What is seed propagation?

† Seed propagation is growing plants from seed

„ DIY Transplants
Seed Propagation † Sowing seed in containers for eventual transplanting
into larger containers or the garden
The Propagation Series „ Direct sowing
“Seeds are the germ of life. A beginning and an end, the fruit of
† Sowing seed in its intended location (container or
yesterday’s harvest and the promise of tomorrow’s.” garden)

Orville L. Freeman, former Secretary of Agriculture

©2007 Angela Chandler Version 3.1 SLGC

All rights reserved February 2007

Why grow from seed? What is a seed?

1) Most common method of plant reproduction in † Seed is the product of
nature a completed sexual
2) Simple (compared to other methods) reproduction cycle of
3) Economical the parent plant
4) More variety
† Seed is the end result
5) Reduced risk for transmission of diseases
of successful
6) Easy transportation & storage
pollination - the union
7) Genetic diversity
of the egg (ovule) and
8) Available to gardeners of all ages & skill levels
sperm cell (pollen)
9) It’s fun!

Seed is made up of three basic parts A bean seed

† Seed coat (testa) Hilum – where the seed attaches to
the parent plant
Micropyle – the seed will absorb
† Young plant water through the micropyle and
(embryo) seed coat triggering germination

† Food supply
(cotyledons or
endosperm)
Plumule – infant leaves
Hypocotyl – infant stem
Radicle – infant root
Cotyledon – food supply; “seed leaves”

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The germination process Should you worry about dormancy?
† Resumption of active growth † Types of dormancy
† Three main steps in the process „ Morphological
„ Imbibation & activation „ Physical
„ Digestion & translocation „ Physiological
„ Germination „ Photo-dormancy
† Actually occurs when the radical breaks the seed coat
„ Multiple dormancies
† Proper conditions must be present
„ Moisture † Commercially available seed is often pre-treated to overcome
„ Light dormancy and will usually germinate without further pre-
„ Temperature treatment once optimum conditions for growth are introduced
„ Oxygen † Collected seed may need pre-treatment to break dormancy
† May occur immediately after seed maturity, or after a period „ Scarification
of dormancy „ Stratification

Scarification The hobby propagator can do this by…

† Altering the seed coat to allow for the † Scratching
penetration of water and air † Nicking
„ Used to break physical dormancy † Hot water
„ In nature… † Soaking in vinegar or acid
† Freeze-thaw cycles † Cracking slightly with a hammer
† Microbial changes
† Tumble in a rock tumbler with sharp sand
† Passing through the digestive tract of an animal
† Place in plastic container with half marbles
and shake

Stratification More on dormancy

† Pre-conditioning in a moist environment † You have learned some ways to break dormancy
„ Warm stratification „ Physical (scarification)
† Often used to break morphological dormancy „ Physiological (cold stratification)
† Place seeds between layers of moist paper towels, coffee filters,
„ Morphological (warm stratification)
milled sphagnum at approx 75deg F
„ Cold stratification † What about the other dormancies?
† Often used to break physiological dormancy „ Photo-dormancy
† Place seeds between layers of moist paper towels, coffee filters, † Period of intense light
milled sphagnum at approx 40deg † Period of total darkness
„ Replicates moist winter months in nature and may take several
months
„ Multiple dormancies

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Manipulating light
† Plants that require light to germinate can be
started under fluorescent or grow lights or
simply in a bright window (not direct sun)
† Seeds that require total darkness to germinate
can be placed in a dark closet or cabinet
Lighting is critical
† Some seeds require light to break dormancy
† After germination, all seedling growth will benefit
from proper lighting
„ Fluorescents or “Grow Lights”
„ 2” – 4” above top leaves
„ 18 hours light/6 hours dark
† Light = Photosynthesis (manufacture starches & sugars)
† Dark = Respiration (digest & utilize starches & sugars)

Water quality Pre-soaking

† Water quality can affect seed starting
„ Neutral pH
† Distilled water
† Rainwater
† Some seeds may require specific pH levels -
adjust from neutral
„ Too low: add a pinch of baking soda
„ Too high: add a few drops of vinegar
† Many seeds benefit from being soaked before
planting
„ Large seeds need a lot of water for imbibation
„ A few hours to overnight
„ Warm water
„ Depends on seed type
† Never soak beans or peas more than 2 hours
† Drain and pat them dry just before planting
„ Easier to handle dried seeds

Pre-sprouting Seed packets

† Pre-sprouting can be used to get a jump on † Packets describe:
„ Growing season
seasons „ Light requirements
† Place seeds between damp paper towels or in „ Pre-treatment
„ Planting depth
moist milled sphagnum „ Spacing (Thinning)
† Place in zippered plastic bag, but leave „ Days to germination
„ Time until transplant
slightly open „ Expected size
† Once the seeds have germinated, pot up or „ Description
„ Planting year
direct plant

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Direct sowing seeds in the garden Direct sowing seeds in the garden
† Make sure that seedbed is well prepared † Check soil temperature
„ Soil test „ Some seeds require specific soil temperatures for
† Nutrients, composition
germination
„ Large clumps of soils, aggregates may prevent good soil-
seed contact † Pre-treat if required
„ Add organic matter „ Presoak
† Soil texture should be conducive to root growth
† Soil must be able to hold moisture, but not remain saturated „ Pre-sprout
(moist, well-drained)
„ Treat legumes with inoculants
† Water well a day or two before planting
† Rhizobacteria which form nitrogen fixing nodules on the roots
„ Amend for annuals and vegetables
† These plants grow and use nutrients quickly † Sow seed to recommended depth

Direct sowing seeds in the garden Direct sowing seeds in the garden
† Cover seed † Keep evenly moist until seedlings are growing well
† Tamp to insure seed-soil contact † Very shallowly planted seeds may benefit from a soil
„ Cover seed with vermiculite if imbibation/germination has
been a problem in the past cover to insure even moisture until shoots break soil
† Label „ Newspaper
„ Variety „ 1 x 4’s
„ Date „ Frost cloth laid directly on soil surface
„ Expected germination date
„ Mini-greenhouse if not sown in rows
† Water entire seedbed well † Cloche, milk jug, soda bottle
„ Settles soil around seed
„ Provides moisture for imbibation

Thinning seedlings DIY transplants - supplies

† It is a common practice to over-sow seed † Containers
„ Non-viable seed † Media
„ Losses to seed failure, birds, rodents, insects „ Potting
† Crowded seedlings must be thinned for healthy „ Covering
development † Seeds
† Recommended final spacing is an average † Water (distilled)
„ Remove less vigorous seedlings † Label
„ Thinning can be done in stages
† Pencil (dibble & labeling)
„ If seed has been broadcast in wide rows, first thinning can
be done with an iron rake

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Selecting containers Media - potting
† Length of time to transplant † Soil free, peat-
Should hold expected rootball size at first transplanting
„
based potting mix
† Individual seedling or community pot
„ Plants that ‘resent transplanting’ must be started in † Vermiculite
individual containers † Perlite
„ Plants that tolerate transplanting can be started in
community pots or flats † 50-50 mix
Transplant into individual containers after first set of true leaves
†
develops „ Perlite/vermiculite
† Containers must have sufficient drainage to prevent
saturation of media

Media - covering DIY transplants - process

† Most seed can be covered with the potting † Clean container
media „ 10:1 water to chlorine bleach
† Some seed can benefit from specialty covers † Fill container with moist media
„ Vermiculite – wicks moisture to surface keeping † Tamp media (firm, not packed)
seed moist; deters damping off
† Plant seed to recommended depth
„ Chick grit – deters damping off
„ Clay cat litter – deters damping off
„ Sterile sand – secures seed that is sown on surface

DIY transplants - process When to transplant

† Cover to depth recommended; or no more than 4x † When first true leaves appear
seed height
† Firm covering media around seed
† When leaves touch their neighbors
„ Imbibation cannot occur without moist media contacting
the seed
† Water
† Label
„ Variety
„ Date
„ Expected transplant date

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Handling seedlings Handling seedlings
† Never handle a seedling by the stem † Settle root ball into prepared hole
† Grasp the leaves † Firm around root ball with dibble
† Lift gently with dibble „ Insert dibble vertically near stem, pull toward
stem; repeat on four sides
† Support seedling as you
„ Firm around top of stem
move to the new pot
† Water in (Superthrive)
† Begin mild feeding with next watering

Hardening off Transplanting seedlings outdoors

† Thickening the cuticle – a waxy † Prepare bed or container
coating on the surface of the
plant’s “skin” † Harden off
† Brush leaf tops with hand, PVC † Look for a cloudy day or provide temporary
wand, old tool handle
„ Start when seedlings are very
shade
young † Water day before transplanting (Superthrive)
† Air movement
„ Fans on gentle settings † Plant same depth as container (with some
† Withhold water exceptions)
Don’t allow to reach PWP!
„
† Water in (Superthrive)

Reasons for failure What is Damping Off?

† Seed not viable † Broad term covering seedling death caused by
† Optimum conditions not met
† Incomplete imbibation
several soil borne fungi and diseases
„ Presoak † Stimulated to grow by nutrients released by
„ Soil contact
† Drying out during critical germination phase
the germinating seed
„ Pre-sprout † Cool wet soils favor damping off
„ Soil contact
„ Watering schedule † Can attack seedlings above or below soil line
† Damping off
„ Prevention is the best approach

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An ounce of prevention Is there a remedy?
† Prevention is the best control † Fatal to affected plants
„ Sterile or soil free media
„ Sterile cover † Fine mist of 1:20 hydrogen peroxide to water
† Cleanliness „ May control spread through the flat; will not save
„ Tools, sowing area affected plants
„ Soak seeds in 1tsp bleach/qt water for 15 minutes
† Control pH (5.5 – 7)
„ 1Tbs vinegar/gal water
† Water from bottom
† Provide air movement

Seed doesn’t have to come in

storebought packages!! Collecting seed is rewarding
† Seed offered for sale is limited
† Some plants available only as collected or shared
seed
† Some collected and shared seeds are heirloom, rare,
Collecting lotus seeds
or endangered varieties
† Learn to collect and store seed to sustain viability
„ Expand your personal gardening experience
Collecting prairie grass seed „ Participate in the rescue and restoration of special
discoveries

Keep it legal, keep it friendly You will need:

… Wildflowers … Gloves † Collection box
„ Do not collect wildflower seeds from public lands … Boots † Bottles/envelopes
„ Do not collect rare or endangered species … Drop cloths † White paper plates
† Join a group that is approved to do this responsibly
… Clippers † Sieve(s)
† Plants are propagated and new stands are established
in natural environment and wilderness areas … Paper bags † Drinking Straws
„ Collect no more than 10% of any stand … Old stockings † Journal
† Observe property rights … Surveyors tape
„ Many owners are pleased to share if you ask … GPS

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 Things to consider when collecting
Your most important tools… seed
… Observation … Health of parent plant
… Experience … Ease of overcoming dormancies
… Good reference material … Ripening and dissemination
… A willingness to study … Processing & preparation for storage
… The patience to journal … Storage periods

Health of parent plant Dormancy is an experience issue

† Weak, diseased, severely damaged, or pest
infested plants do not usually produce the
most vigorous seeds
† Pursue only if it is rare, endangered or an
heirloom
† Know the dormancy type of the seed
† Are you equipped to overcome that dormancy
and grow the seed?
† Are you prepared to study/experiment?
† Can you collect and store enough seed to meet
your learning curve?

When is it ‘ripe’? Signs of ripeness

… Look for changes in... † Fruit seed is often ripe when fruit is overripe
„ Color
„ Texture † Vegetable seed is often ripe when fruit is ripe
„ Sheen † Conifers are often ripe when cones fall
„ Moisture
† Seeds of many tropicals must be propagated
immediately after ripening
… Wildflower seed is often ripe when...
„ Dark
„ Dry
„ Hard

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Common dispersal methods Using natural dispersal
† Knowing a seed’s natural dispersal method Large nets are suspended below ripening seeds
will help you determine ripeness in the endangered rainforest
„ Wind
† Silken parachutes
† Wings or helicopters
„ Birds and animals
† Burrs, hooks, or tails
„ Pod mechanics
† Catapulting pods

Cleaning seed Cleaning seed

† Some seed is easy to † Other seed must be
separate from the pod ‘threshed’ from the pod
or shell „ Stomping
„ Clean by hand
„ Crushing with mallet or
† Some plants can be hammer
harvested and hung
upside down † Sieve after threshing to
„ Seed will fall as pods
separate seeds from
dry chaff

Storing seed Seed storage kits

Supplies Kits, complete with
† Small jars (film
desiccant packets, are
canisters, prescription
bottles, canning jars) available commercially
† Labels and markers
† Plastic container(s)
† Silica gel packets or
powdered milk & paper
towels

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How long will it remain viable? Increasing success
† Seeds can be stored a long time under perfect † Each 1% reduction in seed moisture content
conditions (down to 6% max) doubles seed life
„ Well dried † Each 10% decrease in temperature (down to
„ Stored in low humidity 32 deg F max) doubles seed life
„ Tight containers
„ Cool location
† They may remain viable for several years;
depends largely on variety

What determines longevity? Testing viability

… Little is known about the actual mechanism
that determines longevity
… Sensational claims often proven non-
scientific
… Cassia multijuga collected in 1776 viable in
1934
… Longest running experiment started in 1879
… Only one of 21 species remained viable after 100
years
† Place 10 seeds on dampened paper towel
† Place inside plastic bag
† Check in expected days to germination
† Count germinated seeds
† Divide that number by 10
† This is percent viable seed

Thank-you
† Go forth and propagate! † This is a copyrighted program
† Got questions?? † Permission must be obtained for use or
† Email: fortangela@aol.com reproduction of printed or electronic copies
† Angela Chandler 713-725-5555
† Email: fortangela@aol.com

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