From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Fresno, CA

Do I need to get my seeds to shed their thin cuticle before packing them away? They seem very dry but only 5 or 6 of them have shed the thin transparent layer.

11/7/2010 7:29:59 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

That thin papery husk should come right off with a good ruffle of the seeds in a pie plate or bowl. IF that gets wet it turns instantly into 'freshslime' by the way...

If they aren't shedding their husks with a little ruffling they're not dry enough yet, most times. I have had to do individual rub them a little between thumb and fingers on some but that papery husk should come right off.

11/7/2010 7:43:49 PM

New York

The husks usually don't come off by themselves. As Deb said, you need to help 'em along a bit. I'm still pulling husks off the odd seed two months later as I'm packaging them.

11/7/2010 9:31:51 PM

Mercersburg, PA

what is the minimum amount of time for drying assuming you have low humidity and 65 degrees in the room? Is the "shedding of the husk" the tell tale sign?

11/9/2010 10:09:29 AM

New York

I don't know if there is a 'minimum', but I think after two weeks you're pretty safe. If they shed their husks readily, that's a very good indicator they can be packaged up. This is why I think it's better to use paper coin envelopes, which will whisk away any remaining moisture, whereas plastic will simply cause a seed to rot if it's not fully dried.

11/9/2010 11:36:17 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I like plastic baggies so I like to go for a month... that way I know they're dry. I found these bottom of oven pan liners that look like cheap cookie sheets, after the first week of drying they can be put on there and stirred every few days until you're sure they're dry.

You can read email and 'shuck skins' by running them through your fingers and transferring to another container.

11/9/2010 12:21:53 PM

dont package up seeds based on shedding the husk

you risk moldy seed soon ive had many sent from new growers that did that also bounce seeds on table to make sure not empty
there starting to dry when shed window screens and fan work wonders

11/9/2010 4:45:35 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

I put mine in a room with a dehumidifier running too. Whenever I get seeds back in the mail I also take them out of the package, and dry them for another couple weeks, just to be on the safe side.

11/12/2010 10:17:13 PM