OK, over two weeks now and no sprouts. I guess they
do something to dried beans to sterizize them.

Martin

(lagniappe) wrote in message . com...
Are the large white dried lima beans, the sort you
buy in the grocery store for soaking, cooking, and
eating, fertile? Or do they do something to them
to keep them from being viable? I have a particular
brand that I buy in 1-lb bags for cooking and eating,
that I particularly like. Can I plant these and
expect to get enough to germinate that I can grow
them and then have a source of fresh seeds? Or do
they irradiate or heat them or something else to make
them sterile?

Assuming these very-dried beans are viable, what is
the best way to proceed? Just bury them, or soak
first?

best regards,

Martin

"lagniappe" wrote in message
m...
OK, over two weeks now and no sprouts. I guess they
do something to dried beans to sterizize them.

Martin

I doubt they do anything to them. Perhaps they use heat to ensure they are
completely dry before packaging. Still, I wouldn't give up on them after
only two weeks.

--Art


(lagniappe) wrote in message
. com...
Are the large white dried lima beans, the sort you
buy in the grocery store for soaking, cooking, and
eating, fertile? Or do they do something to them
to keep them from being viable? I have a particular
brand that I buy in 1-lb bags for cooking and eating,
that I particularly like. Can I plant these and
expect to get enough to germinate that I can grow
them and then have a source of fresh seeds? Or do
they irradiate or heat them or something else to make
them sterile?

Assuming these very-dried beans are viable, what is
the best way to proceed? Just bury them, or soak
first?

best regards,

Martin

I doubt they do anything to them. Perhaps they use heat to ensure they are
completely dry before packaging. Still, I wouldn't give up on them after
only two weeks.

After TWO weeks?

Those "seeds" are DEAD, DEAD, DEAD!

OT: Once I decided to add a little moisture to a old jar of popping corn
to increase the percentage of active poppers. Next thing I saw was a jar
full of sprouts.

You provide water, air, and warm temperatures then the seeds will sprout.
Unless your "seeds" came from King Tut's tomb, two weeks is plenty of time!

"John Gilmer" wrote

After TWO weeks?

Those "seeds" are DEAD, DEAD, DEAD!



Maybe, maybe not. Under proper temperature and moisture conditions they
should have sprouted in 5-6 days, if they are viable but too dry or cool
they could very well take several weeks to sprout, if ever.

Having said that, most likely they were heat treated if they were intended
to be used for food. FWIW there are some seeds that can take *years* to
sprout...

Skip


Skip & Christy Hensler
THE ROCK GARDEN
Newport, WA
http://www.povn.com/rock/