What is Seed Stratification?
I have tried to start different types of fruit trees without much success. I mean, I was really getting angry at my inability to do so as I generally have a green thumb. After several failed attempts and then one accidental that worked, I decided I should do some research. The answer is stratifying your seeds. That turns out to be what I had accidentally done that worked.
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In terms of seed starting it is a process of simulating a natural condition to allow the seeds to germinate. Many seeds have an embryonic phase that must be started for them to germinate.
Seed embryos will develop after the seed goes dormant. The cold temperatures trigger dormancy in seeds. Without triggering dormancy, the seeds are unlikely to sprout.
There are pros and cons to doing about anything. Let’s start with the cons of cold stratifying seeds. It is time consuming to refrigerate or cold water stratify.
Another con is the trial and error of trying to figure out which method works best for you. If you do the natural method of stratification, then it may take time to allow the seeds to come up and start growing.
The main pro to cold stratification is that you can allow nature to do the work for you. You can also control when your seeds germinate, and the time that you will plant the seedlings. By doing cold stratification you can decide how many and the types of seeds you want to grow.
Not all seeds require stratification. The ones that do are generally those of the tree species.
I have listed the more common edible fruit trees and their requirements. If you are growing a stone fruit such as peach, then the seed needs to be carefully removed to start.
It is much harder for the germinating plant to make its way through the hard shell.
If you are trying to stratify and grow a nut bearing tree you should not remove the shell from the nut. Place the whole shell and nut into the material for stratification.
The maple trees are not a nut producing breed as the trees, but they are definitely needed for maple syrup. Red and silver maple ripen in the spring and do not require stratification as the rest of the maple species do.
The maple produces “helicopter blades” that drop from the trees, and that is where the seeds are at.
To properly stratify the maple seeds need to be in cold temperatures of 33 to 41 degrees for 40 to 90 days. Once the seeds start to sprout, they are ready to plant. The seed does not need to be removed from the pod that it is in to grow.
Some of the more common plants and flowers need cold stratification. Nature tends to do the work for you, but if you are looking into starting your own or wanting to move your flower bed around, then you will want to know which seeds or plants you should cold stratify.
With the flowers listed here it is easier and more guaranteed to allow nature to do the work and plant in the fall as recommended and then just wait for your beds to look beautiful in the spring.
This is not a complete list of seeds that need stratifying. Be sure to research your species before you start them in case of a different method that is needed to germinate them.
To cold stratify seeds, you must subject the seeds to cold and moist temperatures. You can use soil, sand, or wet paper towels to keep the seeds moist and in the cold.
There are a few ways to cold stratify your seeds. Any way that you choose is fine for starting seeds as long as you allow plenty of time in the right temperatures. It is important to use sterile soil for planting so that you do not introduce fungi or disease to the seeds.
There are different methods you can do to stratify your seeds: outside directly into the soil, cold water stratification, and refrigerator stratification. Any of these will work, and you will figure out which you prefer to use to start your seeds.
Think about the way nature grows trees. The seeds fall from the trees and lay in the soil and leaf debis. When winter comes, the cold temperatures do a natural stratification allowing the seeds to germinate.
You can plant your seeds directly into the soil outdoors in the fall. Simply scrape back the soil some, or dig an appropriate-sized hole. Lightly cover the seed and water lightly, and then wait. You also have the option of sowing your seeds in the winter.
This is probably the easiest way to stratify your seeds. Simply spread the seeds out directly onto the snow and you are done! The seeds can be planted directly in the ground where you wish for them to grow. Be sure to mark the location so you know where to find them the following spring.
Another way to stratify outdoors is to plant in a pot of soil, and place outside during the winter. This is how I accidentally grew a peach tree, go me. Be sure to water the seed after planting and placing it outdoors.
Also, make sure the planted seed is where it will be sure to be exposed to the cold. With planting and starting your seed in a pot you will know where your seedling is, and you can transplant it in the spring to its final location.
This process is the quickest way to stratify your seeds. Using cold water to stratify your seeds is easy, but it does require daily water changes.
To cold water stratify put the seeds in a jar or container, then add cold water. Place a net or cloth of some sort to drain and filter the water from the jars, and leave the seeds.
Add cold water back to the jar, then store the jar in the refrigerator until you change the water the next day.
The refrigerator can be used to stratify your seeds. This is a simple process, but it does require you to do some work over time.
Step 1. Clean the seeds of any debris or of remaining fruit pieces.
Step 2. Allow the seeds to dry.
Step 3. Place the seeds in a glass or plastic container with a lid. I used cleaned baby food jars.
Step 4. Mix the seeds with moist paper towels, sand, or peat moss.
Step 5. Place the lid onto the container.
Step 6. Store in the refrigerator for the allotted time to simulate stratification per species growing:
Step 7. In early spring, plant the germinating seeds outside in moist soil. The seeds should be buried no more than two to three times the length of the seed itself. Do not fertilize the soil.
The idea is to keep the seeds cold, but not frozen. Freezing the seeds does not harm them, but it is the constant coldness and changes that cause the seed to break down and germinate. Freezing the soil and the seed is just that… frozen. There are no changes happening when it is frozen solid.
Another important thing to remember is to not over water the soil. The soil only needs to be moist. Over watering will cause the seeds to mold or rot.
Another thing to consider to speed the process up is to soak the seeds in water for six to twelve hours before starting the stratification. The seeds need to absorb some moisture to enable the changes that must take place for germination.
I have tried to stratify inside and outdoors. I was more successful with the outdoor stratification. A plus for planting outdoors is that you can plant the seed and then forget about it.
If doing so indoors, you will need to keep an eye on the date that you planted to be sure that you plant in the soil to allow the seed to grow into the plant. It is very important to remember to check the soil and seeds to be sure that they are moist for the stratification to occur.
Sarah Rodriguez is a homesteading wife and mother of five living in Appalachia. She grew up in a homesteading and logging family.
She and her husband Arnie work their 10-acre homestead together alongside their growing family. Sarah honed her self-reliance skills through 4-H and FFA at an early age and is now teaching her children to live off the land, raise livestock, and the importance of both sustainability and frugality.
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What is Seed Stratification?
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