My seed capsules are starting to turn

[patticake]

My seed capsules are starting to turn! I have one flasker that only takes them out of capsule, one who doesn't care, and one that wants them still in capsule. This will be an interesting experiment. For all of you out there who have hybridized, is this the time to send the capsule that's supposed to be "green"?
I appreciate all input!

[patticake]

I bumped this up, hoping that some of our growers might catch a glimpse of it.

[GrowInHydro]

It's pretty much weeks past green pod harvest. The third one you may be able to get mailed as a green pod.

You can go ahead and harvest the yellow pods or tie a coffee filter over them to catch the seed when it opens.

If you harvest them, just cut the pods open and scrape out the fluffy seed. I use a coffee filter, just fold over the top and leave it in a warm dry spot for a few days to make sure the seed is dry. Then you can mail it off, or dessicate and refrigerate the seed for use later.

[patticake]

Thanks, Growinhydro! The capsules are only 4 1/2 months along. They're small, though- a cross between a Pot. & a Slc.- I'm sending one out tomorrow-overnight to the one that wants it "green".

[kid a]

Hey, Jenny and I had Erik from Hoosier give a presentation about propagation at the cios meeting today. He was talking about how they do theirs and said they usually do green or yellow before it starts to open in hte immature stage. He said they usually go to atleast 2/3 the pod maturation time before removing. He showed slides. If you wait until the pod breaks the seeds have to be put into a pipet and sterilzed. If you remove the pod before it opens they just plop the pod into a sterilizing soloution, when they go to flask the seed in the sterile cabinet the seed is already sterile. Either is just fine. I think it just comes down to personal preference with the person who flasks. He said they had something like 5,000 flasks going in the lab and they one of the largest quantityies in the us of flasks. They do all of their pods immaturely to avoid the sterilizing of the seed step. It could also depend on the seed coating thickness of why they have different preferences.

[exasperatus2002]

Way to go Patticake! Looks like you've got a pod there for everyones preference.

[patticake]

Thanks, everyone! The 3 flaskers that I'm using, all have different "guess"-timations on when it should be ripe. Being a cross, it can be very different times. Kortney, I sure wish I could have been at your meeting!

[solay]

Same here. Sounds like you and Jenny has a blast at the meeting. I really will think about joining a society in the near future.

Patti, those look great. Can't wait for the final out come. I know it's a long wait, but I'm so excited for you.

[patticake]

Well, capsule #1 is on it's way to it's flasker! Yay! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Now the waiting begins.....

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by patticake

Well, capsule #1 is on it's way to it's flasker! Yay! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Now the waiting begins.....

And you thought we had to be patient to get this far.... Did they give you a guestimate as to when you might get the flasks back?

[patticake]

All 3 places that I'm using pretty much estimate 18 mos. give or take. That is if there are embryos in the seed, etc...This could all be for nothing...

I think mine ripened earlier than yours because of the type of plant, and the size. my capsules are about the size of a penny! I know that some in the Catt alliance can be huge! It's exciting, isn't it? How's your capsule doing? Some of these take 7-9 mos. It's like waiting for a baby! When I used to hybridize African Violets, it took 9 mos. for the pod to ripen.

[exasperatus2002]

Mines about the size of my thumb. I'll have to measure it when I get home tonight.

[patticake]

The picture of yours on your thread is cool! I would love to collect photos of just seed capsules!

I'm drying my second capsule now, for shipping to flasker #2- They want dry seed only. the capsule was starting to split, so I cut the end off with a sterile knife, and it's suspended over a coffee filter to catch the seed. They said that sterilizing the pod doesn't mean that there aren't nasties inside, or that any viruses would be killed. They state that sterilizing the seed just before putting in the flask, is the only safe way to do it. -It makes sense. We'll see how it goes...

I'll be mailing the seed in a few days. One more capsule to go. That one is for a flasker that doesn't care if it's "green" or already blown. I think I'll send the seed as for #2.

[Greenhouse Gal]

Patticake, how exciting. I am pulling for you that the seed is good and grows.

[kid a]

Cool! Hopefully there will be tons of embryos! Good luck, let us know if you find out which methods have a better embryo ratio or more seed, etc. I am so proud of your excellent growing!!! Way to go!

[patticake]

Thanks, Kortney! I'll let you know as soon as I find out...I sure hope they're not duds!