Seeds are the result of reproduction, they do not reproduce. To determine if these "weeds" might be viable take some, wrap them in a damp paper towel, place that in a sealable plastic bag, and place that on a fairly warm surface such as the top of a refrigerator and see what sprouts in about 7 days. If none do the seeds are not viable.

Thanks, kimmsr

OK, I have a question here. I've read many times what Kimmsr said about putting seeds on top of your refrigerator for warmth. My refrig is cold on top as that is where the freezer is located. Does somebody out there have their compressor on top of their refrigerator that generates heat? Not trying to be picky here, I just don't get it.

Isn't it just the hot air rising up the back side from the condenser coils?

What Ken is asking about is physics. Heat transfer occurs when a warm object, your hand, is placed on an object that has a lower temperature and when your hand looses heat you perceive coolness. The case of your refrigerator is made of a substance that is a good conductor or heat hence your hand looses heat fairly fast and you feel that heat transfer and that case feels cold. If you used a thermometer to measure the temperature you would find the case to be about room temperature, plenty warm enough to germinate seeds.
Heat flows from high temperature to low temperature and the greater the temperature differential the colder an object will feel. When you step outside on a day when the air temperature is 20 F you feel colder faster then on a day the air temperature is 70 F because of the rapid heat loss.

If your worried about weed seeds, you can always compost them prior to adding them to the garden. I would also grow your own cover crop as you can make sure it is free of seeds...

Joe

Compost the material with seeds. You will get sprouts, but you will kill those by turning the compost before they get to the point where they can create new seeds. It will take a few turnings before most of the seeds are gone. On the plus side, that makes nice fresh greens for your compost in situ.

Raw Nature and demeter: This was just an opportunity to get clippings when a large nearby area was mowed. I have now incorporated the clippings (and weed seeds) into a couple of lasagna compost piles. I plan to apply corn gluten meal/Organic Preen) on the top and water it in. Should take care of the seeds.

Sounds good my friend! If the gluten doesn't work, nothing beats a nice thick layer of wood chips or leaves!

Good luck
Joe

Seeds will usually sprout within 48 hours in a damp towel, although I've only done peas and beans that way, can't say what foxtail would do. And any reasonable warm/room temp spot will do, if the top of your fridge doesn't seem liike the right place. :-]

I thought that seed heads were a form of reproduction. I would've guessed that every seed-head would'nt germinate, but most would with favorable conditions. That being rain, sun, good soil etc.