Jerry Hapka asked: "Is stratification effective for whole prunus fruits,
in other words seeds with the flesh and skin still
attached? If so, do the fruits need to be dried
first? For stratification I'm thinking about using a
sand medium. Would the sand need to be sterilized?
If I were to stratify the seeds in plastic bags in a
refrigerator would it be OK to keep the bags sealed?
Why or why not?"
It has been my experience that when planting a whole fruit, the seed does
not germinate until the second season but, if I wash all of the pulp off,
it germinates as would normally be expected. From that I'd theorize that
Nature intended for seeds to be cleaned in a bird's gut prior to planting.
Of course, the bird adds nutrition, manure, for the growing seed.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]
[NAFEX] Stratification of Prunus,
Jim Fruth, 10/05/2007