• People Need Plants, Plants Don’t Need People
Every day, as more and more people move to the cities, and as rapid advances in technology become ever more central in every aspect of our daily lives, it is easy to forget one of the few fundamentals that unites us all: the basic human requirement for food. No one can opt out of this seemingly simple human need. It is non-negotiable, and as a result everyone is dependent on the world of plants. It is the magic molecular trickery of plants that transforms the sun’s energy into the chemical energy on which we, and other animals ultimately depend.
- Professor Sir Peter Crane
From the Forward of Seeds on Ice by Cary Fowler, known as the father of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
• What is a Seed
A potential baby plant with a bit of food inside a protective capsule.
A seed has everything a plant needs to get started except water and (maybe) light.
• How Seeds are Made
A plant produces seeds in order to reproduce itself. For a plant to create a seed it needs to be pollinated.
Self-pollinated – the male and female parts are contained within a single flower that fertilizes itself.
Open-pollinated – the male and female parts are contained in separate flowers. Pollen has to get from one flower to another flower. The transfer of pollen is accomplished by wind, insects, birds, mammals or humans.
• Starting Seeds
Why do we need instructions to start seeds as obviously seeds have been sprouting for millions of years (actually 430 million years)?
• Fruits Originating in North America
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Cranberry
• Dewberry
• Gooseberry
• Grape
• Raspberry
• Strawberry
• Crabapples
- apples originated in Europe
• When
Where
How
• Germination Testing
• A way to determine the approximate number of seeds that will germinate
• If you just have few seeds, skip test and plant all the seeds.
• What you need:
• Paper towel, plastic bag, marker, seeds
How to:
• Lay out 5-20 seeds in a row on top half of damp paper towel, fold over bottom half.
• Place in labelled plastic bag, store in warm location
• Check the towel moisture each day
• Count and remove healthy seedlings. Throw out moldy seeds and count them as dead.
• The test is over when all the seeds have germinated or the normal number of days to germinate is over.
• (Healthy seedlings / Total seeds) x 100 = Germination %
Ex. 20 out of 25 seeds sprouted= 80%
• March, April, May or June?
Indoors, Outdoors, Pretreatment?
It’s all confusing to me!
Solution:
Seed packet
Seed catalog
Internet
Book
• Warm vs. Cool Season Crops
Warm Season Crops include: tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, eggplant, corn, basil
Grow when weather is hot
Cool Season Crops include: lettuce, greens, kale, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions
Mature before hot weather arrives
Some crops you can plant late summer for a fall harvest
• Outdoor Seed Starting
Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked (lettuce, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts and onions).
Direct sow as soon as soil warms (carrots, parsnip).
Direct sow after all danger of frost (beans, corn, squash, melons)
Direct sow in late fall for spring germination (some native plants).
• Start Indoors
Start indoors nn weeks before last frost.
Examples: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil
Need to know average date of last frost:
Zone 4 it is May 10
On calendar count backwards from May 10th appropriate number of weeks.
• Pretreatment Needed
Makes the seed coat easier for the radical and sprout to emerge or changes the
internal chemistry inside seed so it will germinate
• Fire – seed needs to go through fire (jack pines).
• Scarification – seed coat needs to be nicked or roughed up or it needs to pass through an animal’s digestive tract (nasturtium, morning glory, sweet pea).
• Soaking – seed needs to be soaked a specified length of time (nasturtium, Baptisia), but almost all seeds benefit from soaking right before planting.
• Stratification - seeds needs to be exposed to moist cold temperatures for a specified length of time (native plants, perennials).
• Stratification
Is a method to simulate the typical late fall to winter to early spring conditions. Afterwards, plant seeds indoors which will germinate in the spring.
There are several methods to do this.
Outdoor Methods of Stratification
• In fall, direct seed where you want plants to grow
• Winter sowing in container – Cut large container (water jug) around middle, punch drainage and air holes, fill with soil, plant seeds, and water. Replace top portion of container, but leave off cap so rain and snow can get in. Place outside in sunny protective location in fall. By spring your seeds will have sprouted.
• Indoor Methods of Stratification
• Moist sand – mix seeds with fine sand in plastic bag, moisten and store in refrigerator for specified number of days. Afterwards, spread sand on filled seed tray and germinate.
• Coffee filter – moisten coffee filter, spread seeds on ½ of filter, fold filter in half. Cover with moist paper towel and place in plastic bag. Label! Store in refrigerator for specified number of days. Afterwards spread seeds on filled seed trays and germinate.
• How to Start Seeds Indoors
1. Gather supplies:
• Seeds
• Soil: either potting or seed starting mix
• Containers: such as peat pots, paper pots, cups, trays, etc. with drainage
• Water
• Source of light
• Plastic wrap or other clear cover
• Labels or marker
Optional supplies: grow light, timer, heat mat, mister, fan
2. Fill container with damp soil and plant seeds no more than twice the diameter of the seed. If seeds need light to germinate, do not cover with soil or very lightly dust soil over seeds (dill, lettuce).
3. Water
4. Cover with plastic wrap or other clear cover to keep humid
5. Place in light at least 14 hours a day
6. Keep moist. Misting is a good method when seeds are very small. If too moist remove cover a bit.
7. Check every day, remove cover when seeds start sprouting
Optionally use a heat mat to speed germination. Grow lights provide needed light, at least 14-16 hours a day. A fan helps seedlings grow strong and helps prevent disease.
• Transplant to Larger Containers
Some seedlings need to be transplanted to larger containers before they are transplanted outside. This done so each plant has more room to grow. Start fertilizing if growing medium does not contain fertilizer.
Transplant into larger containers after seedling has at least 1 set of true leaves (seed leaves or cotyledons do not count).
Do NOT throw out soil from seed starting trays—compost!
• Hardening Off
Gradually exposing seeds to the wild so they adjust to the sunlight, wind, rain, etc. conditions of living outdoors.
About a week before transplanting outdoors, bring your plants outside in a sheltered location, gradually increasing the amount of time each day they are outside until they are outside all day. Check plants often as they will dry out quickly and can be toppled over if windy.
• Or use a cold frame
• Transplant Outside
• Check the seed package, but most seedlings are ready to transplant outside after they have been hardened off for at least a week and temperatures remain above freezing. Some plants, such as tomatoes and peppers must have nights above 55º F before transplanting outside.
• Pick an overcast day to transplant seedlings. Carefully remove plant from container and plant in garden. Give plants a nice soaking. Keep evenly moist for at least the first couple of weeks until well established.
• Upcoming Events
• Seed Pickups at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot will continue throughout the spring, summer and fall until the library is open to patrons. See the WBL Seed Library’s website for more info:
https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/
Seed Talks the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30 pm via Zoom.
April 13 – Growing Tomatoes, May 11 – Garden Design
• May 6-9, 2021 - Friends School Plant sale at State Fair grounds
http://www.friendsschoolplantsale.com/
Veggie, fruit, annuals, perennials, native, trees, shrubs, rare plants for sale—ALL Neonic FREE!
• Resources
How to plant a vegetable garden - http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/planting-the-vegetable-garden/
Native plant growing from Prairie Moon Nursery - https://www.prairiemoon.com/
Seed Savers Exchange – http://www.seedsavers.org/
White Bear Lake Seed Library - https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/
Questions - email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Seed Sowing and Saving by Carole B. Turner
March 2021
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