Scarifying Seeds 🎃
It may sound like Halloween, but scarifying seeds has
nothing to do with the 'trick or treat' frenzy.
If you have ever tried and failed to germinate a large, dense seed, it
may be that you should have scarified it.
All seeds have a coat to protect the seed embryo; however, some seeds
have a very thick, hard coat. Those
seeds in nature may take years to germinate.
Some seeds are eaten by birds, and the acidic digestive juices help
break down this coating. Other seeds may
go thru one or more seasons of freezing and thawing in order to break the
covering.
So how can you germinate these seeds without waiting for years? First, remove the seeds from the pods. Then you should determine which end of the seed has the remnant of attachment. Next you should concentrate on scarifying (scratching) the opposite end. Scarifying can be accomplished in several ways. I prefer using some form of sandpaper, emery board, or some similar abrasive object. The goal is to just file enough to break thru the seed coating. There is generally a difference in color between the seed coat and the internal part of the seed. You should not abrase it too deeply; you may harm the seed embryo. If you look closely, you can see a small, scarified area that is slightly lighter on the seed below. I scratched it with an emery board. That scarified area will allow the water to penetrate the seed coat.
Once you have completed this step, you should soak the seeds
in water for about 24 hours. During this
time, you may observe the seed swell slightly (a good sign). Water must penetrate the seed coat for
germination to occur. (Hint: generally,
if the seeds sink to the bottom of the water container, they are viable; if
they do not sink, they probably are not viable.)
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