# Germination Testing and Dormancy

**URL:** <https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/germination-testing-and-dormancy/5158>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Created:** [October 29, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/germination-testing-and-dormancy/5158 "2026-10-29T15:31:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KayEverts](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/kayeverts/32/1427_2.png) [@KayEverts](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/KayEverts)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/germination-testing-and-dormancy/5158/1 "2026-10-29T15:31:57Z")

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Has anyone run into dormancy problems when testing newly harvested seeds?

Organic Seed Alliance in the following publication, says spinach, lettuce and pepper seeds may not germinate well for a few months after they are first harvested. Has anyone run into this?

> **[A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and Farmers](https://seedalliance.org/publications/seed-saving-guide/?sourceid=148229&emci=3f1b139a-7dbb-f111-a6a9-000d3a56d2f7&emdi=509f4174-16bc-f111-a6a9-000d3a56d2f7&ceid=3005682#annuals-and-biennials-how-long-it-takes-for-your-crop-to-produce-seed--how-to-manage-crops-that-take-two-growing-seasons-to-set-seed)**
>
> This guide outlines how to plant the best varieties, maintain important traits, cultivate, harvest, process, and store seed.

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**Author:** ![poppy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/poppy/32/22078_2.png) [@poppy](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/poppy)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/germination-testing-and-dormancy/5158/2 "2026-10-29T16:14:54Z")

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I don’t think I run into it much because I honestly don’t tend to harvest and then immediately sow those newly harvested seeds - usually there is a period of dormancy for the seeds where they are stored (either indoors, or in a seedbed overwinter).

I suspect part of this is just the plant’s timing, as a way to help with dispersal and ensure seeds have a chance to get a bit further from the mother before sprouting (which helps reduce disease, distributes risk, and is important for survival of the species in other ways).

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**Author:** ![JinTX](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/jintx/32/20162_2.png) [@JinTX](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/JinTX)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/germination-testing-and-dormancy/5158/3 "2026-10-29T18:45:35Z")

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It would also be expected in a temperate climate, or any seasonally challenging environment.

If the seeds germinated as soon as they were mature the new plant likely would not survive to reproduce due to winter or the dry season or whatever cyclical challenges it might face.

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**Author:** ![WojciechG](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/wojciechg/32/243_2.png) [@WojciechG](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/WojciechG)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/germination-testing-and-dormancy/5158/4 "2026-10-30T18:49:42Z")

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I have sown fresh pepper (chili) seeds many times and I did not encounter such problem. Peppers are generally warm climate plants so there is no really a reason not to germinate instantly.

When I was breeding microdwarf tomatoes in order to fit 3 generation into one year (of course indoors), seeds were germinating in 2-3 days after being collected, cleaned, dried and planted, so approximately withing 2 weeks from a fruit to a seedling.