Germinating the wild species

[JohnF]

On one of the forums someone mentioned letting some sown seeds dry out and then re-wetting them and got some germination. I tried this and got some positive results (some still did not germinate).

Tovarii--sown 11/13--removed from heat mat 1/7 and allowed to dry out-- re-wet and returned to heat mat 1/17--germinated--1/20

Cobincho--sown 12/3--removed from heat mat 1/7 and allowed to dry out--re-wet and returned to heat mat 1/17--germination 1/22.

I am now wondering if trying to duplicate "natural" conditions might be useful in germinating the wild species. I hope to try some experiments this spring ( once we get above freezing temperatures) . I would sow some seeds in flats and put them outside and let nature take its course. Another course would be to sow the seeds and leave them inside ( less severe temperature swings) but randomly alternate temperatures and drying and re-wetting.

[cornell]

Really great that you share your growing tips JF! besides all the other capsicum info, props!

[JohnF]

Another germinated:

CGN 19198- C. pratermissum--sown 10/25/06-removed from heat and allowed to dry 1/17/07--watered and returned to heat 1/22--germinated 1/30/07

[H-Bomb]

Truly interesting information. It seems to indicate that some seeds do have some sort of a hibernation period. As a matter of fact, I think I have seen that happen with a galapagoense seed two years ago.

Good luck with CGN19198, it is truly an interesting variety!

-Harry

[luca]

This sounds really good! Anything that makes germinating wild varieties easier is always welcome!

Actually, I accidentally experienced something similar with a C. galapagoense.  I was getting tired of waiting for it to germinate and forgot about it, and without water the seed dried out.  After about 1 week, I decided to water it again and suddenly, after just a couple of days, it started germinating!

At that time I didn't realize that the drying out could be the reason why it germinated... But now your experiments support that! Cool!

[JohnF]

It's becoming very interesting.  I am hearing other stories of people "accidently" replicating the experiment. I'm now wondering if this might be part of a survival stategy for the wild species. They have not been subject to the selection process that the other species have been subjected to. I know that other types of plants have a variety of dormancy paterns to facilitate survival under less than ideal conditions.

[Fatalii]

I had an interesting C. galapagoense... second seed germinated beside the one-year-old plant... so it took over a year to germinate the other seed!

Hibernating seeds is a nature's way of preseverving those precious species.

[JohnF]

he experiment continues:

Excuse me if this is kind of wordy but it's got a little complicated because of my methods. The seeds are in 12 cell inserts and there are 5 inserts in a standard tray. Previously # 2, 3, and 4 had been allowed to dry out of the heat pad but # 1 and 5 had not. The results up to that point are posted above. ( perhaps I should reorganize the data to make it easier to follow). On 1/30 I turned off the heat mat and started taking the tray out to the garage for brief periods until the soil temp was between 35 F and 63 F. I then brought them into the back bedroom where they stayed at room temp. --about 68 F. On 2/2 I left out # 1 and 5 to dry out and they continued to also get the brief cold treatment. On 2/7 # 1 and #5 were re-wet and all were returned full time to the heat mat.

2/10-- PI 439414 C. chacoense germinated . Seed was originally one of 3 planted 11/15/06--the other 2 seeds germinated 12/6 and 12/9

2/11--PI 260437 C. chacoense germinated. Seed was one of 2 originally planted 10/25--the other germinated 11/26

All of the seeds continue on the heat mat. Stay tuned

[JohnF]

Here is the germination information in an easier to follow format:

[JohnF]

Another germinated today-2/13--PI 273419 C. chacoense. Sown 11/15/06. The three that have germinated since the cold treatments have all been C. chacoense.

[JohnF]

Once more allowed tray to dry out but this time left the tray on the heat mat and then re-wet. Today a Cobincho originally sown 1/6 germinated.

[JohnF]

One more--another C. chacoense. They were still on the heat mat because I was germinating other seeds.

CAP 499 --sown 10/25/06 - germinated 3/31/07

[Aji Inferno]

Chacoense is, btw, according to my experiences, the easiest wild capsicum to germinate. Actually, the only one we can call relatively "easy".

[JohnF]

They do seem easier. What struck me was the sturdiness of the seeds. I had for varieties: PI 260437, PI 273419, PI 439414, and CAP 499 that were all subjected to the drying out and re-wetting procedure and yet continued to germinate. It seems well adapted to living in the wild and making it on it's own.

[luca]

Well, chacoenses, as well as praetermissums, are just semi-wild (or semi-domesticated) and some varieties are actually pretty much domesticated in Brazil, and even grown widely for comercial reasons...

So, some varieties of these species might have been rather domesticated and the germination rates might be much higher... At least I have had no problems germinating most of the "Cumaris" (C. praetermissum) and putapario and other C. chacoense varieties...

They take a bit longer than the famous 5 domesticated species, but still germinate rather easily...

[Aji Inferno]

Well, chacoenses, as well as praetermissums, are just semi-wild (or semi-domesticated) and some varieties are actually pretty much domesticated in Brazil, and even grown widely for comercial reasons...

So, some varieties of these species might have been rather domesticated and the germination rates might be much higher... At least I have had no problems germinating most of the "Cumaris" (C. praetermissum) and putapario and other C. chacoense varieties...

They take a bit longer than the famous 5 domesticated species, but still germinate rather easily...

I've now been trying to germinate lots of wild peppers (in order to get new seeds, these are getting old...). Some success rates after about a month or more:
- Chacoense: 5/8 varieties germinated
- Baccatum var. baccatum: 0/2
- Annuum var. glabriusculum: 0/5
- Tovari: 0/1
- Baccatum var. praetermissum: 0/5 (!)
- Cardenasii: 0/1
- Galapagoense: 1/1
- Anomalum (Tubocapsicum, 1/1)

At least in these conditions, chacoënses seem to be superior in germination rates. Still, I think, Luca is right. These semi-wild peppers are very likely easier to germinate than truly wild varieties/species. I wonder what is wrong with my praetermissums, though...

One thing to look forward to: anomalum. I've had only bad luck and experiences with that damn plant so far! The only time I managed to grow a couple of them to about 50cm (20"), one was cut off by my clumsiness (those plants are like physalis' - they break very easily!) and the other one became a gourmet meal for pests...   So, if I managed to actually succeed with them this year, that would be something...

Which reminds me of one thing... Now, when 26-chromosome peppers have been accepted into capsicum, I wonder if the relationship between the two known tubocapsicums and the real capsicums will be re-evaluated as well... Probably not, but one can always wonder.

[luca]

I wonder what is wrong with my praetermissums, though...

In my very humble experience, praetermissums take a long time to germinate (30 to 60 days), but the germination rates are rather high.  One just needs to be patient...

As for the chacos, they seem to germinate easily and quickly, like most domesticated varieties...