will cracking my seeds help it germinate?

I have some really old chronic seeds, and while germinating them a few cracked but never sprouted. a month later while still trying to germinate it someone told me that seeds that old have a strong bark and the seed is not strong enough to hatch when its that old and the bark of the seed is strong so he suggest carefully cracking it open by pushing the top and the bottom of the seed to help it crack a bit. would that be a good idea? considering that its been a month and nothing progresses so far.

Are you putting them in water? Try that if not. I don't know about other methods. They might work but they might also be damaging a seed that otherwise might pop. You might just have to accept that they are not viable seeds.

Illegal Smile said:

Are you putting them in water? Try that if not. I don't know about other methods. They might work but they might also be damaging a seed that otherwise might pop. You might just have to accept that they are not viable seeds.

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I'd try that after a month w/o germinating because they aren't doing it alone. I'd go ahead and crack one of the all the way open to see what it looks like. Is it rotten inside or still white? I've heard soaking them in a little rooting hormone can stimulate the older seeds. I'd think they aren't viable though cause I've had seeds over 10 years old come right up.
Good luck.

I'm not an experienced grower, but I did stay at a holiday INN Express last night. I have read you could try lining a film canister, or a match box, or another small container with some sand paper. Then shake up your seeds in the container. This will "scuff" the seeds and may assist in germination.

I cracked one open to look inside, still white. than i cracked 3 more and noticed like 1 of them is not white and kinda brownish.

sakhalchea said:

I have some really old chronic seeds, and while germinating them a few cracked but never sprouted. a month later while still trying to germinate it someone told me that seeds that old have a strong bark and the seed is not strong enough to hatch when its that old and the bark of the seed is strong so he suggest carefully cracking it open by pushing the top and the bottom of the seed to help it crack a bit. would that be a good idea? considering that its been a month and nothing progresses so far.

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Few things for ya.....

1st... if it takes more then 2 weeks you can almost Garentee that the seed will Not work, either you didn't germenate then properly or the seeds are No good...

2nd... Gently crack the seeds open? what the heck... the Older Skin being thicker?...
The seeds do Not continue to grow once they are off the plant, how the hell does there shell get thicker?

I really don't know how much i would trust that Friends Knoledge...

Do this next time....
Soak the seeds in a cup of water for a day (24hours)
Then take all seeds that Sank to the bottom of the cup and plant them Gently into soil so they can grow...
If they Don't sink, even after fiddling your finger in the cup, then They most likely will not work.....

You obviosly found this site in order to post this question, so Look around, all the answere's are here!


Hope that helps ya some......

^Listen to him.

If a seed won't crack then it is no good cracking it won't help anything.

i take different steps more and more drastic all on heating pad
1. soak over night in water lay small piece of terrycloth on top to keep under water if dont sink if soil
2. not cracked switch to peroxide soak overnight
3. if not cracked between napkins the old fashioned way for a week at max
4. after the week nothing to lose i start scarcification i uses sandpaper/ i pick the seal over the split off/ i have broken plugs of the shell off/ i have stuck a razor in split it open not deep enough o do damage you have a tiny space between seeds internals and the outer shell keeping in mind you have nothing to lose

by the time i go through all my stages im at something like 99 % germ some just try napkinthen throw away i cant afford to do that
its only a seed and its your seed you can do what you want to it sometimes they need to be ecouraged a little

good luck

Yeah after that long they are probably not viable, just swelled & cracked from the moisture . I've never tried to crack open any with the intention of saving it, but to just inspect it. The brownish ones were rotting anyway. You need some fresher seeds.

YES IT WILL HELP GERMINATE!!!!! just try it man if the seeds dont pop in a few days crack the seed along the seem a little bit to help her out. ive never had seeds germ longer than a week.

sakhalchea said:

I have some really old chronic seeds, and while germinating them a few cracked but never sprouted. a month later while still trying to germinate it someone told me that seeds that old have a strong bark and the seed is not strong enough to hatch when its that old and the bark of the seed is strong so he suggest carefully cracking it open by pushing the top and the bottom of the seed to help it crack a bit. would that be a good idea? considering that its been a month and nothing progresses so far.

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i think maybe genetics has some to do with germination technique as well. ive noticed that some strains seed shells ARE a bit "beefier" than others......but thats just speculation on my part. can anyone back that up?