The growing season is upon us. Many Master Gardener programs do offer free seeds to their community, but also check organic seed companies. A few of my favorites include: Baker’s Creek Heirloom Seeds & Seed Saver Exchange. Be careful what seed companies you choose to order seeds from because many of them are under big chemical companies that also sell pesticides & herbicides. Even large bulk seeds (corn, oats, sunflowers & others) can be a big problem, since many of them consist of harmful chemicals to bees directly on the seed.
What many new or beginner gardeners may not know is that many plants not only require light germination but also a type of stratification known as cold stratification. What is cold stratification? Is the process when a seed undergoes both cold and moist conditions. Many seeds from trees, shrubs, natives, herbs & perennials require these conditions before germination will ensure.
Plants that many beginner & long time gardeners may not know that need to be stratified. The following that are mentioned below can be planted a few days before the final frost. These do not require a long period of cold stratification that is required by many other variety of plants.
- Chamomile
- Potted Marigold (Calendula)
- Parsley & Cilantro
- Pansy
- Alyssum
- Pincushion Flower
- Bachelor’s Button
- Hyssop & Lavender
- Indian Blanket
- Lovage
Some other plants you may not know as a beginner gardener that require longer periods (30-60 days) of cold stratification include: Milkweed, Coneflower, Joe Pye Weed, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis, Ironweed, Primrose, Rose Mallow & many other flowers native to the Mid Atlantic or Eastern Region of the USA.
Some plants not only require Cold Stratification but also Scarification. This is the case for moon flower which is also very poisonous to all live stock including chickens. Before planting anything near livestock be sure that the plant has no possible poisonous attributes to livestock.
American Meadows instructions on how to stratify your seeds.
https://www.americanmeadows.com/blog/2018/03/07/how-to-cold-stratify-seeds
American Meadows instruction on Scarify Seeds:
https://www.americanmeadows.com/blog/2017/06/05/how-to-scarify-and-soak-seeds-for-spring-planting
Growing Seeds Using A Milk Jug:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/milk-jug-winter-sowing.htm
Starting Seeds in A Milk Jug:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/milk-jug-winter-sowing.htm
strolling the stacks 