Experience with seeds anyone?

My Chocolate Vine (Akebia Quinata) seeds has just arrived

But I have just read the instructions and wondered if this is the best way?

INSTRUCTIONS:

Soak the seeds in water - stand for 24 hours.

Cold stratify by sealing the seeds in ziplock bag with handful of mopist vermiculite.

Refridgerate for 30-60 days

Sow 3/4 in deep soil mix of sand and loam. hardy to -22f, likes full sun, keep lightly moist not wet....

My question is I didn't think a ziplock bag would be airtight, secure enough - would one of those circular plastic dishes with the lid be more appropriate?

I wondering whether I should be planting this next year though because it doesn't like the wet.....

What do you think?

xi

Steve, Dinahsmum - have either of you grown something from seed (not bulbs)?

Hi MC,

I grew most of my vegs from seeds this year (first year ) - everything but the tomatoes. Some require some bizarre methods of germination, but nothing as strange as this. Does make me wonder how they cope in nature

Sorry not much help.

Yes well we humans do enjoy meddling with nature & its natural function


Excellent, sounds like you got a great result with the veges, something very satisfying about watching it grow from scratch.

OH wants to grow tomatoes but I don't think it's an easy task...maybe we start with the basics like potatoes

Although the preperation sounds bizzare-what you are doing is mimicking a birds stomach! Many seeds in the wild are eaten by birds/animals then poo'ed out and this what you have to re-create.A normal zip up sandwich bag will be fine and is what i used on some exotic seeds once.

Excellent, thanks Steve

Do you think I should wait for Spring time to plant or should I take a risk and do it in a months time, once I have prepared them for planting?

Does it give a month on the packet as to when it should be sown???

If it says March for instance-backtrack on your calender by 60 days and start the preperation then.

Refridgerating the seeds for 2 months is to simulate winter,soaking the seeds is simulating the birds stomach and being sealed in a bag-beneath soil.

No unfortunately, I bought off ebay so it's anyones guess what will happen.

Simulating winter, interesting- I can give it the real thing if it wants by planting it now

Think I'll do it by the book but it's a real pain that it doesn't say when to plant it.

Thanks Steve

xi

I've done some digging about with regards to your seeds and found this site:

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Akebia+quinata

It flowers in March,so maybe now is an ideal time to prep the seeds for next year.

perfect MC