From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I received a seed today that has a hairline crack in the outer shell. Will this affect the germination of the seed?

11/20/2003 3:20:17 PM

Tacoma, WA

If the crack is on the "face", no harm done. This is very common. If the crack is on the edge, then it might not germinate.....unfortunately, this too is common...but is not good!

Stan

11/20/2003 4:19:52 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

Oh.. I have the same thing with my seeds. ost of them has many small cracks or 1 big. ODes it mean anything?

11/20/2003 4:20:02 PM

Norton, MA

It only meens the outer shell streched a little if it's on the face.

11/20/2003 4:25:18 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I had one with a big gaping crack on the face last year and it germinated fine. I've gotten mixed results from seed that were cracked along an edge or at the tip.

11/20/2003 4:29:48 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

Thanks. Now I fell better.

11/20/2003 6:45:49 PM

Bristol, ME (stunner906@roadrunner.com)

Sometimes the seeds with a big crack on the face tend to germinate a little quicker as moisture can penetrate to the embryo faster.

11/20/2003 7:32:20 PM

Montoursville, PA

I'm sitting here with the discovery of your common responses. Not to worry. That is new awareness for me. Thanks.

11/20/2003 7:36:25 PM

Syracuse, NY

i'm thinkin' that if the edge of the seed is split open it is just because it is a weak spot in the seed coat, which is where it is actually supposed to split anyway. just happened probably during the drying process--i don't recall seeing any of my seeds with this condition coming out of the pumpkin. however, it may have been masked by the
wetness and softness of the seeds at that point in time.
i have seeds right now that have the tip split open, and upon removing the seed coat i see that the radicle tip is
fine and hasn't pre-germinated, so that's okay also.
and, the crack in the face of a seed, (such as my 508, hundreds of them), is okay also--allowing the moisture of
starting mix to get in there quicker! a protruding radicle tip, on the other hand......... 'pal2

12/29/2003 6:05:05 PM