North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jwlehman@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/18/2004 11:15:18 AM US Eastern Standard Time, dporter@lisco.com writes:

> Thank you so very much for the paw paw seeds. They are a little moldy, but I am going to rinse them in warm water with clorox, and I'm sure they'll be fine.
>
> Diane Porter


Hi Diane,

I know what I'm going to write doesn't make sense, but here goes anyway. I've done the same thing more than once only to find the mold after gets worse. It was almost like there is another natural inhibitor of mold that the Clorox also eliminates allowing subsequent mold to develop more profusely.   

I'd suggest cleaning the seeds thoroughly making sure all fruit pulp is removed. The sugars in the seed sack/pulp provide food for the mold. Then repack in sphagnum moss or some other medium that is naturally slightly acidic and only slightly dampened. They mold faster if too wet. Squeeze out all the excess moisture you can from the sphagnum. Store in the frig, of course. 

Jerry