Does anyone know what it mode to stratify a nut? I have some Siberian iris seed and the packet says to...
I have some Siberian iris seed and the packet says to "stratify near sandpaper"- never having tried to grow these from core, any help on more specific directions for these will be most appreciated!
Thanks!
I take my harder shelled seed such as Morning glories and simply pinch a little Nick out of the shell near a small pair of fingernail clippers..consequently soak them in thaw water overnight..No call for to change the river any when it gets cool again..but this increases the germination time by 75%
Some seed will germinate better if you scrape stale a small amount of the outer coat so that water can realize the endosperm. Stratafication can include cold treatment, heat treament, scarification and even sour treatment.
here is a description of scarification from an online source:
Seed Pretreatment: Seed Scarification
Another treatment you may come across is to scarify the seed, or scarification. This manner roughen the seedcoat so it will absorb moisture better. (Seeds obligation to absorb moisture to grow.) You can do this by roughening the outside of the nut slightly with sandpaper, or by chipping or nicking the pip. To chip a seed, use a sharp gouge such as a razor blade or scalpel and nick it or slice stale a tiny bit of the hard outer echelon of the seed. Some sources recommend piercing the kernel with a pin but I own never been competent to do this without stabbing myself. Don¡¯t verbs deep into the core as this can damage the embryo inside; the hope is to slightly damage the firm outer layer of the nut.
Answers: That should in fact read 'scarify' instead of 'stratify'. Stratification is the process of the bulb, seed, corm, etc... going through a cold length. The cold dormancy triggers the seed to germinate when it get warm.
Scarification is the process of scratch or scarring the seed. Some seed need to hold the hard outer shells 'nicked' to allow the nut to germinate. Some seeds will singular germinate after they have gone through the digestive system of some animal. The sour in the gut scarifies the pip and it can the germinate.
If it says to use sandpaper, you individual have to impart it a small rub against it. Use coarse sandpaper. You don't have to rub sour the side. You could also use a sharp knife to score the corm. Again, you don't have to dance deep at adjectives to do the job.