planting false indigo seeds

Question

I recently harvested false indigo seeds from a pod (in SE Nebraska). I read your article about how to plant them, but I’m not sure about the term “hardened seeds.” If I wait until spring to plant the seeds, would they be considered fresh or hardened?

Answer 1

If you wait until spring to plant the seeds would be considered hardened. If the seed is sown immediately after harvesting it will sprout right away - stored seed is much slower to germinate and some kind of means to breach the hard seed coat is necessary.