Comments on: How is a lemon seed able to grow after it has been dry for months?

By: Old Punk Dad

Old Punk Dad — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:16:52 +0000

Both of the previous answeres are right about many seeds being able to stay dormant for years. Sad to say citrus ‘aint one of them. They are called "recalcitrant" which means that the embryos will die if the seed is dried. When planting citrus you want to use fresh seeds. Drying for a couple of days is fine but really dry means really dead.

By: Zach F

Zach F — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:16:52 +0000

Many seeds can be dry for years and once they are planted will sprout to life.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:16:52 +0000

Seeds do that…they go dry, sometimes for years, and then when they finally get wet long enough, they sprout.

By: Hondu

Hondu — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:16:52 +0000

Citrus seeds can die within a short time after drying but if refrigerated any where close to freezing can be preserved for months. The chances are your seeds are dead, but what have you got to lose? Plant them. I once had some giant lemon seeds that were a couple of years old, unrefrigerated, and they turned out to be over ten percent viable.