Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
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Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
My gut feeling tells me to wait until March to order seed, because of the cold right now. I know some people have said that when you dormant seed, the cold fractures the seed husk. I would not want that happening to my seed while it's in transit, as I want it to last several years. I've always purchased during warmer weather. Anyone else have any input?
- PSU4ME
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
I don’t see a reason to buy it early other than dormant seeding and you can be pretty flexible on when you do that assuming there isn’t a ton of snow cover. Ideally you would have gotten it this fall but if you work with the company you’re getting it from you can ship in and around a warm up period.
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
Not a bad idea. Maybe I'll call around ahead of time and get info, and then wait to order and time it for warmer period. I don't really need it until mid March, anyway. It's still possible to dormant seed during March here. I have to do some Roundup on spots first anyway.
- turf_toes
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
I store my seed in a freezer. Buying seed now vs later is not going to make a difference either way.
- turf_toes
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
It’s very common. People have discussed it here for years. The seed stays viable longer. I have used six year old KBG seed with excellent germination.
I’ve no need to take it out of the freezer unless I’m using it.
But I suspect you are overthinking this.
Seeds in nature can lay dormant for years while going through various freeze/thaw cycles. But once the seed is exposed to the right conditions, it germinates.
That isn’t to say that you can freeze seed and it will always germinate, no matter what. If the seed is frozen, then gets thawed and wet, that can impact the viability of the seed. Just make sure to keep it dry.
There is literally a doomsday seed vault that stores various kind of seeds in frozen conditions. If I recall, that’s some place in Norway.
I’ve no need to take it out of the freezer unless I’m using it.
But I suspect you are overthinking this.
Seeds in nature can lay dormant for years while going through various freeze/thaw cycles. But once the seed is exposed to the right conditions, it germinates.
That isn’t to say that you can freeze seed and it will always germinate, no matter what. If the seed is frozen, then gets thawed and wet, that can impact the viability of the seed. Just make sure to keep it dry.
There is literally a doomsday seed vault that stores various kind of seeds in frozen conditions. If I recall, that’s some place in Norway.
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
I always freeze my grass seeds, but I plant native grasses and they benefit from a period of freezing before they're planted (stratification). I don't think KBG seeds benefit from freezing, but as turf toes points out, it'll keep them viable longer.
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
I'm also another one who has stored my seed in the freezer. I do it for all of the reasons above, especially for the reason you are concerned about. I freeze it to cause the seed husk to split, to decrease time from sowing to germination. It is an old landscaper's trick I was taught about 15 years ago, from my instructor at my pesticide applicator training class. I once was able to get kbg to germinate in 5-6 days. Usually, I can get it to germinate in less than 10 days.
I'm planning on some spot dormant seeding on New Year's Day, if I can squeeze it in with family visiting. Temps should be cold enough, and hopefully won't rebound to cause premature winter germination. I need to blow a few leaves first, which have collected in the low, bare spots that need some seed. I usually get caught up in the late winter with snow or something else and don't drop seed until the end of March, so I'm planning a bit on the early side this year to beat any snow. I know some people have cast seed on top of snow, but I'm looking to avoid it, if possible.
I'm planning on some spot dormant seeding on New Year's Day, if I can squeeze it in with family visiting. Temps should be cold enough, and hopefully won't rebound to cause premature winter germination. I need to blow a few leaves first, which have collected in the low, bare spots that need some seed. I usually get caught up in the late winter with snow or something else and don't drop seed until the end of March, so I'm planning a bit on the early side this year to beat any snow. I know some people have cast seed on top of snow, but I'm looking to avoid it, if possible.
- turf_toes
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
You can routinely see KBG germination in five to seven days. The 21 day period normally cited is the period when anything that is going to germinate has already germinated.
I’ve done dozens of KBG renovations and in every case, I have seen germination in five to seven days. Freezing the seed has nothing to do with it. You just need to keep the seedbed moist.
I’ve done dozens of KBG renovations and in every case, I have seen germination in five to seven days. Freezing the seed has nothing to do with it. You just need to keep the seedbed moist.
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
Question concerning the husk splitting that you mention; I have some KBG sitting (unopened) in my garage, which will (and has already) of course gone below/above/below/above freezing... Is this bad given that the husk might split, but it's then not frozen all the time?
- turf_toes
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
Freezing grass seed has negligible impact on grass seed, as far as future germination rates.southern-ct-4 wrote: ↑January 17th, 2019, 1:15 pmQuestion concerning the husk splitting that you mention; I have some KBG sitting (unopened) in my garage, which will (and has already) of course gone below/above/below/above freezing... Is this bad given that the husk might split, but it's then not frozen all the time?
The advantage to winter seeding is the freeze thaw cycle can help get the seed worked into the soil.
But, in my experience, it’s not going to have any serious effect on the viability of the seed.
I have a friend who stores his seed in my freezer. He uses it, then returns it each fall when he is finished. It’s had zero impact on germination over several years of freeze thaw cycles.
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Re: Bad idea to buy seed in Winter?
Great, thanks so much!
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