Drying seeds in the micro wave ? great timesaver or not ?

Eglantyne Gardiner, ME(Zone 5a) Aug 22, 2005

Hi,
I am just wondering if anyone has done that before ?

Have to tidy up my gardens so I was out in the garden clipping some Columbine seed pods a couple of days ago ;some of them were still not completey dry today so I put them between 2 heavy paperplates in the microwave for 10 SECONDS and it worked like a charm...all seeds came out immmediately.

Now I am wondering if this timesaver can be applied to other seeds as well ?
Thank You,
Brigitte
PS: BTW I dry my herbs in the microwave as well i.e chives,parsley etc.keeps the color nice and green

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zarcanat Montreal, QC(Zone 4b) Aug 22, 2005

I am afraid that you will destroy the living thing in it, it will be cooked.

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budgielover Pinellas Park, FL(Zone 9b) Aug 22, 2005

I asked the same question on another site sometime ago and was told the seeds would not be viable if put in the microwave so I never did it. Have you test germinated any of them yet?

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Eglantyne Gardiner, ME(Zone 5a) Aug 22, 2005

Thanks both of you for your info....
zarkanat,
even with just 10 seconds it would destroy them ? hmmm

budgielover ,
nope have not had time to test them because I just did it today.But now I am curious if they will be viable ?
could they be tested between moist papertowels ?