|
| I have 9 honey locust tree seeds I harvested from a tree. I want to germinate them. I've heard of boiling the seeds to wake them from dormancy. I tried that and I failed. The only other alternative I know about is using sulfuric acid. I have no way of getting that stuff at the moment, but I do have vinegar which is still a type of acid even if it IS weaker. Will it work if I use it as an alternative to acclimatize the seeds? Thanks in advanced. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 14:42
| Surprised boiling didn't work. I have often used scalding hot water-not even boiling-to initiate germination on the related Kentucky coffee tree. Worked without fail. Seeds were simply dumped into a bucket of very hot water. When this had cooled enough to touch, it was ready to go. +oM |
|
- Posted by mcgyvr2009i 5b (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 14:55
| How long should I leave the honey locust seeds in the hot water? |
|
- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 15:07
| Just until it all cools off enough to reach in there and take them out! Nothing fancy about this tech at all. BTW, you have taken them out of the pods, right? +oM |
|
- Posted by mcgyvr2009i 5b (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 15:08
| Yes, I did. They're sitting in a plastic bag waiting for me. |
|
- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 16:53
| .....Well get them into some hot water! BTW, I almost consider honeylocust seedlings to be weeds. Seem to come up easily enough on their own around here. Not super-abundant, like say, box elder, but they're around. Do you realize you're apt to get the straight species form when growing this plant from seeds-the one that eventually forms very long, very sharp thorns? +oM |
|
| Agree with the sharp thorns. They also have a "bloom" on their surface that, if puncturing the skin, can cause many days of pain. Experienced that as a kid when felling a native honeylocust. It felt so bad that I had X-rays to see if a thorn had broken off in my foot - hadn't - just the coating on the surface of the thorn. 'Twer me I would choose another tree. hortster |
|
- Posted by alexander3 6 Pennsylvania (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 21:22
| How long did you boil them? If it was too long, it may have killed them. I'd try sanding them. Rub the side edge on a piece of sandpaper until you get through the seed coat, then soak in water for awhile. Once the water gets inside, they should swell right away and germinate shortly after. The embryo is at one end, so don't sand there. Alex |
|
- Posted by strobiculate none (My Page) on Sat, Sep 15, 12 at 22:05
| approx 90% germination after 2 1/2 hours soak in sulfuric acid. And you are questioning duration of time in hot water? which averages 30% germination. Or file the seed coat. sandpaper. Nick seed coat. How many more questions you got Apparent single dormancy due to seed coat. Once seed coat is penetrated, allowing water in, germinates free, no physiological dormancy. |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Sep 16, 12 at 9:57
| whats the hurry??? do you plan on growing these trees indoors over winter??? .. good luck with that ... if not.. why not pot them all into one smallish pot.. and put them on the north side of the house.. and let mother nature take care of it all this winter ... the suggestions all remind me of morning glory seed.. i used to use a fingernail emory board ... just to get thru the hard coat.. then lay them on a paper towel.. folded in quarters ... dampened ... inserted into a sandwich and laid on a teacup saucer [hard to lose it.. lol] ... and as soon as i saw life.. potted into media ... the knicking never worked for me.. i ended up knicking the embryo.. or cutting the tip of my finger ... blood did not aid germination ... and.. as noted.. why all this for a weed tree??? .. other than the experimenting of it all.. which i do honor ... ken |
|
| I've used a file on other legume seeds (Kentucky coffee tree, yellow wood, mimosa). Just file them down until the seed coat (dark brown part) is worn away. Let them soak in a glass of water over night after being filed. You'll know if you've filed enough if the seeds take on water and expand. Plant. I'm not sure why you're attempting to germinte seeds as the season is coming to an end. I keep them in the fridge over the winter and do this in the spring. |
|
| I germinate a lot of black locust seeds with decent success (70%+) using a technique called percussion scarification I read about in research report. Basically what I do is put my seeds in a jar with a lid and some dry coarse sand and shake vigorously for a few minutes. The sand pieces rough up the surface of the seed and then I just soak with hot water overnight. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Trees Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.