Seed Talk on Winter Sowing Method Tuesday Nov 15th!

Hello Gardeners!

I added some packets of new native plants seeds to the Seed Library:

Cardinal Flower

Smooth Blue Aster

Wild Petunia

Purple Coneflower

Purple Prairie Clover

Joe Pye Weed

Late Figwort

Lupine

Yellow Coneflower

 

Check the online list for updates.     

 

I expect to have more varieties in the next few weeks as seed heads become ripe. Seed heads must be dry and brown before harvesting to have viable seeds. I expect more Goldenrods, Asters, Mountain Mint, Shrubby St. John’s Wort, and others coming soon.

 

You can access the seed list at the White Bear Lake Seed Library Website as well. The links to the seed lists are on the right side of the webpage.

 

Many native plants need a period of stratification (cold-moist period of time) before they will germinate. One way to do this is to direct sow the seeds outside late in the fall. They will hopefully germinate next spring. Or you can use the Winter Sowing method. At the next Seed Talk I’ll show you how to do this.

 

Seeds Talk – How to do the Winter Sowing Method

 

This seed talk is about how to start seeds in the winter in containers you put outdoors for an easy way to start seedlings of native plants. This will be an in-person meeting.

Held at the White Bear Lake library, Tuesday November 15^th, 6:30-7:30 pm.

 

So why are the vegetable, herb and flower seed drawers almost empty?

This is the time of year to collect native plant seeds and so I am concentrating on getting those seeds stocked in the seed library. Also, starting in November will be a great time to either direct sow native plant seeds or start them using the winter sowing method. I do have some vegetable, herb and flowers seeds ready for packaging, but most people don’t need them yet, so they are a lower priority now. 

 

If you are interested in helping to package either native plant seeds or other seeds, please send me an email at wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

If you are willing to ‘clean’ the native plant seeds (meaning remove the seeds from the seed heads or pods) I could really use that help too. Teasing the seeds from their heads or pods is a very time-consuming activity, so more volunteers helping with this would be appreciated.

 

There is still a real need for all types of open-pollinated seeds, so please consider donating seeds to the seed library!!!

 

Winter Farmer’s Market

The White Bear Farmer’s market is over for 2022, but the Winter Farmer’s Market will be open soon.  The second Saturdays in Nov, Dec and Jan local food vendors will be sharing locally grown and crafted items including meats, cheese, eggs, micro greens, and maple syrup. Many locally preserved options, like jams, jellies, sauces, sauerkraut, and kombucha will be available. Great gifting options such as soaps and specialty hand crafted goods as well.

*NEW LOCATION* Outdoors at Normandy Park Education Center

2482 County Road F East, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

 

 

Hope to see you at the Seed Talk next Tuesday!

 

Pam