Germination Techniques for Herbs and Flowers

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"Every species has some mechanism for delaying germination until after the seed has dispersed."
- Norman C. Deno

Nature has designed seeds to germinate at an optimal time of year for each species. Many seeds enter a period of waiting as soon as they fall from the parent plant. For most vegetable varieties a combination of warm temperatures and moisture is all they need to start germinating. Many perennial flowers and herbs, however, have germinating mechanisms that are slightly more complex.

Light
affects
germination Some seeds have delay mechanisms altered by the presence or absence of light. For seeds where light inhibits germination, bury the seed. Some species require light to germinate. Sow these on the surface.

Temperature
affects
germination Temperature is a major variable in seed germination. Some seeds require cold periods of approximately 35-40�F to alter their delay mechanisms. Some genera (eg. cleome) germinate better after periods of oscillating temperatures such as occur in the spring.

Moisture
levels
affect
germination Germination in response to moisture indicates a delay mechanism that waits for a rainy season (all seeds). Some species germinate better after dry storage. Natural deterioration occurs with all seeds in dry storage. Some deteriorate after only a short time, but most seeds last one to two years. Others can live 100 years (usually seeds with impervious seed coats).

Time
affects
germination Time works in conjunction with the above three conditions. Eg. echinacea paradoxa needs 2-3 months of cold to allow enough time for the chemical changes to occur.

For the varieties that need special treatment, we can simulate the conditions their seeds need to germinate. In the following we'll discuss the different methods and give special recommendations on germination technique for the perennial flowers and herbs that we carry in our catalog.

Three Methods For Simulating Natural Seed Germinating Conditions

SCARIFICATION
Lupine seed soaking after being scarified.

Some seed has an impermeable seed coat which causes a physical barrier to germination. Scarifying, chipping or drilling the seed coat, removes a small sliver from the side of a seed. Through this hole the seed can imbibe water. For small seeds try rubbing them gently on sand paper. Plant the seed immediately or soak it for 24 hours in warm water (Lupinus spp., Baptista australis, Lathyrus spp.) See table below for a list of varieties offered in our catalog that germinate better with scarification.

SURFACE SOWING
Seeds that are dependent on light to germinate need to be planted on the surface. It is very important for the seed to have good contact with the planting medium (for our soilless potting mix tips, click here). Press seed firmly into the medium. Keep moist until germination. You can cover with clear plastic to enhance moisture retention. As soon as the seedling appears remove any covering. See below for a list of varieties offered in our catalog that require surface sowing.

COLD STRATIFICATION
Can be done in several ways...

Outdoor Sow	Sow in Flats or Pots	Sow in Paper Towels or Soiless Medium in Plastic Bags
Sow seeds in the ground outside in early spring when temperatures fluctuate wildly and frost still occurs or sow outdoors in the fall. Make sure to label, record in a notebook, or make a map. You can also sow seeds in flats inside plastic bags and store them outside in a cold frame over the winter.	Fill pots or flats with soilless mix, moisten but don't saturate, sow seeds in individual cells for easy recognition and less thinning. Place containers in plastic bags with a small hole for circulation (avoid extra thick freezer bags as they do not breathe.) Label with name and date. Place in refrigerator for a predetermined time depending on species. Keep moist.	Position seeds between folds of moist, extra strong, folded paper towels or in moist soilless medium (Mix equal parts sand, vermiculite and peat or coconut fiber). Place inside thin walled, slightly open plastic bags. Label with name and date. Place in refrigerator. Check for moisture periodically.
Disadvantages to this method: Forgetting where you plant the seeds. Tags get lost. Birds and rodents may eat the seed. Plants are subject to weed pressure. Insufficient moisture for surface sown seeds and they don't germinate.	Disadvantages of this method: Not enough room in the refrigerator for your food and the seed flats. You have to choose if you really want to eat or if you want a gorgeous garden.	Disadvantages of this method: Still need to plant the wet seeds. In soilless medium in bags, seeds are somewhere within the mix. (Spread it evenly in an open flat filled with soilless seed starting mix. Thin seedlings later.)

Specific Germination Techniques for Our Flowers
(Note: some varieties need more than one treatment. These are listed in more than one column.)

Scarify		Cold Stratify		Surface Sow
Botanical Name	Common Name	Botanical Name	Common Name	Botanical Name	Common Name
Alcea rosea Baptista australis (soak 24 hours in warm water) Lupinus pilosus (soak 24 hours in warm water Lathyrus odorata (soak 24 hours in warm water) Malope trifida	Hollyhock, Single Mix Indigo, False Blue Lupine, Mt. Blue Sweet Pea, Royalty Mix Mallow, Purple Spanish	*Aquilegia vulgaris (14-21 days) Asclepias curassavica* (14-21 days) Belamcanda chinensis (7 days) Cleome hasslerana (14-21 days) *Delphinium elatum (14-21 days) Lobelia cardinalis (56-70 days) Polygonum orientale (14-21 days) *Salvia spp. (14-21 days, seeds short lived)	Columbine, 'Mckanna's' Blood Flower Lily, Blackberry Cleome, Purple Queen Delphinium, Belladonna Blue Cardinal Flower Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate Sage, New Mexico, Silver Downy Leaf, Texas Hummingbird, Victoria, Nemerosa	Antirrhinum majus Aquilegia vulgaris Campanula persicifolia Chrysanthemum x superbum Cleome hasselerana Coreopsis lanceolata Coreopsis tinctoria Digitalis purpurea Echium vulgare Gaillardia pinnatifida Hesperis matronalis Impatiens balsamina Lobelia cardinalis Matthiola bicornis	Snapdragon Columbine, 'Mckanna's' Campanula, 'Peach Leaf' Daisy, Shasta Cleome, Purple Queen Coreopsis, Maroon Coreopsis, Bouquet Magic Mix Foxglove Foxy Echium Gaillardia, Blanket Flower Dame's Rocket, Purple Balsam, Garden Cardinal Flower Stock, Evening
Seedlings susceptible to damping off (plants rot underground, at soil line, or crown). Sow in a very light soilless mix utilizing mostly perlite and vermiculite. Water from the bottom. *Wet soil first then seed in pots/flats, cover with thin layer coarse dry vermiculite; refrigerate lightly covered in plastic as seed does not like to be too wet. Seedlings are delicate, plants like cool weather.

Additional Germination Techniques for Our Herbs

Scarify		Cold Stratify		Surface Sow
Botanical Name	Common Name	Botanical Name	Common Name	Botanical Name	Common Name
Althaea officinalis Astragalus membran-aceous	Marshmallow Milk Vetch	Asclepias tuberosa (14-21 days) Echinacea spp. (21-60 days) Lavandula viridis (14-40 days) Lobelia siphlitica (56-70 days) Melissa officinalis (14-21 days) Veronicastrum virginicum (14-21 days)	Butterfly Weed Coneflower, Yellow, Purple, Pale Purple, Tennessee Lavender, Yellow Lobelia, Great Blue Lemon Balm Culver's Root	Achillea millefolium Agastache foeniculum Althaea officinalis Angelica archangelica (seed short lived) Artemesia vulgaris Inula helenium Matricaria recutita Melissa officinalis Mentha pulegium Monarda fistulosa Monarda punctata Origanum hirtum Rosmarinus officinalis Tanacetum parthenium Thymus vulgaris Valeriana officinalis Veronicastrum virginicum Withonia somnifera	Yarrow Mint, Licorice Marsh-mallow Angelica Mugwort Elecampane Chamomile Lemon Balm Pennyroyal Lavender Bergamot Dotted Mint Greek Oregano Rosemary Feverfew Thyme, English Valerian Culver's Root Ashwaganda

Norman Deno says, "to plant a seed is a noble deed," and that "propagation is conservation." By planting many of these herbs and wild flowers we are increasing diversity. This is one of our company's primary missions. These seeds will germinate if we learn what specific conditions they need and then simulate their natural environment using well tested methods.

References:
Arnosky, Pamela and Frank. March, 2004. Tricks of the Trade for Starting Flower Seed. Article in "Growing for Market."

Clothier, Tom. http://tomclothier.hort.net/index.html Excellent reference site for planting any perennial flower with a large section devoted to just Penstemon spp. Some good photos.

Deno, Norman C. 1994. Seed Germination Theory and Practice. Second Edition.

Powell, Eileen. 1994. From Seed to Bloom How to Grow Over 500 Annuals, Perennials and Herbs.

By Emily Skelton, Research Farm Associate

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