surprised