Viewing post #830450 by Natalie

sooby said:Seeds that respond to stratification experience a winter (fridge or outdoors) and then a spring (room temperature or warmer temps outdoors). That sequence clues them in that it's safer to germinate all at once because they have the whole warmer growing season ahead of them to get big before winter, whereas germinating in fall would be hazardous to their survival.

Not sure if this helps or makes it even more complicated!

I'm still finding this very confusing! You say that the seeds respond to stratification, such as winter in the fridge or outdoors, and then a spring (room temp or warmer temps outdoors). That would suggest that the seeds must be warm in order to germinate, and that just isn't always the case. I'm far from the only person who germinates the seeds in the fridge. I've never germinated them in outside the fridge, and yet, I always have success. I just don't want anyone to think that it is impossible to germinate them in the fridge, because it isn't!