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By Barbara Elmore,
HCMG
Note to Self: Don't
Over-think Seed Planting
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As the seed-planting
season approaches, I am
watching the birds
because their efforts
result in more success
than mine do. Maybe the
best planting technique
is just to toss it out
there willy-nilly?
As if to confirm this
theory, I received a
prized gift from an old
schoolmate: heirloom
poppy seeds from his
grandmother's garden.
His brother is a
gardener and lives in
their grandmother's old
home. He collected the
seeds and sent them to
me, with simple
instructions. "Just
throw them on the ground
the end of September.
Don't even rake them
in."
That I can do, and I have a
spot in mind.
And those words remind me
of a friend's lesson on
planting coneflower
seeds. "Just do this,"
she said, rubbing her
palms together over an
imaginary plot of dirt.
The coneflowers grew
tall and pink and lasted
throughout the summer. |
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So I
am ready to sow, but
what about the leftover
seeds? Here are simple
instructions on
collecting, care and
storage:
Collect seeds from the
best-looking plants in
your garden, those with
good growth, color and
no obvious disease.
Hybrid seeds present
difficulties. Produce
from the local grocery
store likely has hybrid
seeds. Some of the seed
you purchase in little
packets is hybrid. You
may not get good results
trying to collect and
plant these.
Climate matters. Store
seeds in a dry place
that is neither too hot
nor too cold.
Improvise on storage
containers. Paper bags
allow for air
circulation, but some
people report good
results with sealable
plastic bags.
Label everything. Some
seeds need to be planted
immediately, and others
keep for years. If you
label and experiment,
you will know which is
which.
Test seeds before
planting. Place your
seeds inside a damp
paper towel, put in a
plastic bag with small
holes punched in it, and
store in a dark place.
Check in a week. If no
seeds have sprouted,
wait another week. If
after two weeks none or
only a few seeds have
sprouted, you might want
to toss the seedsor use
a lot more of them when
you plant.
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Seed
experts have published a
number of books on
saving specific kinds of
seeds. Look for these.
Basic Seed Saving by
Bill McDorman
Saving Seeds: The
Gardener's Guide to
Growing & Storing
Vegetable & Flower Seeds
by Marc
Rogers Seed to Seed
by Suzanne Ashworth
Seed Sowing and Saving:
Step-by-Step Techniques
for Collecting and
Growing More Than 100
Vegetables, Flowers, and
Herbs by Carole B.
Turner. |
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If
you want to try your
hand with seeds or just
want to look at some
colorful catalogs, here
are online sources. You
can order a catalog or
order seeds which
means a catalog will
follow. |
Renee's Garden:
www.reneesgarden.com or
888-880-7228
Baker Creek Heirloom
Seeds: www.rareseeds.com
or 417-924-8917
Seeds of Change:
www.seedsofchange.com or
888-762-7333
Seeds Savers Exchange:
www.seedsavers.org or
563-382-5990 |
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Photo by C Brinkman |
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