Starting Perennial Plants Indoors from Seed

Deanna, local Master Gardener, demonstrates and explains methods for seed starting at the recent Master Gardener Workshop held Saturday, February 22. Master Gardeners and members of the public attended the event.

Master Gardener Deanna

Master Gardeners, Deanna and Elaine, provided seed starter kits to all who attended the workshop. 

Master Gardener Workshop was well attended by the community

Master Gardener Workshop Summary

Many perennial flowers may be started from seeds indoors.  Seeds of certain species, however, are best sown directly outdoors when weather conditions permit.  Proper time to plant seeds and having them ready to transplant outside should be on the seed packet information.  Quality transplants start with using good seeds.  For best results obtain quality seeds from a reliable dealer, seed catalog or nursery.  
If you are concerned about seed quality and any genetic modifications, see The Safe Seed Resource List -Your Resource for GM-free Seeds at www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org.   

For recommendations on starting seeds refer to:

 University of Missouri Extension Guide Sheet g6570 at www.missouri.extension.edu  >lawn and garden >flowers and houseplants > g6570.

Additional notes:

Buy seeds that will produce plants that are hardy and drought resistant for our Hickory county climate which is zone 5b.

Most new cultivars for 2014 that are in the new 2014 flower/gardening magazines and seed catalogs will not have seed available the first several years, and only the actual plants may be available.  Look for sources of new plants that have been grown in our climate zone.

St. Louis area online ,  the Missouri Botanical Gardens:    www.plantsofmerit.org

Other resources for gardening in Missouri:

Missouri Gardener-  Missouri’s Own Guide to Great Gardening & Landscaping      Six issues/year subscription.

  The Missouri Gardener’s Companion  by Becky Homan  (An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in the Show-Me State).

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Supplies for Starting Seeds: 

 Germination media should contain peat, vermiculite, & perlite.

       Containers and trays for sowing seeds are available at nursery supply centers.  Plastic pots/cells are preferred as they require less frequent watering and are reusable.

Steps in Planting Seeds:

·       Moisten the germination medium.  Do not over water.

·       Plant 1-2 seeds per pot/cell.

·       Read seed package information regarding specific instructions.

·       Place pots/cells into a plastic tray using a fabric (blanket type of material) as a mat in tray under pots that has been moistened and then water only from the bottom to keep seeds constantly moist.

·       Place trays in a warm 65^o to 70⁰ location and keep covered with a plastic dome or newspaper until germination has occurred and then promptly remove the cover and place under fluorescent lights (use one warm and one cool fluorescent bulbs) if using a shop light and initially have plants 4-6 inches from light.  Using a timer, have lights on for 14 hrs./day  and as the plants grow increase the distance from the light source to  8-10 inches. 

An alternate source of light can be a bright south-facing window.

Usually the first set/pair of leaves visible are called “the seed leaves”.  Wait to transplant the seedlings until they have a good set of “true” leaves (will have the identity of the mature plant leaves).

Growing Your Seedlings:  

Thinning out seedlings in each pot/cell will develop stronger plants.  Overcrowding will develop inferior plants.  Depending on the variety and size of mature plant select the appropriate size of pots to move the seedling into.  Seedlings must continue receiving bright light. Seedling will also need constant moisture but excess moisture will cause disease problems.  A soil less mixture should be used as a transplant media.  The seedlings will need regular fertilization as the soil less mixtures do not contain sufficient nutrients.

Master Gardeners provide homemade baked goods and refreshments to workshop attendees

Posted: 2/27/2014

Vegetable Gardening Tips - Row Covers

Recent Master Gardener Workshop public event held at the Hickory County Extension Office in Hermitage, Missouri had a good attendance.  Master Gardener, David, demonstrated how to use row   covers which are used to plant cool season crops, to protect your plants from a light frost, to deter wild life pests and some insects.

         

McCarty Senior Center Garden 

McCarty Senior Center Garden 

Workshop Summary

·       BEST SELECTIONS:  Hickory County Master Gardeners.  Contact our Missouri University Extension Office at 417-745-6767.

·       BUY SEED FROM RELIABLE SEED CATALOGS/NURSERIES

·       TIMING IS EVERYTHING:  Refer to M.U. Extension Vegetable Planting Calendar at www.missouri.extension.edu   

·       SUPPLIES RECOMMENDED:

COVER FABRIC:  AGRIBOND 19 at 83 inches width.  Length is dependent on length of row.

HOOPS:  PVC PIPE  ½ INCH:  width 83 inches plus approximately 16 inches (allowing 8 inches per side for securing cover to the ground).

ONE INCH METAL PIPE :  To secure the hoops  that will anchor the hoops into the ground .  Sixteen inches of metal pipe for each side to insert the PVC hoop into.

SNAP CLAMPS:  To fasten the cover fabric to the hoops.

Supplies available from Johnny’s Seed Company:  www.Johnnyseeds.com  1-877-564-6697.

Posted: 2/27/2014

Seed Saving: Knowing the Difference Between Hybrids, Heirlooms, and Open-Pollinated Plants

Lots of home gardeners are interested in saving seeds.  Aside from saving money, saving seeds helps to preserve interesting varieties, diversify crop genetics and preserve cultural identity and heritage.  While knowing how to save and store seeds is important, an even bigger decision comes with knowing how to select seeds and how to plant them. 

Hybrid plants are the result of a controlled breeding process, developed through a series of crosses where the parent plants impart the offspring with desirable traits.  Hybrids are often developed to resist disease, to have stronger, more vital growth, and even to have higher yields and rates of survival.  However, due to the involved process in developing the hybrid, the genetics of the hybrid aren't stable enough to allow the seeds to be self-sustaining.  This means that instead of traits of the parent plant, you end up with a random mix of traits from the grandparent plants and earlier generations.  Not a reliable choice. 

One misconception regarding hybrids and GMOs is that the hybrid is genetically modified.  Not true, and in fact, there are currently no genetically modified seeds or plants available to the general public of home gardeners.

Open-pollinated plants are those who have stable genetics, where seeds can be saved with a promise that the offspring will be similar.  Due to the variability of the natural pollination process, there may be variations from individual to individual.  In order to save seeds, though, it is often necessary to isolate the plants to ensure that there is no cross pollination from other varieties in the garden, in the garden next door and sometimes as far as miles away!

Heirlooms are simply open-pollinated varieties that have developed outside of the commercial plant trade and have a historical or cultural significance or back story.  However, not all open-pollinated seeds are heirlooms.  There is no hard and fast definition of "heirloom" as some also consider age a determining factor in the designation.  The common age is usually 50 years.  The seeds have been passed from generation-to-generation and often have a local or even familial significance.  Heirloom seeds may be saved with the expectation of similar offspring.

Several smaller seed companies have found a niche in the market by exclusively selling heirloom seeds.  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is one such company and is headquartered in Mansfield, Missouri with outlets in Petaluma, California and Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Hickory County Master Gardeners recommend contacting your local Extension Service for more complete growing information.

  

Sources:  Extension, America's Research-based Learning Network at http://www.extension.org.      The Whole Seed Catalog from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and at http://www.rareseeds.com.

Posted: 2/26/2014

Brisk Weather Comfort Food!

Whatever the season, our gardeners enjoy nature whether it is plant or animal and work to create a more hospitable environment for both. 

A flock of birds enjoy the suet buffet prepared by Deanna Loeffler.

Deanna shares the winter scene seen from her back deck.

With this extremely cold and snowy long-lasting winter, Master Gardener, Deanna Loeffler, sympathizes with those struggling to have an adequate food supply. Her interests led her to research and devise a suet recipe for the birds that share her garden and farm. 

Deanna is sure the suet is a delicacy because she reports, "Seems like hundreds of yellow finches, many cardinals, several kinds of woodpeckers/flickers, chickadees, tufted titmouse, purple finches, juncos or snow birds, blue-jays and several types of sparrows.  This year the starlings have found my feeders and they are gluttons!"

HOME MADE SUET FOR WINTER BIRD FEEDERS

Combine and microwave in a large microwave dish for about 21/2 minutes.

   1 cup chunky style peanut butter

   1 cup lard

Add and mix well.

   1/2 cup granulated sugar

   1/2 cup whole wheat flour

   1 cup "quick" oatmeal

   1/4 cup dried cherries, cranberries or raisins

   3 cups cornmeal added 1 cup at a time to aid in mixing into other ingredients

Spoon one-half the mixture into each of two 9" sized pans.  Place suet in a cool location until the suet is "set."  This recipe makes approximately 2 lbs. suet.

Tip for feeding:  Break or crumble into very small pieces and place in tray feeders.  The suet is crumbly and will not work in the wire suet feeders made for cake suet.




Close view of tray feeder with black oiled sunflower seed on bottom

of tray with center layer of coarse sunflower seed over the bottom layer.

The suet is crumbled and added on both sides of the coarse sunflower.

Posted: 2/8/2014



To-Do List for February



Begin sowing seeds indoors throughout the month.

Develop a chart for the seeds.  Suggestions for information to record include plant variety, start date, seed depth, soil temp, light/no light, days to germination.

Don't prune spring blooming shrubs or trees yet!

Late February is a good time to fertilize houseplants, trees and shrubs.

Average Temperature     37 degrees

Average High Temperature     47 degrees

Average Low Temperature     26 degrees

Average Precipitation     2.2 inches

Average Snowfall     4.4 inches

Posted: 2/2/2014