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Cologne / Germany

Today I read on a chili board that people soak their seeds in a cup of water with some crushed garlic. It should resemble the process of being inside the stomach of a bird (which usually spread seeds with their excrements). This will save the seeds from fungus during germination.
Any truth here so it´s worth trying?

1/19/2006 9:17:06 PM

ENGLAND

Ingo
I have heard that several centuries ago the bile duct, or sack, used to be removed from spring slaughtered pigs and the bile used to soak seeds in to aid germination. I imagine that the seeds in a birds stomach would be subjected to the same process. It may be worth trying to find out what chemicals are in Garlic that may have similarities to the digestive chemicals in birds.

Very interesting subject to bring up Ingo.

Regards
Mike

1/20/2006 5:41:46 AM

Syracuse, NY

bring up....ewwwwwww!!!!! ha ha ha yeah!

1/20/2006 8:13:32 PM

Brighton, MI

I use simple brown mouth wash in the water it works just fine and no bad smell. I have never heard of garlic used for anti-fungal.

2/21/2006 4:10:23 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Ah, mouth wash! Perfect! I was just trying to think of something that I could use to soak seeds since I am out of hydrogen peroxide. Thanks.

As for the bile, other acidic solutions, I imagine that would kill germs, but also eat away at some of the seed coat. That's bound to make it easier for the seed to sprout.

4/28/2006 8:26:11 PM