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Seed Starting for the Vegetable Gardeng

Advanced MGV TrainingMike Maddox

Rock County UW-Extension

Plant Propagation

• Sexual Propagation– Recombination of genetic materials to form

uniquely genetic individual• Asexual Propagation• Asexual Propagation

– Use of vegetative organs to create plantlets genetically identical to parent plant

Propagation by Seed

• Biology– Pollination– Anatomy– Germination

• Applied– Purchasing– Starting– Transplanting– Collecting– Storing

Pollination

• Pollination: transfer of pollen from anther (male part) to stigma (female part) in a flower.

Exchange of genetic material– Exchange of genetic material

Pollination

• Self pollination: – Transfer on same flower – From different flowers on the same plant o

From flowers on different plants of the same– From flowers on different plants of the same cultivar

– Beans, peas, lettuce, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes

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Pollination

• Cross pollination: – Transfer of pollen on plants of different

cultivars of the same species– Onions cucumbers corn pumpkins squashOnions, cucumbers, corn, pumpkins, squash,

broccoli, beets, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, melons, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips

Pollination

• Fertilization – the union of a male reproductive cell and a

female reproductive cell that is capable of developing into an new individualp g

Anatomy

• Embryo: miniature plant in arrested development

• Endosperm (Cotyledons): built-in food storagestorage

• Seed Coat: hard out covering for protection, prevents water from entering and initiating germination before proper time.

Anatomy

Endosperm

Seed Coat

Embryo

Germination

• The process of seed growth and development

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Germination

• Dormancy– Viable seed that will not germinate when in

proper environment– Due to internal or external causeDue to internal or external cause

Germination

• Quiescent– Ripened seed, ready to germinate, waiting for

the proper environmental conditions for germinationsg

– Allows seed to survive over periods of time

Germination

• Scarification– Physically altering the seed coat to allow

moisture penetration– Natural scarification processes: passing seedNatural scarification processes: passing seed

through GI tract of animals, weathering of coat

– Artificial scarification processes: hot water bath, sandpaper, etc.

– Breaks seed coat allowing moisture to enter!

Germination

• Stratification– Exposing a seed to moisture and specific

temperatures (cold) in order to encourage germinationg

– Degrades chemical inhibitors causing dormancy

Germination

• Factors affecting germination– Water (moisture)– Light (or dark)

Oxygen– Oxygen– Heat

Germination

• Water (moisture)– Penetrates seed coat– Endosperm to swell- seed coat splits

Dissolves nutrients to initiate germination– Dissolves nutrients to initiate germination

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Germination

• Light (or dark)– Can stimulate or inhibit germination– Check seed package for planting instructions

Germination

• Oxygen– Required for respiration– Facilitated with light, well aerated soil mix

Germination

• Heat– Optimum range for germination– Many seeds have wide range

Check catalog or seed package for– Check catalog or seed package for instructions

– Drives metabolic process

Propagation by Seed

• Biology– Pollination– Anatomy– Germination

• Applied– Purchasing– Starting– Transplanting– Collecting– Storing

Purchasing Seed

• Choose superior cultivars

• High quality seed– Disease resistant

• Garden centers• Mail order

– Obtain by mid-February

cultivars when available

Purchasing Seed

• Germination rates– Expected percentage of seed to germinate– Generally, 65-80% will germinate

60 75% will grow into useful seedlings– 60-75% will grow into useful seedlings– May affect density of planting

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Starting

• Indoors– Small seeds– Long season plants

• Supplies neededSupplies needed– Grow lights– Clean containers (with drainage)– Sterile seed starting medium– Location with proper ventilation and

temperature

Starting

• Growing media– Loose, uniform, fine texture– Mixes labeled for seed starting

Pasteurized (sterile)– Pasteurized (sterile)– May be low in fertility

Starting

• Containers– Any container will do– Disinfested

Good drainage– Good drainage– Adequate root space

Starting

• Containers– Compressed peat pellets– Peat pots

Paper pots– Paper pots– Plastic cell packs– Flats

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Starting

• Sowing– Account for seed germination in timing factor

and growing time– 2 weeks to germinate 6 weeks to transplant2 weeks to germinate, 6 weeks to transplant

date - 8 weeks for full development time. – Sow in mid-March or April depending on plant

species and growing conditions

Starting

• Fill container to within ¼ inch of the top of the rim with moistened seed-starting medium

Starting

• Large seeds directly in pots or cell packs– Squash, cucumber, watermelon – 2 per pot– Use pencil or dibble to make hole for seeds

Cover with media related to seed size– Cover with media related to seed size

Starting

• Small seeds scatter on surface of large cell packs or other containers for later transplant

Sprinkle more potting media over seeds or– Sprinkle more potting media over seeds or sphagnum moss (sphagnum moss helps prevent damping off)

– Mix small seeds with sugar or extremely fine sand to help with equal distribution

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Starting

• Watering– Water from below in tray before seeds

germinate and when seedlings are very small– Allow drying between wateringsAllow drying between waterings

• Helps prevent damping-off– Standing water in flats leads to disease

problems– Don’t allow seedlings to wilt– Cell damage can occur that is permanent

Starting

• Moisture– Plastic covers are useful to trap moisture– Retains moisture

Remove to promote hardening of tissues– Remove to promote hardening of tissues

Starting

• Supplemental lighting– 3” – 4” from light source– Cool white and warm white fluorescent lights

Move lights as plants grow or move plants– Move lights as plants grow or move plants– 14 – 16 hours a day

• Timers are inexpensive and very useful– High intensity and quality light less leggy

plants

Starting

• Temperature– Nights 60 –68 F and 75 F

• Good rule of thumb-day temperatures 10 degrees warm than night.g

– Cool season crops cooler day/night temps• 55 degrees night – 65 degrees day

– Warm season crops higher day/night temps• 65 degrees night – 75 degrees day

– Heating mats

Starting

• Fertilization– After germination– Go ½ rate, avoid burn

Two week intervals– Two week intervals

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Starting

• Transplanting– Move to larger container when first set of true

leaves form– Lift seedlings from containers with small flatLift seedlings from containers with small flat

tool– Tease apart tangled plants/roots– Handle by true leaves

Starting

• Acclimation

Starting

• Acclimation– Plants must develop cuticle – Gradual exposure to “harsh” climates

Dry conditions wind light intensity etc– Dry conditions, wind, light intensity, etc.

Starting

• Direct sowing– Avoids transplant shock– Less work

More risk with weather pests disease– More risk with weather, pests, disease, erosion

Starting

• Direct sowing– Know conditions and requirements for seeds

• Warm- or cool-season crop• Average last frost dateAverage last frost date

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Starting

• Direct sowing– Sow or broadcast into a well-raked bed– Free of stones or large debris

Cover with a fine layer of soil– Cover with a fine layer of soil– Gently water to avoid erosion

Collecting

• Storing– Keep dry– Place in airtight container

Label and date– Label and date– Store in 40º F, low humidity

Collecting

• Open-pollinated: – A plant that will grow true to type each year– Offspring exactly like the parents

Heirlooms– Heirlooms• Hybrids:

– The first generation (F1) offspring of two distant and distinct parental lines of the same species

– Seeds taken from a hybrid may either be sterile or more commonly fail to breed true

Collecting

• Beans– Beans of all kinds are very popular heirloom

vegetables. – There are thousand of cultivars with hugeThere are thousand of cultivars, with huge

variations in taste, size, color and markings, and climate adaptability.

Collecting

• Beans– Beans are usually not cross-pollinated. – Separate plantings by enough distance to avoid

having their vines intertwine. – Allow the seed to thoroughly mature on the vine. – Pull the entire plant and place it in the shade to dry

out for one to two weeks. – Bring inside to finish drying if rain threatens. Shell and

store in a cool, dry area in a paper bag. – Bean and cowpea seeds will keep for three or more

years.

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Collecting• Corn

– All corn is wind-pollinated and will readily cross with other varieties.

– Varieties should be widely separated, from 600 feet to over half a mile to ensure purity. Y l d b b i th th t– You can also save seed by bagging the ears that you want to save for seed and hand-pollinating them, or by growing cultivars that will be separated by blooming time.

– You should always grow at least 200 corn plants in a large block when saving seed.

– Let the seed dry thoroughly on the plant and then dry further once husked. Seed lasts only one year.

Collecting

• Cucumbers and Melons– There are many different forms of cucumbers

that are rarely seen in stores. – Cucumbers are cross-pollinated by insectsCucumbers are cross-pollinated by insects.

So if you want to save cucumber seed, plant only one variety.

– Let the fruits hang on the vine until ripe (skin becomes yellowish and hard). Then handle like the process for tomatoes given below.

Collecting

• Lettuce– Cut off seed stalks when fluffy in appearance,

just before all the seeds are completely dried. – Seeds will fall off the stalk and be lost ifSeeds will fall off the stalk and be lost if

allowed to mature on the plant.

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Collecting

• Potatoes– Potatoes are popular heirloom vegetables.– There are many unusual colors, shapes and

flavors that are seldom found at the groceryflavors that are seldom found at the grocery store.

– Heirloom potatoes are saved from year to year as tubers, and so are very easy to maintain true to name.

Collecting

• Peppers, Sweet and Chili – Peppers are usually self-pollinating. – Insect cross-pollination does occur

sometimes and if it does hot bell pepperssometimes, and if it does, hot bell peppers can result, since the gene for hotness is dominant.

– If grown closer than 500 feet apart, plants must be caged or bagged to prevent spicy surprises in future years.

Collecting

• Peppers, Sweet and Chili – Peppers should be allowed to ripen until they become

red. – Cut the pepper pod in half and scrape the seed onto a

i fpiece of paper. – Spread out the seed and dry thoroughly before

placing in a storage container. – Wash your hands thoroughly with soapy water after

harvesting the pepper seeds, since the residues will burn eyes and lips for hours after contact.

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Collecting• Squash and Pumpkins

– Winter and summer squash and pumpkins are all related.

– Crossing readily occurs between varieties of the same species. N i b t diff t i– No crossing occurs between different species.

– Grow only one variety of the same species, and separate by ½ mile or hand pollinate to maintain purity.

– The commonly grown species are: banana, buttercup, cushaw and hubbard squash (Cucurbita maxima); butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata); acorn, crookneck, and scallop squash, zucchinis and most pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo); and Mexican gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia).

Collecting

• Squash and Pumpkins – When the outer covering of the squash is so

hard that it cannot be dented with your fingernail, the seeds are generally mature. g , g y

– Split the squash fruit open, scoop out the seed and wash until all pulp is removed.

– Spread out on newspaper to dry.

Collecting• Tomatoes

– Tomatoes are self-pollinators and are usually not cross-pollinated.

– Only the potato leaf varieties must be separated. – Pick fruit from desirable plants when ripe. – Cut fruit and squeeze out pulp into a container. – Add a little water and let ferment two to four days at

room temperature, stirring occasionally. – When seeds settle out, pour off pulp and spread

seeds in a thin layer to dry thoroughly. – Store in an envelope or glass jar in a cool, dry place.– Properly stored seeds will remain viable for four to 10

years.

Seed Starting

• Fun, low cost way of obtaining plants• Provides a variety of things• Know the science and basics…

Seed Starting for the Vegetable Gardeng

Advanced MGV TrainingMike Maddox

Rock County UW-Extension