The Seed Drawers are Packed!

Hello Gardeners!

Hurrah! The seed drawers are packed!

A big thank you to all who helped package and donate seeds!

The Seed Library has vegetable, annuals, perennials, herbs and native plant seeds galore for your garden. Stop by and check it out. 

I think this year we have more variety of seeds than any previous year!

There are 43 varieties of tomatoes, 13 kinds of lettuce and over 8 kinds of beans!

There are peas, peppers; both hot and sweet, cucumbers, carrots, radish, melons, zucchini, squash, okra, spinach, broccoli, and more.

Also parsley, dill, cilantro, oregano, peppermint, lemon balm, sage, thyme and more!

We have lots of marigolds, morning glories, bachelor buttons, bee’s friend, impatience, nasturtiums, 4 o’clocks, blue globe thistle, pink and red poppies, browallia, blue hyacinth bean, scarlet runner bean, balloon flowers, coldness dahlia, false indigo, nigella, verbena, Mexican sunflower, angel trumpet, blackberry lilies and more annuals and perennials. 

And last but not least, over 50 varieties of native plants and grasses!

Note that tomatoes and peppers need to be started early in Minnesota, but so do many other herbs, annuals, perennials and native plants. The seed catalogs will give you information on when to start specific seeds.

So now that you have lots of seeds to choose from, you need to know how to start those seeds. Our next Seed Talk will help you with that.

Seed Library Talk, Tuesday Feb 11, 6:30 pm

Lion’s Den room in the White Bear Lake library, 2150 2^nd St, White Bear Lake, MN

How to Start Seeds

• Find out how to start vegetable, flower, herb and native plant seeds
• What does stratifying mean and when to use it?
• No registration needed
• Bring your favorite seed starting equipment and share with other gardeners!

We’ll discuss how to start seeds and when to start seeds. All types of seeds including vegetables, annuals and flowers. I’ll bring some of the supplies I use to start seeds and I encourage you to bring what works best for you to share. The pros and cons of multiple methods of starting seeds will benefit all of us! This Seed Talk is for beginners and the seasoned gardeners who start plants from seeds.

Seed Talks are really group discussions! Bring your tips and questions.

Note: We are now in the questionable weather time of the year. If the weather looks difficult for driving I will cancel the Seed Talk or seed packaging. I will send out an email and contact the library so you can always call the library for any last minute changes. White Bear Lake library: 651-724-6007

Hope to see you there!

Pam

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/

Seed Packaging Wednesday January 29, 2020!

Seed Packaging on Wednesday Jan 29, 2020 from 5-8pm

Lion’s Den room in the White Bear Lake library, 2150 2^nd St, White Bear Lake, MN

(Note this event is on a Wednesday, so maybe the people who can’t come on Tuesdays can come to this event.)

Come help the Seed Library by packaging seeds. No experience necessary and very easy to do. Enjoy the company of fellow gardeners while we package up vegetable and annual flower seeds.

This is an open event, which means come when you can and stay as long as you want between the hours of 5-8pm. Treats provided!

Winter Sowing Method and Other Methods to Start Native Seeds

How to Start Native Plants from Seeds

Most native plants produce a flower which, if pollinated, will make a seed head or pod. Late in the fall collect the seed pods and allow to thoroughly dry. Remove the seeds before placing in paper envelopes or paper bags. Store in a cool, dry location. It is important seeds are dry before storing to prevent mold. Most native seeds require a moist cold period of time called stratification before they will germinate.

Germination Methods

Easiest Methods: The easiest way to grow native plant seeds is to plant them in the late fall and let them go through the winter where they will sprout in the spring. Another way is to do snow sowing, used mostly for large sites. Prepare the site for planting in the fall. During the winter, scatter the seeds on top of the snow above the prepared site. As the snow melts in spring, the seeds will sink and germinate on the soil surface.

Winter Sowing Method

1. In late fall or early winter, prepare containers for growing seeds. Take a clean one gallon clear or semi-clear plastic container (such as a milk or water bottle) and poke holes in bottom and all over the sides and top of the container. Be generous with your holes. This is needed so water can get into and out of the container. Remove lid so that water can also get in through the top.

2. Cut 7/8 ways around the diameter about 6” from the bottom. Leave the top part attached by a small piece of plastic as the ‘hinge’. You are making a little greenhouse.

3. Turn the container over and label the bottom of the container with a permanent marker with the type of seed you are planting. Labeling the bottom prevents fading of the marker due to sun and rain. Yes, even permanent markers will fade in the sun, rain and snow.

4. Fill bottom of the container with at least 4” of potting soil. Use any kind, but don’t use soil from your garden as it is too heavy in texture and may have diseases.

5. Plant seeds in the soil to the depth stated on package. A good rule of thumb is to plant seeds to the depth of 2 ½ the diameter of the seed. Some seeds need light to germinate, which means don’t cover them, just sprinkle on the top of the soil.

6. Water until moist.

7. Replace top part of container and close with a piece of duct tape on the corner opposite the hinge. You just need one piece of tape to hold the lid in place so critters can’t get in to rummage around in your soil. Do not tape the entire sides. It is not necessary and some water will get in through the sides, which is a good thing.

8. Place containers outside in a sunny location. Yes, you put them outside in the winter in the cold. The seeds need a period of cold moist stratification before they will germinate. If you have persistent critters you may need to secure your mini-greenhouses so they don’t cart them off or play with them.

9. No need to do anything with the containers until spring. Check containers periodically to make sure they are still moist. Start checking containers as early as March. Things heat up quite a bit inside these little greenhouses on sunny days. There may still be snow on the ground, but it could be warm enough inside them to cause the soil to be dry. Remember seeds need moisture to germinate. You may have to open the tops on very warm days or when seedlings outgrow the container.

10. Transplant seedlings in the spring to your garden. No need to harden off seedlings as they have been growing outside all the time!

Moist Sand or Coffee Filter Method

You need to simulate winter by placing the seeds in moist sand or between a folded moist coffee filter and storing in the refrigerator for a set number of days before starting inside.  Find the number of days to stratify on online or catalog sources.

Place a handful of moist fine sand in a plastic bag. Add seeds and mix. Or moisten a coffee filter and place seeds on filter and fold in half. Place filter in plastic bag. Label bag and place in refrigerator for the required number of days needed to stratify. Check bag occasionally and add water to keep moist. After appropriate number of days has gone by, place sand and seeds in potting soil medium in flats or pots and grow as you would other seeds.

Resources:

Prairie Moon Nursery: https://www.prairiemoon.com/

White Bear Lake Seed Library blog site: www.wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com

Any questions, email me at: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Events and info on Lawns to Legumes

Hello Gardeners!

Some information on this new program:

Lawns to Legumes Program Now Accepting Applications

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for the Lawns to Legumes program, which aims to increase residential habitat for at-risk pollinators across the state. Lawns to Legumes offers a combination of workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns.

Minnesota residents can now apply to be reimbursed for up to $350 in costs associated with establishing pollinator habitats in their yards. Applications will be accepted through February 28. Applicants who qualify for reimbursement are expected to attend a workshop or webinar to better ensure project success. Funding decisions and all notifications will be emailed in March for spring 2020 installations. For further program details, see BWSR's website.

How to apply: Apply online at Blue Thumb’s website

Am I eligible?

Anyone is welcome to use the planting guide or attend a workshop developed for this program to help plan a pollinator habitat project.

Minnesota residents anywhere in the state who have an area at their home that can be used for outdoor planting can apply for a combination of technical assistance (workshops, coaching) and cost-share funding. Proximity to areas where the Rusty patched bumblebee is likely to be present will be one factor considered when awarding reimbursement grants.

What does this program do?

Lawns to Legumes offers workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. The program also includes a public education campaign to raise awareness for pollinator habitat projects and will establish demonstration neighborhoods that showcase best practices.

Why does this matter?

Minnesota is home to more than 450 native bee species. Pollinators also include butterflies, moths, beetles and native flies. All play a key role in pollinating many food crops and native plants, but populations have significantly declined worldwide in recent years. Population decline can be attributed to habitat loss and lack of related nutrition for pollinators, as well as pesticide use and pathogens.

The program aims to protect the federally endangered state bee; the Rusty patched bumblebee, and other at-risk pollinators. Even relatively small plantings of native flowers can help create conditions that are valuable to pollinators and can help build important habitat corridors.

Getting started now

You don't have to wait to start planning a pollinator-friendly yard! Here are some helpful guides for creating habitat:

• Planting for Pollinators: BWSR's one stop shop guide for residential pollinator habitat
• Gardens for Pollinators: Tips from the Xerces Society
• DIY Bee Lawn: Steps for creating a bee lawn from Blue Thumb
• Build a Pollinator Garden in Seven Steps: Advice from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Info on winter seed starting and saving seeds

Richmond Seed Library has several online courses for seed saving and seed growing.

http://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/courses.html

Joe Gardner has a podcast on the winter sowing method.  https://joegardener.com/podcast/130-winter-sowing/

Upcoming Events

Dec 14, Saturday, 9 am -1 pm– Winter Farmer’s Market

Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Township, MN

The Winter Farmer’s Market is back again this year! Many produce vendors and educational organizations will be at the winter farmer’s market. So will the Seed Library! Come check it out and stop by the Seed Library table to say hi. I also have a game kids and adults can play for a treat.

See https://forksinthedirt.com/winter-farmers-market/ for more info.

Jan 14, 2020 Tuesday, 6:30- 7:30 pm – Seed Talk

 History of Food Plants

Lion’s Den room in the White Bear Lake library, 2150 2^nd St, White Bear Lake, MN

Find out some tasty facts about the plants we eat.

Were tomatoes always big, juicy and delicious?

How many varieties of potatoes were grown 200 years ago?

Did people first eat the roots or leaves of carrots?

There are as many fascinating facts about the plants we eat as there are seeds in the Seed Library! I’d love to share what I found, but I could use some help!  

I need help finding information!

If you enjoy sleuthing on the internet or in reference books, put your skills to use finding information on the history of plants we eat. Let me know what food plant you want to research. Then on Jan 14^th you can share what you found with the rest of us. I’m not talking about a 3 page report! Just a few sentences of how a particular plant was used by people for food and how it has evolved over the years.

Send me an email of the name of the plant you want to research and I’ll keep a list so we don’t have duplicates. Right now we have potatoes, wheat and carrots covered. The food plant can be a fruit or vegetable, herbaceous plant, tree or shrub. 

As always, Seed Talks are really gardener discussions about a specific topic, though we do occasionally wander into other related topics. Please come and share your tips and questions!

Note: We are now in the questionable weather time of the year. If the weather looks difficult for driving I will cancel the Seed Talk or seed packaging. I will send out an email and contact the library so you can always call the library for any last minute changes. White Bear Lake library: 651-724-6007

Hope to see you at these events!

Pam

WANTED – SEEDS!!!!

The Seed Library needs seeds! So far in 2019, over 2,500 packets of seeds have found new homes. Every year we increase the number of packets finding new homes, so we need lots of seeds for the 2020 season as well as native plants seeds for this fall.

Please save your seeds of non-hybrid, open-pollinated beans, peas, lettuce, sweet peppers, tomatoes, annuals and native plant seeds!

We are very short on peas and herb seeds!

If you are unable to save seeds from your own harvest, please donate a commercial packet of open-pollinated seeds.

Resources

I have added a list of great resources to the Seed Library blogsite.

Blog site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/