Seed Stratification

Well, I didn't have anything in particular to write about today, so I figured I'd give a bit of info on stratification.

All seeds require certain conditions for them to germinate, most will work with average moisture in a 65-75 degree environment. However, some seeds require a cold period to break through their hard outer shells. Now, to achieve the cold period, you can either plant the seeds in the fall knowing that they will not sprout until late spring, or you can cut that wait time down by stratifying the seeds.

To stratify seeds: take a soil-less medium (I use vermiculite or a paper towel) and moisten it - not sopping wet, just damp - and cover the seeds up inside of it. For example, for Chaste Tree seeds I just filled a ziploc bag with vermiculite, dampened it slightly, and then mixed my chaste tree seeds into it. Then, I flattened out the bag, removed most of the excess air, wrote the name of the seed and the date on the outside of the bag, and placed the flat bag in the back of the fridge. The Chaste Tree, due to it's thick outer shell, apparently should be taken out of the fridge in about a month.

Other types of cold germinating seeds don't need to be in the fridge for quite so long. For example, I also started calamus and pyrethrum. For these seeds, I moistened a paper towel, squeezed out the excess water, then sprinkled the seeds in the paper towel. Then I covered them up in the towel, flattened out the bag to remove excess air, wrote the name and date on the bag and placed the flat bag into the back of the fridge. Thanks to the Thyme Garden's wonderful instructions, I know that the pyrethrum should only be kept in the fridge for 4 days on the dot and then removed and put into a regular seed starting tray. The calamus (also due to the Thyme Garden's individual instructions) will be taken out and planted in a tray in exactly one week.

It's very hard to find info one the exact times that specific seeds need in the cold. Unless the seeds come with specific instructions like the Thyme Garden seeds, I would just put them in the fridge, check them often, and remove them when they sprout.

Hopefully this will help someone out. I know I would have liked all this info in one place when I was starting it. As soon as the Chaste Tree sprouts, I'll post the info so the masses will know how long it takes :)

New Year, New Seeds

Well, taking into account the things I learned from my almost complete failure at starting seeds last year, I have pulled out the seed starting trays and officially planted again :)

I learned from my last experience that if the seeds are too hot (above 70-75 degrees) they will not germinate - a.k.a. don't place the seed tray in full Florida sunlight. Also, I've switched from those peat pellets to a "sterile seed starting mix" - which, yes, is mostly peat moss, but I think it will work better as it's not so compacted. I also got my seeds from places other than just Lowes. I'm now an avid customer of The Thyme Garden Herb Company, as well as Sand Mountain Herbs, both of which have websites. I also got some seeds from Gurney's and a few from Lowe's - impulse buys, I couldn't help myself.

Today, I planted: sweet alyssum, heavenly blue morning glory, foxgloves, delfino cilantro, brown mustard, luffa, meadowsweet, tangerine marigold, inca ii hybrid primrose marigold, wormwood, vervain, bells of Ireland, Mexican hats, dragon head, and agrimony.

I even started stratifying some chaste tree, calamus, and pyrethrum. All should be out of hte fridge in about a week to ten days, except maybe the chaste tree.

I have more to start as well, but I have some that need heat (tea tree and henna) as well as some that don't transfer well (sweet rocket and borage) . I still have to figure out what to do about those. I'll probably just start them in pots with plastic wrap over the top.

I'm really excited to see how things develop. Hopefully things go better than my last seed experience. Be sure I'll keep you posted.