"J. Davidson" wrote:
Does anyone know?

In general summer-blooming annual flowers, perennials such as lettuce,
trees and shrubs from temperate climates usually need stratification
which involves soaking and chilling (NOT FREEZING) seeds prior to
sowing. This simulates natural conditions where the seeds would remain
through a winter on cold, wet ground . Seeds will usually germinate
promptly and uniformly after stratification. Unstratified seeds may take
up to two years to germinate, if they do so at all.

Many tree seeds have what is called an "embryonic dormancy" and
generally speaking will not sprout until this dormancy is broken.
In the wild, "seed dormancy" is usually overcome by the seed spending
time in the ground through a winter period and having their hard seed
coat soften up a bit.* By doing so the seed is undergoing a natural form
of "cold stratification" or pretreatment. This cold moist period
triggers the seed's embryo, its growth and subsequent expansion
eventually break through the softened seed coat in its search for sun
and nutrients.

In its most basic form, when we control the cold stratification process,
the pretreatment amounts to nothing more than subjecting the seeds to
storage in a cool (not freezing) and moist environment for a period
found to be sufficient for the species in question. This period of time
is often and usually found to be somewhere between 1 through 3 months.
The crisper in a refrigerator is usually ideal.

The amount of time needed for cold treatment varies. Seed of cedar of
Lebanon, which will stay viable for six months, only need two months for
stratification. Plants like alder and chestnut need three months;
shadblow, horse chestnut and shellbark hickory need four months. A few
plants need both a warm and a cold period of stratification: cotoneaster
bearberry, dogwood yews and some of the barberries and junipers. Some
lilies, viburnums and the tree peony all need a spell of moderate
temperature followed by cold. Unless kept in the refrigerator such
seeds are planted during the summer, kept moist, and allowed their cold
dormancy during the following winter.

--
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Nobody knows, dearie. Its one of the unsolved mysteries of the universe. ;-)

Sheesh, why do you even ask such a question?

Of course there has been much research on the topic and many books written
including lists of such plant seeds and what is needed to break dormancy.

Betcha, if you do a Google search you will find many websites on the subject
too!!!!!


"J. Davidson" wrote in message
news:J18Uc.4300$73.3877@lakeread04...
Does anyone know?
Jackie

Great info. Would you have any idea about getting American Mountain Ash seed
to germinate? I have picked these seeds from trees growing in the wild in
Northern Quebec (zone 2/3).
Thanks
"Stephen M. Henning" wrote in message
...
"J. Davidson" wrote:
Does anyone know?

In general summer-blooming annual flowers, perennials such as lettuce,
trees and shrubs from temperate climates usually need stratification
which involves soaking and chilling (NOT FREEZING) seeds prior to
sowing. This simulates natural conditions where the seeds would remain
through a winter on cold, wet ground . Seeds will usually germinate
promptly and uniformly after stratification. Unstratified seeds may take
up to two years to germinate, if they do so at all.

Many tree seeds have what is called an "embryonic dormancy" and
generally speaking will not sprout until this dormancy is broken.
In the wild, "seed dormancy" is usually overcome by the seed spending
time in the ground through a winter period and having their hard seed
coat soften up a bit. By doing so the seed is undergoing a natural form
of "cold stratification" or pretreatment. This cold moist period
triggers the seed's embryo, its growth and subsequent expansion
eventually break through the softened seed coat in its search for sun
and nutrients.

In its most basic form, when we control the cold stratification process,
the pretreatment amounts to nothing more than subjecting the seeds to
storage in a cool (not freezing) and moist environment for a period
found to be sufficient for the species in question. This period of time
is often and usually found to be somewhere between 1 through 3 months.
The crisper in a refrigerator is usually ideal.

The amount of time needed for cold treatment varies. Seed of cedar of
Lebanon, which will stay viable for six months, only need two months for
stratification. Plants like alder and chestnut need three months;
shadblow, horse chestnut and shellbark hickory need four months. A few
plants need both a warm and a cold period of stratification: cotoneaster
bearberry, dogwood yews and some of the barberries and junipers. Some
lilies, viburnums and the tree peony all need a spell of moderate
temperature followed by cold. Unless kept in the refrigerator such
seeds are planted during the summer, kept moist, and allowed their cold
dormancy during the following winter.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

"Treetops" wrote:

Great info. Would you have any idea about getting American Mountain Ash seed
to germinate? I have picked these seeds from trees growing in the wild in
Northern Quebec (zone 2/3).

According to:
http://www.macphailwoods.org/shrub/montash.html

Gather berries in late September and remove pulpy flesh by hand. Each
berry contains up to 10 tiny seeds. Plant in nursery beds and cover
lightly with soil. Seeds will germinate the second spring and grow
quite quickly. At Macphail Woods, our first year's growth averaged 16
inches (40 cm).

however according to:
www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/forests/ public/otspE/seedcatalogue.pdf

if you stratify for 60 to 90 days before planting, they should germinate
the first year.

--
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Which seeds need freezing?
 

Does anyone know?
Jackie

Stephen thanks for those links!
Will try planting some seed this fall in the garden. I found Mtn Ash growing
wild and was very impressed by their color and foliage in autumn: huge
plumes of bright orange and red berries. Seeds are now 2 years old but will
try anyway.

"Stephen M. Henning" wrote in message
...
"Treetops" wrote:

Great info. Would you have any idea about getting American Mountain Ash
seed
to germinate? I have picked these seeds from trees growing in the wild
in
Northern Quebec (zone 2/3).

According to:
http://www.macphailwoods.org/shrub/montash.html

Gather berries in late September and remove pulpy flesh by hand. Each
berry contains up to 10 tiny seeds. Plant in nursery beds and cover
lightly with soil. Seeds will germinate the second spring and grow
quite quickly. At Macphail Woods, our first year's growth averaged 16
inches (40 cm).

however according to:
www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/forests/ public/otspE/seedcatalogue.pdf

if you stratify for 60 to 90 days before planting, they should germinate
the first year.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman