Propagation Of Plants By Seed
by John Yazo
Plant propagation by the method of seed is also known as sexual plant propagation and propagation by cuttings, division, grafting and layering is known as an asexual method of plant propagation. Propagation by seed is the least expensive, easiest and quickest way to produce a large amount of plants quickly.
Propagation by seed is a method that is a essential part of heirloom gardening. The seeds are open pollinated and are saved year after year from that years parent plant. This helps to create for a healthier plant when good organic gardening practices are used. Planting from the same plant generation after generation helps to strengthen the plant, making it healthier and better adoptable to the area.
The proper care needs to be taken when harvesting and storing the seeds. The seeds need to be saved from the healthiest plants to avoid disease from being carried to the next generation. When purchasing seeds each year the plants don't get the opportunity to adopt to the area that they are planted. Commercially sold seeds are produced under controlled conditions and it is very unlikely that the conditions are going to be the same in the garden that they get planted.
Once the seeds are harvested they need to be properly dried. If they are not dry before they are stored they will mold and rot. These seeds will no longer be any good for planting. The properly dried seeds then need to be stored in an airtight container and a then labeled. Most seeds will keep for up to five years.
When the time comes to start planting you should use the oldest seeds that you have stored first. If you have any doubt that the seeds are to old you can simply do a germination test on then. This is a simple test and can be done by soaking a few seeds and then placing them on a damp cloth in full sunlight and they should germinate in seven to fourteen days. You should always store more seeds than you need so if you have a year with a bad crop you wont run out and have to start all over from bought seeds.
Some seeds have a tough exterior shell and you can use a technique call scarification to help the seeds germinate. This can be done by two methods. The first is soaking the seeds for twenty four hours before planting to soften the exterior shell or by the second method of scratching or cracking the shell to allow moisture to penetrate the shell.
There are also other seeds that need to go through a low temperature change in order for them to break out of there dormant state. This period of going through this temperature change is known as stratification.
Wether
you are planning to start your seeds indoors at home or in a greenhouse, with
the proper potting soil
mix,
atmosphere and lighting propagation with
seeds is a simple and easy way to produce the plants you will need for
your gardens.
More on Plant Propagation
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