Joolie said:Hi guys! This is my first seed swap, and I'm wondering if you guys might be able to help me better identify some seeds ...
Hi Julie!
I can't tell one seed from another, and I would probably try to germinate cracked peppercorns if someone sprinkled some in the bottom of a box.
But here is a site that tries to post usable pictures of seeds, and maybe some seed pods:
http://theseedsite.co.uk/db1.h...
(Sticky thread in the Seeds forum)
The thread "The Ultimate Resource for Seed Collectors" in
Seeds forum
Lalambchop1 said: ...
Can anyone suggest a good informational site on how to start different kinds of seeds? How do you keep all the info straight? I'm thinking of trying annuals for my two back beds and I have lots of things to try. Do you go out with a chart on instructions for each? 
I usually check Tom Clothier for complicated things.
http://tomclothier.hort.net/
I also have a much shorter chart that I downloaded years ago. Originally it was from T&M, but they have not maintained it online in many years. I found it here recently:
http://www.virtualseeds.com/Ge...
and here:
http://www.backyardgardener.co...
P.S. Back when I didn't know what that "stratification" stuff was for, I just skipped it because I wanted to raise some Delphiniums now and read up on perennials later. Sometimes that works. Maybe I only got 20-30% germination, and maybe it was slow, but I got some seedlings without either using the refrigeration or winter sowing.
Maybe I just got lucky. Maybe some seeds that "need cold moist stratification" really only need it if you want better than 20% germination. Maybe very old, or very fresh Delphinium seeds have less dormancy than advertised. And now I usually do a pre-soak in
dilute hydrogen peroxide.
But as with many gardening things that "everyone knows" - consider trying it the other way, with a few seeds. You might get lucky, too.
