Help for Helmet Heads

[ddsack]

Yup, janezee, I know exactly of what you speak! There are some whole batches of (older or weak?) seeds where the cots just don't have the vigor to split the seed coat by themselves. The energy seems to be channeled to growing a long stem instead of sent into the head where the baby leaves need it. Even with moistening, they occasionally can't push the seed head off by themselves because the neck opening is so small and tight, and they are too weak to split it. I leave them alone and wetted down as long as I can, but some need help with a pin to split the casing and tease it off, or you will rip off the whole head or at least most of the folded back cot tips. Though they normally survive just fine with only some portion of the cots left.