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Waxing as an alternative to the fridge . . .

foomar

Luddite
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Have found that getting older seed to pop is sometimes the easy bit , many stall out at the first true leaves and fade away.

These all emerged from compost four weeks ago and some are stuck.
Started with 45 , 20 popped and 15 left and probably ten will come good.

Bagseed from 1995 ,was wrapped tightly in the papery foil from inside a pack of twenty cigs , back of a drawer.
 

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Old Piney

Well-known member
Back in the 50,s before ornamental seed were packed in foil envelopes and plastic and not everyone had a fridge , some larger exotics were waxed to preserve them.

Did not have a gas fridge until 1950 and no electric till 1960 so options were more limited then.

My grandfather waxed pea and bean seeds in the 20,s , extending their viability beyond the usual three years maximum , those done in 1939 were near 100% in 1945 saving some varieties that were lost in the war.
Love bits of history like this thanks for sharing .who knows we all might need this info some day
 
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