Frozen seeds?

akgardengirl · February 28, 2006

I am wondering if my germination problem is due to the seeds sitting out in the mailbox and getting too cold...like frozen? Would this kill off even fresh seeds? I don't want to even think that way but I have had some germination problems with "Black from Tula". Anyone experience this?
Sue

MsCowpea · February 28, 2006

I have kept seeds in freezer with no problems.

**Mischka** · March 1, 2006

I find 100's of "volunteers" growing each spring in my garden and compost pile.

It stays below freezing here for weeks on end so it's safe to say that tomato seeds exposed to freezing for a few days wouldn't hurt them. :wink:

Storing them at high humidity in a warm environment is much more likely to affect germination over freezing. Perhaps they are old?

Carolyn and others here have a trick that sometimes wakes up old seeds. I'll let them post the info.

**carolyn137** · March 1, 2006

Yes Mischka there are some ways to wake up old seeds but when Sue talks about them being in her mailbox I didn't get the sense that they were old.

Were they Sue?

Were they purchased or traded seeds and do you know the seed age?

February 28, 2006	#1
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	Frozen seeds? I am wondering if my germination problem is due to the seeds sitting out in the mailbox and getting too cold...like frozen? Would this kill off even fresh seeds? I don't want to even think that way but I have had some germination problems with "Black from Tula". Anyone experience this? Sue

February 28, 2006	#2
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	I have kept seeds in freezer with no problems. __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

March 1, 2006	#3
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	I find 100's of "volunteers" growing each spring in my garden and compost pile. It stays below freezing here for weeks on end so it's safe to say that tomato seeds exposed to freezing for a few days wouldn't hurt them. :wink: Storing them at high humidity in a warm environment is much more likely to affect germination over freezing. Perhaps they are old? Carolyn and others here have a trick that sometimes wakes up old seeds. I'll let them post the info. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

March 1, 2006	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Yes Mischka there are some ways to wake up old seeds but when Sue talks about them being in her mailbox I didn't get the sense that they were old. Were they Sue? Were they purchased or traded seeds and do you know the seed age? __________________ Carolyn