Native seeds have particular germination needs that relate to the habitats they evolved with. Compared to domesticated plant species, native plants take much longer to germinate, or begin the growing process. Many native seeds live for years in soil seed banks before the perfect conditions arrive for germination - in order to speed up germination, we can simulate these ideal conditions and environmental patterns in a greenhouse or home-garden. See these tips below for germinating your native seeds, and have fun! |
Tree, shrub, or valuable forb seed (such as Asclepias, or milkweed, species) is often germinated in a greenhouse or in pots in a location where ideal germination conditions can be simulated. Below are some of the methods you may need to employ to get your native seeds to germinate:
Moist Cold Stratification (Physiological Dormancy): Natural enzymes in some native seeds prevent them germinating until winter has passed. This ensures that the seed germinates in the spring at the beginning of the growing season, as opposed to germinating in the fall before the freezing, killing temperatures of winter arrive. It is easy to simulate a 1-2 month winter by mixing seeds with a moist soil, sand, or peat moss and placing them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Make sure there is no standing water in the bag - the media should be moist but not sopping wet. Soak your seeds for 3-12 hours before putting them in the bag with the soil to ensure they have fully imbibed. Scarification & Hot water (Physical Dormancy): Seeds with very tough exteriors must have their seed coat broken before water can reach the inner tissues. A good example in our area is the seed of the coralbean, Erythrina flabelliformis. The seed coat can be clipped, pierced with a knife, or treated with sandpaper. After treating your seed, soak it in water - you should see it swell up within 24 hours! Surface sowing native seeds: Some seeds require light to germinate. This is more common with very tiny seeds; lightly sprinkle them over your soil media and rub lightly with your fingers to ensure seed-soil contact. Complex Germination: Some seeds exhibit double dormancy, or require alternating periods of cold and warm to germinate. If you are not having luck simulating these conditions, try letting the elements do it for you! Try planting your seeds outside in the same time of year they would be released from the parent plant - the seed is likely still viable and will just show up a little later than otherwise. |
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Using native grass or wood chip mulch helps retain moisture and encourage seedling germination.
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"When do I plant?" is the most common question we are asked by our seed purchasers and gardens. The answer is not so simple; we find that although the best time of year to plant is often with the summer monsoon rainy season or early fall, seeds purchased at other times of year will then be relegated to a desk drawer, refrigerator, or closet, where they are forgotten and slowly lose their viability. Therefore, we usually recommend that you plant your seeds when you are ready to plant. Your seed may have to sit in the soil for longer and will be at greater risk of being eaten by the wandering insect, but it is better than being forgotten entirely. Grass and wildflower seed is usually direct-seeded in the landscape. There are several practices you can employ to increase likelihood of good germination and establishment: |
The largest challenges you are likely to face in your native seed germination endeavors, are insect/rodent predation, desiccation (drying out), and flooding out (washing away). The strategy we use at BRN to counter these challenges is a simple technique: seed pellets! Seed pellets (also called seed balls) are small, irregularly shaped balls of seed, clay, compost, and other filler materials (such as diatomaceous earth) that protect the seed from being eaten by insects and rodents, act as little sponges to retain moisture following rains, and weight the seed in place to prevent their washing or blowing away. You can make your own seed pellets or purchase them from our online store when they are available. Check our blog for instructions on how to make them yourself, coming soon! |
Physical Address:
320-B School Street Patagonia, AZ 85624 Mailing Address: PO Box 121 Patagonia, AZ 85624 |
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