what type of fungicide?
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Leo in N E Illinois
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If the seed are still firm, even if coated with mold, go ahead and plant them. Often (maybe half the time) mold is external. If seed is soft, mushy, or black and foul smelling, just discard the mess.
No real ideal fungicide. Best is to start clean. Soak seed for 24hours prior to putting in bags for stratification. Discard water used for soak, pour on just enough to wet seed 3% hydrogen peroxide, the same concentration and brand you use for an oral rinse. Pick up hydrogen peroxide at your local pharmacy, or the first aid section of big box grocery store. It is cheap.
technically 3% hydrogen peroxide is not a fungicide, it is a mild surface sterilant. It breaks down into water and free oxygen, that's it.
Discard peroxide after letting seed soak 20 minutes or so. Time is not critical, get at least 5 minutes, anything over a half hour is uneccessary, 3% is dilute enough it won't hurt plant embryos. Don't worry if some peroxide is left on seed when you transfer it to bag for stratification, it breaks down quickly, probably was mostly broken down by the 15 minute mark.
Bag for stratification should be new & un-used, left over food will cause mold. Dust from laying around will have mold spores. Where you set this up should be a clean work surface.
Media - I use clean long fiber sphagnum moss. NOT DIRT, NOT PEAT MOSS. Some people use paper towel. Don't use Kleanex, facial tissue or fancy toilet paper, these have additives like aloe and lotion which will mold. You media for holding moisture must be clean. If you want to use something I did not list, sterilize it first before using it.
When you put the seeds and media in the bag you want the seed moist, the media should be lightly moist, but not soggy wet. You should not be able to pour water out of the bag after adding the seeed.
Put in a cold spot in refrigerator. A door compartment will not stay constantly cold, when refrigerator is opened it will be warm until the refrigerator ''catches up'' again with its cooling. It should not freeze either. Usually in the back of the refrigerator it will stay more evenly cool.
Hope this helps. I stratify small batches of seed every year, and occasionally I do have mold too. but probably less than 5% of the time.
If you start clean, you should be successful. .
No real ideal fungicide. Best is to start clean. Soak seed for 24hours prior to putting in bags for stratification. Discard water used for soak, pour on just enough to wet seed 3% hydrogen peroxide, the same concentration and brand you use for an oral rinse. Pick up hydrogen peroxide at your local pharmacy, or the first aid section of big box grocery store. It is cheap.
technically 3% hydrogen peroxide is not a fungicide, it is a mild surface sterilant. It breaks down into water and free oxygen, that's it.
Discard peroxide after letting seed soak 20 minutes or so. Time is not critical, get at least 5 minutes, anything over a half hour is uneccessary, 3% is dilute enough it won't hurt plant embryos. Don't worry if some peroxide is left on seed when you transfer it to bag for stratification, it breaks down quickly, probably was mostly broken down by the 15 minute mark.
Bag for stratification should be new & un-used, left over food will cause mold. Dust from laying around will have mold spores. Where you set this up should be a clean work surface.
Media - I use clean long fiber sphagnum moss. NOT DIRT, NOT PEAT MOSS. Some people use paper towel. Don't use Kleanex, facial tissue or fancy toilet paper, these have additives like aloe and lotion which will mold. You media for holding moisture must be clean. If you want to use something I did not list, sterilize it first before using it.
When you put the seeds and media in the bag you want the seed moist, the media should be lightly moist, but not soggy wet. You should not be able to pour water out of the bag after adding the seeed.
Put in a cold spot in refrigerator. A door compartment will not stay constantly cold, when refrigerator is opened it will be warm until the refrigerator ''catches up'' again with its cooling. It should not freeze either. Usually in the back of the refrigerator it will stay more evenly cool.
Hope this helps. I stratify small batches of seed every year, and occasionally I do have mold too. but probably less than 5% of the time.
If you start clean, you should be successful. .
Thanks Leo. That all sounds very good, thanks for the time to explain the process. I am now swaying to try the peroxide. But i would still like to know a good brand name that works on seeds. I couldnt find any reliable info on the net for tree seed treatments. I found lots of kinds tho and i was wondering if copper fungicide would do the trick. I am pondering between peroxide and fungicide treatment. My quick search has verified that hydrogen peroxide would work well and so thanks.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Coffee filters...use Coffee filters!
Sorce
Sorce
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Benomyl used to be the best but is hard if not impossible to get any more. At least in California. Try amazon or other internet source.
eferguson1974
Chumono
Nothing could be cheaper than peroxide! Why not go with it?
Leo in N E Illinois
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If cleanliness as you set up the seed, and hydrogen peroxide seem too easy an answer, you can use fungicides, Benomyl will work, or it will kill your seed, if you use too much.
check with your local state agriculture extension service (if you are in USA) They can give you the list of approved fungicides for your state. Talk to one of the Farm agents, not the agent who handles the questions from home gardeners.
There are 2 groups of fungicides, the ones you can buy over the internet and at box stores, and the ones that require a restricted use pesticide applicators license. If you want the most lethal fungicide out there, get your RUP license first, then pick your poison.
check with your local state agriculture extension service (if you are in USA) They can give you the list of approved fungicides for your state. Talk to one of the Farm agents, not the agent who handles the questions from home gardeners.
There are 2 groups of fungicides, the ones you can buy over the internet and at box stores, and the ones that require a restricted use pesticide applicators license. If you want the most lethal fungicide out there, get your RUP license first, then pick your poison.
Mitty
Yamadori
I do agree with the use of peroxide. There are certain herbal teas said to be gentle enough for this job. Available in the UK. Growing seeds is never that easy, I have always relied on a heated propagator, it allows germination even in Warwickshire , winter !. I have one on my windowsill in my bedroom, great to wake one day to find the first signs of life. I also have a few fruit trees and with a huge red cedar up the close, I get real problems every year. First I use Rose Clear : so useful for all kinds of problems. I rely on this for my Bonsai too, it has never let me down. After this I look to the range of pesticides and fungicides by the German company Beyer , quite a few available on Amazon.
Lastly, on the subject of "seeds and cuttings " , have any of you tried The Jurassic Tree Nursery online. They specialise on unusual trees and shrubs. I know you only receive saplings but they are very well maintained , very healthy, well parcelled and are excellent value for money. Really ideal for beginners. 10" Northofagus Alpina for about £5.
There is only one delivery charge, so its worth saving for 5/6 small trees. Oh! and they arrive in suitable soil not mud/wet clay. Just the same , I re-pot them in my own mix.
Regards Mitty .
Lastly, on the subject of "seeds and cuttings " , have any of you tried The Jurassic Tree Nursery online. They specialise on unusual trees and shrubs. I know you only receive saplings but they are very well maintained , very healthy, well parcelled and are excellent value for money. Really ideal for beginners. 10" Northofagus Alpina for about £5.
There is only one delivery charge, so its worth saving for 5/6 small trees. Oh! and they arrive in suitable soil not mud/wet clay. Just the same , I re-pot them in my own mix.
Regards Mitty .
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