Stuck Seed Coats... How long is too long?
 

I've read several posts about how to remove to the seed coat if it is stuck. Many people like to give the plant a chance to shed the coat (or so I read). How long is too long to give the seedling a chance before heroic measures are recommended?

Thanks!

Hi H Newb
I don't know how long.
I do know that I had 1 that took me
4 days to get off. The coat was stuck for
a long time, when it finally started worrying
me it took an additional 4 days of spitting
and testing,finally eased it off, whew!
Total time from sprout to coat off was approx
10 days?
Wild "gotta feelit" Life

I should give them abut two-three weeks if Iwas you,with all the usual spitting-wetting and soaking, if all else fails- mix up about 1/2 a pint of liquid feed not too high in nitrogen, at about half strength and with a glass eye dropper slowly drip two or three drops onto the seed husk and dribble down to the root base- this often starts off a bit of green seed leaf showing , done on a daily basis for a few days it might do the trick.

WOW ya'll are really patient. Me, I give them 10 minutes.

After misting and applying saliva, I wait about 10 minutes and then with a very gentle pinch I tease the seed coat off. I lose about 50% of the ones that are absolute "pinheads" (stuck coat with no leaves, tight neck at stem) but those that have partial leaf emergence do just fine.

I'm with Gardenmama! :) I've just gotta see those green leaves! I had one incident this year with my Ida Gold where the seed coat wouldn't come off and after a few days I noticed that the stem right under the seed coat was starting to wilt like it was going to die so I had to do an emergency operation! :shock: Fortunately Ida has a happy ending, not only did I manage to get the coat off but it ended up having four cotyledons and is now a healthy 8" tall and ready for transplanting!