play4abuck

Hi all,

Last year I harvested the seeds from the following plants; bell pepper, hot
chili pepper, jalapeno, & sweet banana pepper. I tested 10 seeds of each
for germination about a month ago. The results were 0/10, 10/10, 7/10, and
0/10.

I processed the seeds all in the same manner as far as cleaning, drying,
and storing with one small exception. In each plastic bag I placed a
"moisture absorbing packets" that originally came in a bottle of herbs. All
the packet's were different, one said silica(sp?), another said hydro
something, they all came in different herbs bottles. I thought this might
help keep the seeds dry. I stored all the seeds in the frig most of the
winter, except the last month I placed them in the freezer, then took them
out and tested them.

I vaguely remember that some of the fruit I used to harvest the seeds were
year-end (smaller fruit), this may have been the bell peppers and banana
peppers, but I am not sure. Do you think that maybe the seeds were too
young or that the "moisture absorbing packets" damaged the seeds?

Cheers,
Jim

kiewicz

Play4abuck said:


Were all of the fruits you harvested for seeds fully red ripe (or maybe
orange for the banana pepper)? If the bell and banana peppers were
too green, it could be the reason for the poor germination.

I don't ever store my seeds in the freezer (except for the occasional plant
species that needs such cold treatment to improve germination).
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

You got one excellent result, one good result, and two misses. Sounds
like you did pretty well, really.

play4abuck

The bell pepper and the banana pepper were certainly green I always pick'em
that way, although I tried to keep some fruit on longer for this reason but
someone else had their hands in my garden and did not know better. The hot
chili pepper was dead red, and the jalapeño was green, but not black or
woody.

Thanks,
Jim

play4abuck

Yes, I am happy with the outcome since it was my first attempt at harvesting
vegetable seeds. Next year will be better, I think Pat pointed out my
mistake.

Getting vegetable seeds to germinate is very easy for me, so I knew I must
have done something else wrong.

Cheers,
Jim

s orth

My initial thought is that the seeds that did nothing were not "ripe." That
is, from fruit that wasn't fully mature. As for putting the seeds in the
freezer, since peppers are tropical, they shouldn't need that period of cold
stratification, which actually may have injured some of the seeds. Why not
all? Your guess is as good as mine!

Hope this helps at least a bit!
Suzy O
Milwaukee, WI

play4abuck

The bell pepper and the banana pepper were certainly green I always pick'em
that way, although I tried to keep some fruit on longer for this reason but
someone else had their hands in my garden and did not know better. The hot
chili pepper was dead red, and the jalapeño was green, but not black or
woody.

Thanks,
Jim

play4abuck

Yes, I am happy with the outcome since it was my first attempt at harvesting
vegetable seeds. Next year will be better, I think Pat pointed out my
mistake.

Getting vegetable seeds to germinate is very easy for me, so I knew I must
have done something else wrong.

Cheers,
Jim

s orth

My initial thought is that the seeds that did nothing were not "ripe." That
is, from fruit that wasn't fully mature. As for putting the seeds in the
freezer, since peppers are tropical, they shouldn't need that period of cold
stratification, which actually may have injured some of the seeds. Why not
all? Your guess is as good as mine!

Hope this helps at least a bit!
Suzy O
Milwaukee, WI

play4abuck

Does anyone have a thought about whether or not the "moisture absorbing
packets" are a good idea? Over kill? Not needed?

Cheers,
Jim