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Trickben.com » Self-Development » What is seed stratification and how to carry it out at home

What is seed stratification and how to carry it out at home

26 Jan 2024, 12:02, parser
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What is seed stratification

The seeds of some crops may not hatch during standard home sowing. To germinate, they need to go through a natural cycle, when they winter in frozen ground or under a layer of snow, and in spring, with an increase in temperature, they become saturated with moisture, shed their hard shell and release a sprout.

Stratification is an imitation of natural conditions, which allows to accelerate the germination of seed germs. They need to be saturated with moisture, placed in the cold at a temperature from 0 to 5 ° C and wait for them to hatch.

Which seeds need to be stratified

Pay attention to the packaging with seeds: usually the manufacturer himself writes about the need for the procedure and indicates the approximate period of stratification.

Flower seeds (for example, lavender, aquilegia, delphinium), two-year-old vegetables (onions, celery, parsley, carrots), strawberries, as well as stone crops (apricot, peach, cherry and others) are mainly needed for cold testing. Each species requires a different time of artificial wintering.

The name of the culture Stratification period, days
Lavender 30–40
Aquilegia 30
Delphinium 30
Clematis 30–90
Phlox 60–120
Carnation 30–60
Cornflower 30–60
Primrose 10–15
Strawberries 20–30
Onion, celery, parsley, carrots 20
Apple tree, honeysuckle, maple, sea buckthorn 30
Rosehip, mountain ash, bird cherry 120–180
Apricot, peach, pear, Chinese lemongrass 90
Cherry 150–180
Plum, cherry plum 120–180

How to prepare seeds for stratification

Pour the seeds into a small container, such as a glass. For each crop or variety, use a separate dish and do not forget to sign it so as not to get confused. Fill the seeds with water so that the liquid covers them by about 1 cm. Leave to soak for a day at room temperature.

Frame: Procvetok / YouTube

After that, discard the seeds on a sieve or gauze to drain the excess liquid, and proceed to stratification.

How to stratify seeds at home

You will need river sand, peat or coconut substrate. Properly moisten the selected component with water, and then squeeze with your hands to drain the excess liquid. Mix the seeds with one of the substrates in a ratio of 1 : 3. Place the lump in a piece of damp cloth and tie the edges of the material with an elastic band.

Frame: Procvetok / YouTube

Put the package in a plastic container, put a piece of paper with the name of the culture in the same place and cover it with a lid.

Frame: Procvetok / YouTube

Instead of manipulating the substrate, a simplified version can be used. Wrap the seeds in a damp cloth, pack them in small zip‑fastener bags and put them in a plastic container with a lid.

Frame: Igor Bilevich / YouTube

Place the jars of seeds in the refrigerator: on the bottom shelf or in a special compartment for storing vegetables and fruits. A cellar is also suitable if the temperature is maintained there from 0 to 5 ° C. Every week, unwrap the bundles and check the seeds: as soon as they hatch, you can complete the stratification process and proceed to sowing.

While the seeds are wintering, make sure that the substrate and fabric are always moist. If necessary, spray them with water from a spray bottle.

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