Seed Cultivation - How long until seeds are viable?

L

LizRoll

Member
Hi all - So I've got two AutoFem Northern Lights that are about 5 weeks into flowering. I've had a hard time keeping the temps below 80 and one of the plants became a hermie. I'm actually kinda glad - now I'll have seeds :) They may be hermies too - but this is for personal use and I don't smoke that much.
Here's my question: How long until the seeds are viable (when should I harvest the plant?)
Here's a picture of a seed I ordered (on the top) and seeds from my plant (on bottom).
IMG_0621.JPG

I've read that seeds can be ready anywhere from 10 days to 5 weeks. Also, the way to tell if they are viable is if they look viable - as in, they look like what you'd expect to get if you ordered seeds.
Based on the trichomes, I have at least another two weeks before harvesting (mostly cloudy, starting to turn amber - I'm going for more couch lock so want about 50% amber).
Any info on narrowing down how much longer the seeds have to go would be appreciated!
Happy Growing!:weed:
 
wheezer

wheezer

Well-Known Member
30 days minimum. I've never had a seed done in less than that. most are from 30 to 45 days from pollination.
 
L

LizRoll

Member
Thanks so much Wheezer! :D

I'm not exactly sure when the plant became a hermie, but I'm fairly certain the male pods have been there at least 3 weeks. So I'll assume pollination was probably around 2 weeks ago - give or take.
Based on trich color, seems like the seeds should be ready about the same time as the bud. And I'm willing to let the plant go up to 75% amber and sacrifice a bit of thc in this grow to have seeds for future grows.

Thanks again :wink:
 
L

LizRoll

Member
In the interest of knowing what the absolute longest time I may have to wait to get viable seeds, I continued to research - and I found something!
From the 2010 version of 'Elite Growing Marijuana', pg 81 (of the ebook, pg 93 of the PDF).
The short of it - it can take anywhere from 2 to 16 weeks to have viable seeds!
GEM Guide.jpgGrowingElite_Seed Maturity Guidance.jpg
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
wheezer said:
30 days minimum. I've never had a seed done in less than that. most are from 30 to 45 days from pollination.
Click to expand...
Do you use the cold period also?
I saw where Eskobar treats his seeds to cold serration (I think thats what its called) after the 30 day dry.
 
wheezer

wheezer

Well-Known Member
althor said:
Do you use the cold period also?
I saw where Eskobar treats his seeds to cold serration (I think thats what its called) after the 30 day dry.
Click to expand...
No I've never done anything to em' after I pull em', except grow em'.
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
wheezer said:
No I've never done anything to em' after I pull em', except grow em'.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I just recently crossed plants for the first time and I harvested 1 plant last week and is going through its drying and my other plant should be ready to chop next weekend. I have a very special killing fields pheno (I think, I havent seen another like it) and I cannot wait to grow out the seeds.
 
Guerilla Gardener

Guerilla Gardener

Active Member
LizRoll said:
Hi all - So I've got two AutoFem Northern Lights that are about 5 weeks into flowering. I've had a hard time keeping the temps below 80 and one of the plants became a hermie. I'm actually kinda glad - now I'll have seeds :) They may be hermies too - but this is for personal use and I don't smoke that much.
Here's my question: How long until the seeds are viable (when should I harvest the plant?)
Here's a picture of a seed I ordered (on the top) and seeds from my plant (on bottom).
View attachment 2243388

I've read that seeds can be ready anywhere from 10 days to 5 weeks. Also, the way to tell if they are viable is if they look viable - as in, they look like what you'd expect to get if you ordered seeds.
Based on the trichomes, I have at least another two weeks before harvesting (mostly cloudy, starting to turn amber - I'm going for more couch lock so want about 50% amber).
Any info on narrowing down how much longer the seeds have to go would be appreciated!
Happy Growing!:weed:
Click to expand...
Harvest plant when pistils and trichomes change as normal. Seeds will be striped and popping out of calyx's... if its a 10 week flower... take at 10 weeks as normal. Seeds will be large, viable and loose in splitting calyx's.
 
Guerilla Gardener

Guerilla Gardener

Active Member
Make sure to dry seed fully for about 2 weeks... then put them in crisper drawer in fridge. This will replicate a cold dormant period and helps germination ! You only need to cool them a few days to have this effect.
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
Guerilla Gardener said:
Make sure to dry seed fully for about 2 weeks... then put them in crisper drawer in fridge. This will replicate a cold dormant period and helps germination ! You only need to cool them a few days to have this effect.
Click to expand...
Thanks, thats exactly what I was looking for really. If fridge would be cool enough and how long.
Eskobar said it kills the "anti germination hormone". Not sure what that is, if its scientifically proven or his own theory. But he said he expects 95% germ rate.
 
Guerilla Gardener

Guerilla Gardener

Active Member
althor said:
Thanks, thats exactly what I was looking for really. If fridge would be cool enough and how long.
Eskobar said it kills the "anti germination hormone". Not sure what that is, if its scientifically proven or his own theory. But he said he expects 95% germ rate.
Click to expand...
It truly replicates nature. I didnt even see your post above until I reread.. I have seen Eskobar's name but don't know anything about him. This is a method I have used for years and years.. It does work, I get 100% germination and they are very strong seedlings that sprout fast when treated this way.
The actual idea comes from Tulip planting in Amsterdam. You store the Tulip bulb in a cool dry place and as the bulb warms in the ground, it releases stored energies and the temperature change tells the plant to grow and root.
Just make sure your seeds are dry.. 2 weeks should be way enough. and then I wrap them or stick them in paper envelopes, tape them up airtight and stick in a glass airtight jar in my crisper drawer until I want to use them. I have stored self bred seeds this way for up to 5 years and still gotten 100% germination rates.
It is proven in my experiences over and over and over.
 
E

Ellewood

Member
Thanks so much everyone!!
I found some information on 'Cold Stratification' here and more details on the complete process here.
5 types of dormancy for seeds:
Physiological dormancy ("endogenous dormancy" - internal to the seed):
Is caused by conditions within the embryo itself. This can be caused when seeds have not gone through "stratification" (to simulate "after-ripening"). This can prevent seed germination until the chemical inhibitors are broken down or are no longer produced by the seed after stratification."

Why to Stratify Seeds:
"What we're doing when we stratify seeds indoors in a refrigerator is mimicking the freeze-thaw cycle that occurs in nature."
 
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