The bees gave me a seedpod on my TB Tiger Honey iris. Opening it today I found 6 seeds.



The instructional videos I've seen talk about a cold treatment in the fridge.
Is this necessary? I'm in a mild climate in California. What are the odds of success if I just potted them up and
kept it watered.? There's really not much room in my fridge for irises!
Suggestions will be appreciated !

When my pods were mature they were brown and the seeds looked more dried. I don't know how to grow iris from seeds. It would be interesting if I had the room. Just think Jan, you may grow some of the beauties we are all drooling over!

I think it would be fun, Bonnie. I've always had a problem discarding gifts - even from bees!

Looking through past iris forums threads, I found a very clear answer to my question from Paul 2032 in a thread from a year ago.
I've re-printed it here in case anyone else is wondering what to do with beepod seeds:

"Lori...there are many methods.....In October If I had the seeds I would soak them for several days in luke warm water, rinsing often. I would then put them in a damp paper towel and in turn put that in a sealable plastic bag. Then into the vegetable keeper of the refrigerator for 2-3 months Some time after the first of the year pot them up with some good seedling potting mix and water well, You may be surprised when you open the packet to find them germinating. Put the whole works in a plastic bag or cover with saran and put in a warm place. Watch for the little green leaves to appear and then move to a sunny window or under good light. Keep them growing with mild fertilization until the weather is appropriate to line them out. About the time you would plant tomatoes in your area. You could also harden them off a little before planting out by setting the pot outside for a few days if weather allows. Bring in if it gets cold. After you have planted them out continue to take care of them. You may see bloom the next season"

I found his answer to be do-able for me, since his suggestion, unlike a video I saw, wouldn't take up much room in the fridge!

Find out first if the seeds are supposed to be dry and hard. Yours still look green and fleshy. If you put fleshy seeds (or any plant material) in a baggie it may mold. I don't know. I hope you have good luck. This is a gift to the gardener for a lot of hard work. I hope you can grow something beautiful!

Put your seeds on a paper plate and put them somewhere in your house where they won't get disturbed. They will get dry and hard and wrinkled. Then when you want to start soak for a few days and follow the other instructions. I am happy to answer any questions....from my experience. There are a number of methods......

Paul's right, there are probably as many methods as there people growing irises from seed (maybe more, I use a somewhat different method every year ). Whatever you do, they are probably going to require some amount of cold moist stratification to germinate well. I think a lot of people on the West Coast just plant them in pots in the fall and leave the pots outside for the winter, but don't know that for sure.

Well I have six seeds. I can try some one way, and some another.

Thanks for the input, friends.