Over 1000 Packets of Seeds Added!

Hello Gardeners

 

A BIG thank you to all the gardeners who helped package seeds last Saturday!

 

I add over 1000 packets of seeds to the seed library drawers  this month. This includes more native plant seeds, vegetables, herbs and some annuals. I concentrated on seed varieties that need an early start time, but also added many direct sow seeds too. Some varieties may only have 1 or 2 packets, so check out the drawers soon. I’ll be adding more annuals at a later time.

 

As a bonus, if you read to the end of this email, you’ll get a funny for the day.

 

Did you know there are seeds lists of the available seeds online?     

 

To be sure, these are not updated daily, not even weekly, I’m afraid as it is a time-consuming process. I usually update them once a month during the height of the growing season.

 

Here are the links:

Native plant seeds: Native Plant List

Vegetable and Herb List: Vegetable and Herb List

Flower seeds: Flowers

 

There’s still plenty of time left to start native plant seeds!

 

Many native plant seeds need a period of stratification before they will germinate. Stratification is a period of a cold, moist environment (i.e. winter) before the seed will germinate. This is nature’s way of preventing seeds from germinating in the fall when there may only be a few weeks for the seedling to grow.

 

Stratification can be done many ways.

1.     Direct sow seeds in the ground this fall. They will germinate next spring.

2.     Use the winter sowing method using plastic jugs or containers. In this method you use empty milk/water jugs or empty plastic container with a clear cover, such as take out chicken containers or large yogurt containers. Start by punching holes all over the bottom, sides and top of the containers. If you are using a plastic jug, cut along the equator of the jug leaving a small bit uncut by the handle. Place about 3” of potting soil (not garden soil) in the bottom of the container. Plant the seeds. Put the cover on the container and place outside in a sheltered area that will receive sun and rain/snow for the winter. Early next spring check the container and water if necessary. Soon you will have seedling emerging. Later in the spring or early summer you can plant these seedlings directly in your garden as they will not need to be hardened off.

3.     You can also do winter sowing using damp fine sand or damp coffee filters and a Ziploc bag. Place the seed in the sand or on the coffee filter. Place in a ziplock bag and store in your refrigerator for the number of days needed to stratify. (All the seed library packets specify the stratification time.)  After the stratification time has elapsed plant the seeds in trays or small containers to germinate inside your home. These seedlings will need to be hardened off before planting in your garden late spring.

 

SEED DONATIONS NEEDED!

Though I received a big bag of commercial seeds, I am missing locally grown seeds of tomatoes, beans, peas, lettuce and annuals. These are actually better than commercial seeds as locally harvested seeds have grown in our environment and will likely produce a better crop than seeds grown in other locations across the United States.

 

If you saved any open pollinated (not hybrid) varieties of tomato, bean, peas, lettuce, annuals or native plant seeds, please drop them off at the seed library table in the plastic bin.

 

As a reward for reading this entire email I’ll leave you with two ‘Dad Jokes’ provided to me by one of the gardeners that came last Saturday.

 

What do you get of you cross a bike and a flower?

   -  Bicycle petals

 

What did the fan wildflower say to the famous actor flower?

-        I’m wild about you.

 

Pam

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library