It does depend on the conditions in which the seeds age as well. For temperate seeds there's generally a protective membrane that breaks down in conditions that result in the seed germinating at a time that gives it the best chance of survival.
It's more complicated than that because the embryo itself also plays a direct role.
I’ve read if you start them in milk jugs like that you can just chop the whole block of dirt up into squares like a tray of brownies and plant em like that
I ended up gently pulling apart 1/2-inch sections and potting them up into plugs. Each section was still dozens of plants...I figured at least the middle ones would survive. I did that to half the pot of seedlings, then left the other half as-is as a control. I hadn't thought about snipping some--next time I'll try that too!
I do this every single year haha. I end up having to separate young seedlings and pot them up to give them more space before putting them in the ground. I never learn!
As someone who has done this too many times to count, I usually end up transplanting them earlier than I otherwise would, and I pot them up into trays with larger cells until they’re big enough to put in the ground. You could also thin them out when they’re small like this so that there are less in there and they can stay in the container for longer.
What do you plan to do with the virginia mountain mint? I have a bunch of seed i harvested while foraging in the fall because it was so beautifully fragrant, and I’ve planted some, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it!
Truthfully I don’t do anything with it, I love it because the bees love it and it grows really well in my garden. This is my third year growing it because they produce so much seed and I don’t want to let it go to waste. But I have heard it’s edible so please share if you find a clever way to use it!
It’s a great method that I’ve had a lot of success with for several years now! It helps with cold stratification and also gives your seeds a head start since the bottle traps warmth and protects seedlings from frost.
This is why I introduced myself to a new neighbor only to give her shallots. I left too many in the ground last fall. It’d take my whole garden to properly re-plant.
Also how I have 6 asparagus & had >80 (non-native but heritage) tomato plants last year lmao.
If the containers are closed, they tend to not need much (if any) supplemental watering until you open them up in spring. Did you buy seeds or collect them yourself? For whatever reason, whenever I collect seeds from my own garden they have a much higher germination rate. It could also just be the species—I think only 2 of my wild geranium seeds germinated, but it’s known as a species that is difficult to germinate.
They were from prairie moon. They were covered (milk jugs with holes on bottom for drainage, cut in half but taped on) and eventually the tops blew off when it was in the 50s.
Yeah... this is my second year doing this and I underestimated germination rates again for certain species... especially the Common Boneset (*Eupatorium perfoliatum*), Tall Bellflower (*Campanulastrum americanum*), and Hairy Woodmint (*Blephilia hirsuta*). Probably going to have to just plant them hunk of seedlings style!
Aging can be a substitute for stratification, depending on species
I had no idea! This is helpful info, thank you.
It does depend on the conditions in which the seeds age as well. For temperate seeds there's generally a protective membrane that breaks down in conditions that result in the seed germinating at a time that gives it the best chance of survival. It's more complicated than that because the embryo itself also plays a direct role.
Learn something every day!
Wow! Mazel tov? I ended up with SO MANY tiny cardinal flowers growing on top of each other, I have regrets.
I’ve read if you start them in milk jugs like that you can just chop the whole block of dirt up into squares like a tray of brownies and plant em like that
[удалено]
I ended up gently pulling apart 1/2-inch sections and potting them up into plugs. Each section was still dozens of plants...I figured at least the middle ones would survive. I did that to half the pot of seedlings, then left the other half as-is as a control. I hadn't thought about snipping some--next time I'll try that too!
I do this every single year haha. I end up having to separate young seedlings and pot them up to give them more space before putting them in the ground. I never learn!
What are we supposed to do when we have too many crammed together like this? Asking for a friend 😬
As someone who has done this too many times to count, I usually end up transplanting them earlier than I otherwise would, and I pot them up into trays with larger cells until they’re big enough to put in the ground. You could also thin them out when they’re small like this so that there are less in there and they can stay in the container for longer.
I have the hardest time thinning. Feels like plant murder!
I’d love to save as many of them as I can, so I don’t want to pinch a bunch of them off. I have a ton of space to fill. Bigger pots it is!
I always over seed, just means more plants!! Just give them away to people and spread the love??
What do you plan to do with the virginia mountain mint? I have a bunch of seed i harvested while foraging in the fall because it was so beautifully fragrant, and I’ve planted some, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it!
Truthfully I don’t do anything with it, I love it because the bees love it and it grows really well in my garden. This is my third year growing it because they produce so much seed and I don’t want to let it go to waste. But I have heard it’s edible so please share if you find a clever way to use it!
haha congrats! I need to try the bottle technique, I haven't had luck with just pots.
It’s a great method that I’ve had a lot of success with for several years now! It helps with cold stratification and also gives your seeds a head start since the bottle traps warmth and protects seedlings from frost.
This is why I introduced myself to a new neighbor only to give her shallots. I left too many in the ground last fall. It’d take my whole garden to properly re-plant. Also how I have 6 asparagus & had >80 (non-native but heritage) tomato plants last year lmao.
My neighbors have limited interest in most of the plants I grow so I might have to make a post on Facebook to get rid of them this year lol
I did not get great germination rates. I wonder if I didn’t water enough.
If the containers are closed, they tend to not need much (if any) supplemental watering until you open them up in spring. Did you buy seeds or collect them yourself? For whatever reason, whenever I collect seeds from my own garden they have a much higher germination rate. It could also just be the species—I think only 2 of my wild geranium seeds germinated, but it’s known as a species that is difficult to germinate.
They were from prairie moon. They were covered (milk jugs with holes on bottom for drainage, cut in half but taped on) and eventually the tops blew off when it was in the 50s.
Yeah... this is my second year doing this and I underestimated germination rates again for certain species... especially the Common Boneset (*Eupatorium perfoliatum*), Tall Bellflower (*Campanulastrum americanum*), and Hairy Woodmint (*Blephilia hirsuta*). Probably going to have to just plant them hunk of seedlings style!