Strut10 Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 ..........that archaeologists have found wheat and oats in 4000 year old Egyptian ruins and they got them to grow?? But when we used 4 or 5 year old bin oats to oversow a clover patch for cover...........we got nothing??? I'm at a loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Re: How is it..............???? Egyptians have an awesome innoculant recipe Don. Don't know. I swear foxtail seed stays viable for years and years and years........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Re: How is it..............???? Well.......hopefully the foxtail got a good burn with the Roundup last fall. I'm sure we didn't get it all. Just really wanted a cover crop to get the clover up and going without getting eaten. Hopefully it'll take off and grow all by its lonesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Re: How is it..............???? That is pretty interesting. Hard to believe that after that amount of time the seed would not be dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: How is it..............???? Ya know Strut, I'd bet when they tried to grow those seeds they had the best conditions a labroratory could afford. Probably not having been exposed to direct sunlight also made a difference also. I'd look for fresh seed. 4000 year old seed is really hard to find and probably kind of pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anderson3 Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: How is it..............???? Lots of reasons why some seed stays viable and others don't. Usually germination % decreases over time. Those darned weed seeds can remain viable for many years. Probably a necessary evolution for survival. Domestic crops have been selected for other traits. I did get a decent catch of oats this spring in a woodland plot with seed that was at least 3 years old. That was a surprise. Here in PA, seed for sale must be re-tested for germination % every 9 months. You will see the germination rate and date on the label. Look at both before you buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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