'-)
Ten Years of Seed-Starting
Tips
Sweater box greenhouse
seed depth. When I placed each
and fold again so the
I've had great success germinating
stake into the pot or garden, I
towel fits in a sandwich-
seeds in clear-plastic
pushed it in to the lower line. After I
sized plastic bag. I seal the
sow seeds in cell packs and pots and
sowed seeds, Icovered them so the
bags tightly and label them with
place them in the sweater box atop a
potting mix or garden soil reached
the upper line. Precision may not
make a' difference, but it can't hurt.
genus and species name, the date
and estimated germination time. If
the seeds need cold stratification, the
bags go in the refrigerator. Otherwise,
Iput them in a' heated room out of
daylight. I check for germination by
holding the bags up to the light, As
the seeds sprout, I, transplant them to
cell packs. If a seed sticks to the toweling. I simply rewet the paper or rip
off a piece with the seed attached ..
sweater boxes. I
l-inch thick layer of pebbles. When
I'm short of space and the seeds
haven't germinated yet, the boxes
stack sturdily. Outside, the boxes act
as cold frames. I can remove the lid
to allow air circulation and prevent
overheating on warm, sunny days.
-Sydney
Eddison, Newtown, CT
(FG#3, 1988)
-Ellen
Silva, Harrisonburg, VA
(FG#8, 1989)
Starting seeds in limited space
When I first began starting large
numbers of seeds, Isqueezed lights
and seed trays into my basement, and
Sweater box greenhouse
This plastic box doubles as a seedstarting mini-greenhouse.
Niagara
-Suzette
Visentin
Falls, Ont., Canada
(FG# 12, 1990)
Easy cold treatment for seeds
i
My wife tolerates flats of seedlings in
front of every window we have, but
she will not tolerate a refrigerator full
of seeds. So, I sow my seeds directly
in cell packs, set the cell packs in
flats, put the flats in a plastic bag, and
set everything on a shelf in my garage
where it is cold but never much below freezing. Once the seeds have received the recommended
period of
chilling, I bring them indoors and set
them under lights for germination.
-Tom
Micheletti,
Barrington, IL
(FG#17,1991)
Inexpensive hot bed
Check seed planting depth
,
When sowing seeds, I've often been
uncertain about how deep I've actually planted them. Did that handful
of soil cover the seeds to a depth of
'/H inch, ';4 inch, or somewhere in between) This year I eliminated all
guesswork with garden stakes.
often lacked the room to set things
down. After knocking over several
flats of irreplaceable seeds, Ifound a
. space-saving alternative in an article
about folding grass seed in moist
paper toweling to test its Viability. I
tried it with my ornamental seeds,
'and was pleased with the results.
On each stab" I wrote the plant
name and planting date, then drew
I spread out a sheet of moistened
paper toweling, sprinkle seeds on one
two lines as far apart as till' desired
halt: fold the other half over them,
The insulating foam crates used to
ship grapes make good homemade
hot beds. They come with a handy lid
for conserving heat on a cold night
and have drainage holes in the
bottom. They're light, but durable
enough to move around. Ask your
supermarket's
produce department
to set them aside for you. To use a
crau- as ;\ hot bed. lay a porOllS rag
March
April I()()~
50B
over the drainage holes to keep in
soon as they appear. I continue' to
the growing medium.
spray the seedlings periodicully
Put a thin
the second set of leaves appear.
layer of soil mix on the bottom,
followed by your heating cable or
mat-running
the power cord out
-.JessI'
Vernon,
Hillbrand , Bass, AR
(FG#18,1991)
Fruit containers
make
mated to life outside, and I can water
the covered seedlings right through
the mesh container.
;
Kalbfleisch,
}
Warrenton, VA
(FG#25, 1992)
Reflectors keep light on plants
My wife and I use fluorescent fixtures as a source of light and warmth
w-hen seed-starting. To catch the light
that would otherwise scatter uselessly into the surrounding darkness, we
attached aluminum foil reflectors to
the fixtures with clothespins.
Seedlings along the edges of the flats
with reflectors lean less toward the
fluorescent tubes than the flats without the reflectors. We also believe
that the reflectors keep in warmth
and humidity. A strip of foil between
two fixtures allows us to grow
healthy seedlings in three trays instead of the usual one per fixture.
-Perry
L. Willis, Southh ampton,
NJ
(FG#30, 1993)
Egg shell seed-sta rters
Start your seeds in egg shells. After
using large eggs, rinse and save the
shell halvl's in their cartons. Before
make handy
covers
make a drainage hole. When the
seedlings are ready to be transplanted, you can just crush the shell
into the planting hole.
-Gretchen
L. Pro as, Richland, MI
1994)
Chamomile tea for seedlings
To prevent damping-off-a
fungal
disease that topples seedlings-I
use
chamomile tea. I boil 4 cups of
water and steep one tea bag in the
water for at least 24 hours to ensure
a strong brew. I then pour the
room-temperature
liquid into a
plant mister, and I start spraying the
seedlings with the tea mixture as
Reflectors keep
light on plants
Keep seedlings from.
leaning with
aluminum
reflectors.
foil /.
~. (;
~,)/
' ~'
!
I ,'
c
/7;---
Arvin, Clio, MI
(FG#48,
1996)
-Birgit
filling with moistened growing mix
and seeds, puncture the bottom
of each shell with a sharp knife to
(FG#36,
When I plant seeds outdoors, I mark
the spot by placing the seed packet
over a stick. [ slip a plastic bag over
the packet to keep it dry and legible.
Shade new seedlings with plasticmesh containers.
Plastic-mesh strawberry containers
make handy shade covers for newly
transplanted seedlings. They last indefinitely, stack easily for storage,
and come in pint and quart sizes. I
cover each plant with a container,
which I leave in place for several
days until the plant becomes accli-
-Wally
c:.,
Marking seed plantings
be ready to sow your seeds.
Strawberry containers
good seedling covers
Trail,
Canada
I'I'fIlIlH
ls.
(FGlt42, /995)
of one of the bottom holes. Top off
with 4 inches of soil mix, and you'll
-John
until
Sow with a salt shaker
An easy way to plant tiny seeds is to
use a large salt shaker. It allows me to
spread very small seeds evenly.
-Sheila
O'Connor,
San Francisco,
CA
(FG#53, 1997)
Handy storage units
When the seed-starting season arrives,
I set a metal shelving unit I purchased
at the hardware store in front of my
6-foot-wide, south-facing window. In
another Window, I secure several
vinyl-coated wire closet shelves with
brackets to the molding frame. Both
units are IS inches deep, the perfect
size for holding flats of seedlings.
-Karen
Schueler, Albuu
u eruu«. NM
(FG#5S, 1997)
Seed-Starting
Sources
J
SEED
ARROWHEAD
W. ATLEE
800-541-6022.
PO Box 2658, Hwy
CHILTERN
105 Bypass, Boone, NC
ri. Catalog,
COMSTOCK,
free.
Catalog,
FERRE
860-571-6590.
Catalog,
DAM
Rd., Salt Spring
SELECT
770-536-8380.
SEEDS
ANTIQUE
Rd., Union
860-684-9310;
Catalog,
SHEPHERD'S
FLOWERS,
$1.
GARDEN
SEEDS,
CT 06790;
Catalog, free.
SEED
CO.,
716-695-6980.
Catalog, free.
THOMPSON
& MORGAN
INC.,
641 Rainbow
SEED
STARTING
SUPPLIES
PO Box 1308, Jackson, NJ 08527;
GARDENER'S
SUPPLY
800-274-7333.
128 Intervale
Rd., Burlington,
Catalog, free.
WILDFLOWER
FARM,
VT 05445;
Catalog, free.
SEEDS
1PO; 902-368-7333.
GURNEY'S
Island, Canada COA
free.
V8K
Catalog,
SEED
110 Capital
LTD.,
Catalog,
800-863-1700.
COMPANY,
& NURSERY
St., Yankton,
605-665-1671.
Catalog,
LEE VALLEY
GARDEN
free.
TOOLS,
Catalog,
LEONARD,
FRAGRANT
NY 13669;
free.
INC"
241 Fox Dr., PO·Box 816, Piqua, OH 45356;
800-543-8955.
Branch, GA 30542;
Catalog,
free.
$4.
PATH,
North
PO Box 328, Fort Calhoun,
Catalog,
NE 68023;
330-549-9861.
PEACEFUL
CREEK
PO Box 83, Williams,
541-846-7357.
GARDENS,
OR 97544;
Catalog,
Catalog,
free.
530-272-4769.
Dr., PO Box 22960, Rochester,
Catalog,
SEED
EXCHANGES
THE
AMERICAN
HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY,
SELECTED
Foss Hill Rd., Albion,
SEEDS,
ME 04910;
Catalog,
7931 Alexandria
SEED
CO.,
Catalog,
VA 22308;
free,
OF CHANGE,
WI 53957;
SOUTHERN
free.
EXPOSURE
PO Box 170, Earlysville,
VA 22936;
804-973-4703.
Catalog,
$2.
TERRITORIAL
SEED
COMPANY,
Grove,
Catalog,
OR 97424;
free.
GARDENING
180 Flynn Ave., Burlington,
802-863-1308.
SEED
EXCHANGE,
541-942-9547.
ASSOCIATION,
free.
Catalog,
PO Box 157, Cottage
free.
335 S. High St., Randolph,
800-247-5864.
Dr., Alexandria.
703-768-5700.
NATIONAL
J.W. JUNG
Catalog,
888-762-7333.
City, CA 94064.
$1.
207-437-4301.
SUPPLY,
free.
SEEDsMAN,
PO Box 1058, Redwood
JOHNNY:S
FARM
PO Box 15700, Santa Fe, NM 87506;
NY 14692,800-514--4441.
HUDSON,
VALLEY
$1.
SEEDS,
60 Saginaw
,
Rd.,
PO Box 2209, Grass Valley, CA 95945;
SEEDS
HARRIS
Catalog,
Range
Lima, OH 44452;
$2.
GOODWIN
J.L.
CO,
SD 57079;
PO Box 1780, Ogdensburg,
800-871-8158.
VT 05401;
free.
MELLINGER'S,2310W.South
THE
IA 52101;
CT 06076;
A.M.
Catalog,
Rd., Decorah,
SC 29647;
BRANCH,
PO Box 1330, Flowery
EXCHANGE,
Winn
CO., INC,
$2.
FLOWERY
SAVERS
Catalog, $3.
York, Prince Edward
s.c., Canada
SEED
3076 North
BLUM,
180 Stickney
VESEY'S
free.
Island,
SEED
PO Box 5, Route 7, Charlotte,
KY 42041;
SEEDS,
MA
ext. 3402.
Catalog, free.
802-425-3500.
SEEDS,
FLORABUNDA
ME 04260;
Ave., Greenwood,
VERMONT
free.
Catalog,
2M7. Catalog,
L9H
$2.
NE 68117;
PO Box 488, Fulton,
Rd., Framingham,
SEEDS,
PO Box 548, Buffalo, NY 14240;
Ont., Canada
Catalog,
800-283-6400.
SEEDS
STOKES
CO,
6011 'N' St., Omaha,
FERRY-MORSE
W. PARK
860-482-3638.
CT 06109;
Catalog,
SEED
GEO.
30 Irene St., Torrington,
free.
PO Box 8400, Dundas,
800-858-2580.
$3.
SEEDS,
6M 1.905-628-6641.
DEGIORGI
OH
& CO.,
263 Main St., Wethersfield,
WILLIAM
LA 12 7PB,
Ridge Rd., Athens,
FLOWER
HC 33, Idaho City Stage, Boise, ID 83706;
PLANTS,
45701; 614-592-4043.
WILD
180 Hemenway
Catalog, free.
800-528-3658.
1229 581137.Catalog
7247 N. Coolville
THE
free.
Cumbria
ENGLAND
SOCIETY,
319-382-5990.
1 Parkton
SEEDS,
COMPANION
GARDEN
800-845-3369.
Stile, Ulverston,
England;
PA 18974;
SEEDS,
28607; 800-825-54
OH 44663;
Catalog, free.
207-926-3400.
7. Cata log, free.
CAROLINA
NEW
Box 300, New Gloucester,
& CO.,
300 Park Ave., Warminster,
800-888-144
PINETREE
$2.
BURPEE
CO,
01701; 508-877-7630
MI 48836;
517-223-3581.Catalog,
SEED
PO Box 806, New Philadelphia,
ALPINES,
PO Box 857, Fowlerville,
Bortree
LIBERTY
SUPPLIES
WALT
VT 05401;
NICKE'S
36 McLeod
GARDEN
TALK,
La., PO Box 433, Topsfield,
01983.Catalog,51.
MA
t: lV{ D l~ ~.;..
'/
GUIde ,t£l:"'P@iJf'enJ)l!rais"
. _. ,-
,'.'~ ~~;,:_ ·:-;}~,";::t1:;F~~·<)'~;(-:
-;'::'"
.,..-,
adapted from Garden Design I1Iy§lfat§d, Grant and Grant
.'...::-
--
:.~.
,: -
.
'
Group I: Plantswhichspread"wid}yandirieed
fn,qMf~r~i~i~~~;~~~Planting,
preferablyev(~rY·~~,~.·.Ar: least every
other year. Space 6-8 inchesapartvLeave
15-20 inchesbetweengtyHP$·
Achillea spp. (yarrow)
Artemisia lactiflora (white
mugwort
Aster spp. (notA. amellus hybrids)
Boltonia asteroides
Eupatorium spp. (Joe Pye.weed)
Helenium autumnale (common
sneezeweed)
Helianthus spp. (sunflower)
Lysimachia punctata (loosestrife)
Primula hybrids JmdA$il):tic spp.
Ranunculus spp. (buttercup)
Rudbeckia spp. (gloriosa daisy)
Sold agio (goldenrod)
Group ll: Plants which spread more slowly are divide~.everyf,(j)ui"or five years. SpaG~~;.
Aconitumsoo. (monkshood)
4nemo1J:ejap@njcq·.·.
Armenia spp.
Artemesia ludovicicma albula
'Silver King' •.
Astilqf:hSPP.(false spiraea)
Bn;n1era ..macrophylla
Ciiilpanuia persicifolia (peachleafed bluebell)
Catananche cqerulea (cupid's
dart)
.
Centaurea macrecephala.
Chrysanthemum maximum (Shasta
<tJ;J.:ifi).
daisy) .. >,"
Delphini4lilhybri~
.
Dianthus hybrids-(pinks)
.';'pps'12-IK
inches apart,
fW/triimintJ
··:>;i.fJe~0~d's
Doronicu ......•
,
ll~e).·.
Ech inapf!(/puf1}'u:ea' (p\lrple·,,·. .
coneflower)-'ii'
...•.. .
Filipendulavitlgdris
Gaillardia grandifloro (blanket
flower)
.
Geum spp.
Heliopsis helianthoides
Hemerocallis spp.(~p.ylil~)
Heupherq~pp.(cori1n~~JIs)
.:fiq~tq;~RRp€plan~in lily)
Iris spp.··"·';
Linum spp. (flax)
Lychnis spp.
Macleaya cordata (plume poppy)
E.~lox'hybrids
.•.......•........
..•..
Polemonium caerul~m (Jacoh's
ladder) .".
. •...•••..•.......
>.> •••
!
{(9terzt:i11q/§Pl?· .( C.iP.9H~~qi,I.1,.
'..>"'.
.••,.,., ·····'d[t)··
g'dqisy)
;;\+'~*'hf\'.) .fliri6's .ears)
j ••
,"is"(Stokesaster)
Tradescantia virginiana
(spiderwort)
Veronica spp. (speedwell)
Vio!aspp. (viol~and violets)
Group ill: Plants which spread slowly or resent moving and areQ6stI~~undistur~f()r'Sjgnt'9f~t~n
Y~~~~J ..~re.
the plarits at least 3 feet apart. Usefillerplants betweent;bem.until·tb!1,y~chmature
·siie~"·"·{·.:;)·;;;,[.;,@~t;y
.....+'~.-
Anchusa azurea (forget-me-not)
.: Baptisia australis (false indigo)
.-:<'i#.~fgeriacordifolia
''f#gllirrhoeifrvolucrata (poppy
'. i'I1IY!P.w)
.'.,.: •...•..
CenireyzthusruAca(red valerian)
Clematis, bush types
.
Dicentra spp. (bleedinghean)
Dictam,rasalbus(gasplant)
Echinops exaltus (globe thistle)
Eremurus spp. (foxtail lily)
EryflfI,l¥§J.pmethystium (sea holly)
Galegad}ficinalis (goat's rue)
.,~.-'·;:i:\·8k{lf~~::?,;
."
Geranium
Gypsophl
.:·')' .....•...
.., .
.. rea'th
'-:,"?:::HellebQru;.~pp.:,~
..:';"~'/'
Hi biscus.'W9~ciu/yiOs.i"Y
Kniphofia uvaria(red-hot poker)
Liatris spicdtq(gayfeather)
Limonium latifolium
Lupinus spp. (lupine)
Lythrum virgatum (loosestrife)
Mertensia spp. (bluebells)
Oenothera spp. (evening primrose)
Ophiopogon, Liriope spp. (1ilyturf)
.b.
"- -.--~..
-:>:<)-':':/
, '.
Set
.P~:;:~h~:';~i~:
·····';ri~~f~!~~~!*~~,!;SSian
P~lygonaturnspp. '(Solo~on's
seal)
'Sedum spectabile
Sidalceamalvijlora'( Checkerbloom) .
-Thalictrum spp. (meadow rue)
Thermopsis caroliniana
Trollius spp. (globe f1bwer)
-··------Piani-~rowns
of many perennials may be cut apart to form new plants.
One of the most important methods for propagating plants at-home is crown division. Herbaceous plants such as
chrysanthemum, daylily, peony and iris can be divided by this method. Other plants for division are listed in
Table 2. Some woody shrubs that branch or sucker from the base can also be reproduced by this method. It is
simple and reliable.
As a general role, plants that flower in spring and early summer should be divided in late summer or fall. Those
flowering in summer and fall should be divided in early spring before new growth begins.
For crown division, plant clumps should be carefully lifted and some soil removed from the roots. The crown
may then be cut into sections with a knife (Figure 7). Individual shoots that contain roots may be used to form
new plants. or if a larger plant is desired, several shoots may be left together. In large, old crowns, it is often best
to discard the older, center portions and replant the young, more vigorous shoots that have developed on the
edges of the clump.
.
f
Shrubs may be divided in the same manner, but when the plants are dormant, Because they are often woody,
they may need to be separated with a shovel or hatchet Trim back the shoots before planting and cut off
damaged roots. Some shrubs that may be divided include red osier dogwood, summersweet clethra, deutzia,
euonymus, hydrangea, kerria, spirea and snowberry.
Table 2
.
Common garden perennials suitable for division and the best time for division
•
Aster (hardy)
Spring
•
Phlox
Spring
•
Baptisia (false Indigo)
Sprlng or fall
•
•
Bleeding heart
Late summer, early spring
•
•
Chrysanthemum
Spring
~
Primula
Summer
Red-hot poker (kniphofia)
Spring
Rudbeckla
Spring or fall
•
Columbine
March
Coneflower (echinacea)
Spring or fall
•
Coreopsis
Spring
•
Shasta daisy
Spring
•
Vinca (myrtle)
Earty spring
•
•
•
Dayljly
. Late summer, spring
.,
Sedum (stonecrop)
Spring, July, August
Sempervivum (houseleek)
Spring, summer
•
Delphinium
Early spring
•
Yarrow (achiliea)
Late summer, spring
•
Fems
Early spring
•
Yucca
Spring or fall
•
Hosta (plantain lily)
Spring or fall
•
Iris, bulbous (Dutch)
late summer, fall
•
Iris, rhizomatous
July, August
•
llif>, fibrous (Japanese)
Spring
•
Uly
Fall
•
lily of the valley
Fall
•
loosestrife
Spring
•
Oriental poppy
July, August
•
Pampas'prass
Spring
•
Peony
Early fall
(German)
(Iythrum)
---~-.-
----------
..
PLANT
PROPAGATION
I. Sexual Propagation of
Plants
A. Propagation by seed
1. Purchasing seed
2. Collecting seed
a. Harvesting
seed
2. Storing seed
3. Germination of
~eed
a. Scarification
of seed
2. Stratification
of seed
4. Sowing seeds
indoors
a. Growing
media
2. Containers
3. Sowing seed
4. Care of
seedlin~
started
indoors
5. Sowing seed
directly into the
garden
15.
Spores
L Collecting
2. Germinating
n, Asexual Propagation of
Plants
A.
2.
3.
4.
s.
6.
7.
8.
Cuttings
1. Stem cuttings
2. Leaf cuttings
3. Root cuttings
4. Softwood and
hardwood·
cutting§.
Layering
Divisions
Bulbs and corms
Tubers and rhizomes
Grafting
Budding or bud
grafting
M cropropagation or
tissue culture
m. Plant
Patents
" r-- , .,
-,,-.r-J \.........,
t/f<C)Y~A-1
s
Spores fall from the fronds
as they dry out
'I-J~
.\t \ -t..o
lCIy
r-.tes
Bergenia rhizome with two shoots.
Note the remains of the old leaf
bases still attached
A light paper covering prevents
contamination from 'weed' spores or dust
Dormant buds lie concealed amongst
the leaf bases
Small pods of paper tissue
prated the surface of the .
compost during sterilisalion
..
,:ti'--,
~
After sterilisation the pots
are stored in plastic bogs until
they ore sown
"'.
.'._.I;~;:· ":~
~
~
-,
Fern spores are lightly sprinkled over
the surface of the sterilised compost
~
fJ
The pots, sown with fern spores, are
kept in a shaded, moist atmosphere,
while the spores germinate and
develop
'.~. ~
Some perennial plants can be propagated from their rhizomes. These
TOot-like stems, sometimes entirely subterranean, sometimes spreading over the soil
surface, contain nodes andbuds, and are naturally inclined to produce roots abundantly.
They can be used to produce new plants if cut into sections, each of which contains at least
one bud. The two shoots can be cut off and used as cuttings. The remainder of the rhizome
can then be sliced up into sections which should be set, right way.up, into a gritty cutting
compost. Dormant buds hidden amongst theleaJbaseswill then grow out toform shoots
whic/; develop into new plants.
.