Growing from Seed
What is a seed?
matured ovule
What is a fruit?
matured ovary
What is the purpose of seeds? variability of offspring dispersal of offspring away from parent survival of plant through difficult conditions
How is growing from seed different?
variability of seed-propagated plants
Advantages? easy little equipment lots of plants!
Cotoneaster microphyllus
Disadvantages? variability! viability germination?
The purpose of flowering is to produce seeds
Arbutus unedo Compacta
Araucaria araucana
Seed production is the goal!
Annual
Perennial
Shrub
Tree
Fertilization
Pollen grains
Pollen tube
Ovule Ovary
Embryo: develops from union of egg and sperm Radicle: embryonic root Epicotyl/hypocotyl: embryonic shoot Endosperm: oil and carbohydrate storage Seed Coat: mostly dead, hard tissue Protection from being crushed
Seed Dormancy
Prevents germination under poor conditions
Caused by: (1) hard seed coat (2) immature embryo (3) chemical inhibitors in seed and fruit
Rosa rugosa
Dormancy is rare in domesticated species
Wild-collected seed may require pre-treatment
Overcoming Dormancy
Annual plants: temperature most important
In other plants Time (2):
embryo maturity warm/cold/moisture
Stratification (1,3)
cold/moisture
Scarification (1)
Ilex sp.
breaking seed coat
Stratification
Usually 60-90 days
Best at 35-40oF, moist Protect from critters!
Always leave room to expand!
Scarification
Artificially breaking down the seed coat
Mechanical
Hot water
Put
in ~200oF H20 Allow to soak overnight Sow soon, keep moist
Mechanical scarification
Germination
Conditions for germination:
Light
light requirement no light requirement increase in seed size
varies widely compacted, or waterlogged soil
Moisture
Temperature
Oxygen
frozen,
Cotinus coggygria
Germination
Occurs as the result of:
swelling of the endosperm rupture of seed coat by emerging root emergence of the shoot
Germination aids
Hormonal
Gibberellic acid: GA3
Instant smoke
Collecting Garden Seeds
hybrid seed no good Time of ripeness usually autumn
Pick before the critters
fleshy fruits nut-like seeds dry capsules conifers
Clean and dry seed as soon as possible
Cleaning seeds
Fruit may inhibit the germination process
Sugar content of fruit
Inhibits H2O uptake
Chemical inhibition
Quince
Viability and storage
Seeds with thin coats lose viability quickly Nut-like seeds lose viability quickly, too
Horsechestnut, chestnut, oak, walnut
Temperature:
Best is 30-40oF should be low store in sealed containers for long term
Humidity:
Seed Viability Test
Priming seed
convinces seed that moisture conditions o.k.
4 hours is usually sufficient to imbibe seed
Discard water Not beans/corn!
Seed media selection
Minimum 3 deep pot
Seeding density
Annuals: Commercial mix Wild seed: 2 parts peat/coir 1 part perlite (grit)
Longer germination
Seed media selection
Mosses and liverworts love moisture/acidity
Growing under plastic or in shade is worse
Short germination time
pretreatment
Seed covering
pumice or other grit
Light systems
Avoid incandescent white fluorescent
Cool
Hang lights low covers after germination
Remove
Transplanting
Annuals/perennials when large enough to handle
minimizes growth reduction
Trees/shrubs/bulbs: less important
sow thinly, liquid feed, transplant after 2-3 yrs?
handle by leaves
lift from under root avoid J root root pruning
Transplanting
Planting depth: depends on growth habit
Growing point at tip of stem Plants which form a rosette
Tomato: below soil line Petunia: at soil line
Direct seeding
When short season is not an issue
or when row covers are added cool season: carrot, beet, pea, turnip
Warm season crops
beans, melons, corn soil temp 70oF
Cover with grit
Resources
OSU Extension Service Publications [Link]
Publications and Videos
PNW 170 Propagating plants from seed FS 220 Collecting and storing seeds from
your garden
[Link] click on Gardening Hints
Most complete reference for seed
Resources
Practical woody plant propagation for nursery growers,
B. MacDonald, Timber Press, 1986.
Garden Flowers from seed,
C. Lloyd and G. Rice, Timber Press, 1991.
American Hort Society Plant propagation,
A. Toogood, D.K. Press, 1999.
The reference manual of woody plant propagation
M. Dirr and C. Heuser, Timber Press, 2009
