Frozen seeds

[Roller 1]

Hello and thanks for the add. I am new to finches but not birds.. I was wondering if I can still feed a seed mix that was frozen for 4 days ? I just acquired 14 Lady Gouldians I have them in a private room of their own at a temp of 77 degrees and 70% humidy..Thank you

[Sheather]

Yes, I keep extra seed in the freezer to preserve the nutritive value.

[MisterGribs]

Sheather Will the seed still sprout if you soak it once it's been frozen?

[Roller 1]

Yes, I keep extra seed in the freezer to preserve the nutritive value.

Thank you !

[Dave]

People also freeze seed, intentionally, to kill any potential seed moths. If you've ever had seed moths, you'll know why they do this. It is a safe and easy way to kill some insects. Then they end up storing the seed in the freezer since it is easier to leave it there.

The ability of seed to sprout after being frozen is a good question--anyone have the answer? I'm sure it depends on the seed variety and the amount of frozen time.

I just wish that freezing would kill crabgrass seed!

[Roller 1]

People also freeze seed, intentionally, to kill any potential seed moths. If you've ever had seed moths, you'll know why they do this. It is a safe and easy way to kill some insects. Then they end up storing the seed in the freezer since it is easier to leave it there.

The ability of seed to sprout after being frozen is a good question--anyone have the answer? I'm sure it depends on the seed variety and the amount of frozen time.

I just wish that freezing would kill crabgrass seed!

Thanks Dave !

[Sojourner]

<snippage>

I just wish that freezing would kill crabgrass seed!

It does. Sadly it doesn't kill the roots/runners. That's why crab grass spreads so fast, it sends out multiple stolons to make new blobs of crabgrass, which each also send out more stolons, etc etc etc.

[Dave]

Sojourner, the crabgrass that afflicts the Midwest U.S. is Digitaria sanguinalis. It is an annual, producing a lot of seed. It grows each spring from seed that overwintered in the lawn. Frost kills the plant in the fall, leaving brown patches.

The seed germinates in spring, about the time Lilac flowers. Homeowners apply a pre-emerge herbicide at Lilac time to prevent the seed from germinating.

There are perennial forms of Digitaria, and some species even produce seed that is used for human food.

[Sojourner]

Well it has been over 20 years since I've lived in the Midwest. Maybe I'm thinking of some other opportunistic weed. However I over planted with a clover/grass seed mix every year so I've really never had that much problem with any sort of crabgrass at all. It's an opportunistic weed that likes to fill holes in your lawn.

When such holes are already filled with clover life is generally pretty much crabgrass free, LOL! Plus clover feeds the lawn. When you overseed properly you won't get big patches of clover, it'll be mixed through the lawn. But should a patch die for whatever reason (say, your dog has a favorite spot) the clover will fill it in before noxious weeds can get a foothold.

No crabgrass worries here in the desert. In fact, no grass worries either. I'm big on xeriscaping.

I try to sterilize soil the year before putting in a new garden by covering with clear plastic, which kills stolons, destroys seed, and generally makes life much easier. As long as you get enough consecutive sunny days to heat things up, which was problematic in Portland OR, LOL!

[Dave]

Sojourner, I've been involved in a commercial farm that used clear poly over soil to disinfest the plot from weed seeds. It works! It takes very clear poly and some patience, though.

And I'm a BIG fan of clover. When we get serious about the health of bees, we'll stop mowing lawns and let clover, dandelions etc grow instead. If you're a bee, a mowed lawn is a useless place.

[MisterGribs]

Dave I love the white clover, it smells so good at sundown