how long to wait on homemade seeds?

hoping to self pollenate an auto here, and will have an opportunity to pop them as soon as possible afterwards.

i've made seeds before, but never had a need to germ them soon afterwards.

is some waiting period necessary to stratify the seed after it is mature and removed from the bud? when is it ready to go? immediately? a few days to dry, six months to simulate a season? 12 hours in the freezer?

I think your good to go now... When a seed first begins to grow. First, the seed must be active--and alive--and not in dormancy and we know that yours are. Next -- most seeds have a specific temperature range that must be achieved. Moisture and oxygen must be present. And, for some seeds, specified levels of light or darkness must be met. -- but I know that I'm preaching to the choir

As soon as they dry bro they are ready to go ... best of luck to ya.
I planted mine as soon as they fell out of the bud when shook .. never had any problem.

happy growin

Good morning,

Most of the seeds that have fallen from buds i've grown in the past, are allowed to air dry for several hours before moving into labelled orange pill vials for storage in a cool dark dry location.

When the time comes to sow said seed, there used although i've never had the need to germ right away. Mostly stored as future seed stock if anything were to happen to the clones.

Many of my seed making adventures have been with plants that have hermied during flower for whatever reasons, usually enviromental such as light leakage. In my experiences with such seeds few have grown to produce hermies of there own.

But, getting back to your question, they should have a few hours to dry out before being used right away. Of course you know to look for the healthiest seed to keep right - the plumper the better, the darker the better, the more mottled the better, the more there tiger striped the better. All signs of healthy viable seeds that'll be ready for sprouting as soon as there germinated by whatever method is used.

Have a Great day and Good luck
don

I agree, from experience, as soon as seeds have come out, first roll it between fingers to see if it "pops" or breaks, it does not take a lot of pressure, lol, anyway pick healthiest looking and plant. Remember, a small green seed can grow just as good as a tiger stripe seed. Seeds should germ 3-5 days.

The Lightning Seeds

I once had a lone female plant that, after the others were harvested, I allowed to continue growing just to see what would happen and how far it would grow until its life cycle finally ended. Well, I went on a two week vacation and left the automated system on while my family and I enjoyed the beach for a fortnight.

Upon coming back, I was quite surprised to see scores of fresh seedlings all around the plant's container, growing as if not a care in the world. The darn plant had hermied, produced seeds that fell, germed and started growing!

This makes me think that seeds need very little depth to root and they are self sufficient as soon as they fall from the plant. I allowed the seedlings to grow until maturation and was quite happy to find that all sexed plants were female! I was like a possum eating peach seeds! I suspected that they would also hermie but they did not.

I reckon it was just a fluke because I grew some more from the same seeds later on and they DID hermie.

I wonder if it makes a difference to sow the fresh seeds as soon as possible after they fall from the plant to avoid stress to the seeds by storing them?

Hmmm...

• I am no Master, but I do know, it takes YEARS for seeds to completely dry out on the inside. It does not matter how soon you plant them, just the way you germinate them. Older seeds might need the ol paper towel trick to germ, but fresh seed, 1 year or so or less, I only use the Mandala germination method, with 99.9% germ rate, IMO Mandala is the only way to go unless you have some old bag seed around that you are not sure about.

The "old paper towel trick" is the only way I start seeds (because I want live plants in every cup)... except I use old newspaper (black ink only, it's vegetable based, colors are not) and I use 3-4 layers, soak the paper thoroughly, and place it in a plastic bag on top of my modem. Boom, sprouted seeds in 2 days every time. Occasionally there'll be a few slow goers, but the ones that hatch first are the strongest... always.
Seeds do NOT last for years and years... they last a few years... and you'll know how fresh your seeds are by your germination rate. 98%+ hatch, 1 yr. old or less - 50-75% hatch, 2 yrs. old - 50% and less hatch rate and your seeds are 3 yrs. old or older. I know this because I've been saving seeds (in a cool, dry place) and cross pollinating my own plants for many years.

Personally, it's my humble opinion that the best place for a seed to germinate is in moist, dark, healthy soil which is contained in the pot it shall sprout in. I've always felt that unnecessary handling of the infant root whilst exposing it to light causes unneeded stress at this all important stage.

We all want to grow the best plants possible and while doing so we sometimes offer more than the plant really needs.

Just as I mentioned in my previous post, the seedlings were "growing as if not a care in the world" and the only thing they needed was soil, light and water. This is not to say that supplemental maintenance/ nutrients aren't helpful, just that nature is the plant's best grower and usually never makes a mistake unless the grower gets in the way.

I think if one is careful in selecting the seeds then the wayward one that doesn't sprout is the one that would've been problemic anyway later on in the grow.

One thing's for sure, whichever way one decides to germinate, the end product will always be similar to different methods.

Plantguardian and Crying2grow thanks for reply. and new info, but I germ exactly like c2g, nature has been doing this a while now, good soil, seed, and light and let MotherNature run her course. This discussion could go along way, lol and could generate a conversation that I am sure has taken place 100 times @ least lol. I know all of us do things just a little different, that's what make us who we are, but the final quest is the same, the best crop we have ever done, you know, being the PROUD BEAMING FATHER of those LOVELY lil Ladies, lol. I grew up on a farm in the late 50's, a real working farm, crops, critters, and all the chores, and I said when I left the FARM that I'd never be a Farmer, and look @ me now, LOL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>, but everyone is correct and keep doing things the way they work for you, and great luck with those grows.

Peace
Crash