SEED GERMINATION THEORY AND PRACTICE

Norman C. Deno, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry


http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/down...
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Lotsa hard to find info

Deno is my primary reference book. Lucky enough to have 3 of his volumes.

That is a nice reference though a bit unwieldy. I use the Thompson & Morgan Seed Germination Database - it's rather old and out of print but still very useful as well as a bit easier to use.

http://www.backyardgardener.co...

Xeramtheum said:That is a nice reference though a bit unwieldy. I use the Thompson & Morgan Seed Germination Database - it's rather old and out of print but still very useful as well as a bit easier to use.

http://www.backyardgardener.co...

I agree. I just wanted to bring the Deno volume to the attention of newbies or remind folks. The T & M is okay as well and I have used it too. One thing Deno addresses that T & M (and most others) does not is the use of Gibberic acid which in many cases is the only way to get germination.

There are also 2 Supplements to the Deno volume which I have if anyone is interested.

cheers

My backups are Tom Clothier database or Ken Druse.

The two supplements are available online, too:

http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41...

http://hdl.handle.net/10113/41...

Tom Clothier has "A Taxonomic Index to the works of Norman C. Deno" here:
http://tomclothier.hort.net/pa...

In abbreviated form, it's a listing of germination requirements by species, and not unwieldy at all. It's pretty awesome - 4870 species.

thank you for the links

Thanks so much for all the great links! One of my favorites is http://theseedsite.co.uk/

We should have these as a Sticky for next time:-)

Thank you for the resources. Much appreciated. Learning so much.

For these great links. I am still reading the first one DavidLMO posted.

And yes, it would be fantastic to have these links on a sticky. It would make finding them easier.

Reine

Ignorance here. How/who do we ask to make a Sticky?

Deno's stuff is freaking Awesome. When I first discovered it, it was days later before I came up for air.

As with just about everything, it's not complete gospel with Dr. Deno. For instance, his findings that seed in the cactaceae family require the addition of gibberellic acid to germinate.

Regarding a sticky, there is already one called "The Ultimate Resource for Seed Collectors" where an encompassing subject is. But is much too verbose, in my opinion. The better way might be to make the source information available in the right side bar of the Seed forum home page. Discussions about same would be kept in the discussions part.

These are all just guides.
Although Deno's is scientific-I sometimes have different results.
I think that may be because of age of seeds differing.

I think that may be because of age of seeds differing.

And other variables he has no control over, like seed quality and genetic variations from species that have huge native ranges.

Yes - there are tons of variables. This past winter, I planted 6 each of the same milkweed species, Common, from six vendors - knowing it was unlikely they would all germinate. I was certainly correct. Not one single seed germinated from 3 vendors. One vendor, all 6 germinated, the other two ~ 2/3rds germinated.

Since they were all planted on the same day in the same medium in the same tray, they were all exposed at my end to the very same conditions.

I do that too and do finds differences depending on source of seed.
I like seed companies which test their seeds and give a germination rate.

Some seeds just have a natural low germination rate, and that would be nice to know.

Leftwood said:Regarding a sticky, there is already one called "The Ultimate Resource for Seed Collectors" where an encompassing subject is. But is much too verbose, in my opinion. The better way might be to make the source information available in the right side bar of the Seed forum home page. Discussions about same would be kept in the discussions part.

I am blind - heh.

@Onewish1 - this seems like a great idea and some other forums do the right panel thingy. Could you make it so?

will look into it.. not sure I know how