seed selection & storage

Seed Selection & Storage

Presented by

The Seed Keeper Company

Carol Niec and Kerrie Rosenthal

The Seed Keeper Company: Carol & Kerrie

• Owners of The Seed Keeper Company

• Founders of The Seed Keeper Project

• Our products are available at fine garden centers across the U.S. and in Canada

• Seed Keeper Kits selected as show favorites by Independent Garden Center Show attendees and Garden Writers of America reporter, Katie Elzer-Peters

• Most of all, we’re gardeners like you!

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Things to know before you grow:

•What is my Hardiness Zone

•Do I have a last

Seed Selection and Storage

Planning and Plotting Your Garden

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•Do I have a last frost date?

•How long is my growing season?•What kind of soil do I have?

•How much sun do I get?

•How big will my plants be?

•Where is my water source?

Seed Selection and Storage

Get Into Your Zone

How the New map differs from the

previous 1990 map:

• Internet friendly! New map has a

Geographic Information System-

based interactive format

•Two new Zones! Introducing Zone

12 (50°-60°) and Zone 13 (60°-70°)

divided into A & B Fahrenheit zones.

2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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divided into A & B Fahrenheit zones.

• Some boundaries have changed,

check to see if your Zone has!

• Zones are 5-degree half-zone

warmer due to the increased data

over a longer time and more weather

stations.

• Temps affected by land formations

(lakes, mountains) have added to

more accurate numbers.


What is the difference?

Hardiness Zone

MapFrost Zone Map Last Frost Date

•Prepared by

USDA based on

•Shows average day

of last spring frost.

•Important for

knowing when to

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Other countries also have hardiness

zone maps.

USDA based on

average coldest

temperatures

•Helps

determine your

zone for plant

selection

of last spring frost.

•Broader in scope

knowing when to

start plants

•Dates can vary

and are

approximate


•Identify your Zone from Hardiness

Zone Map

•Make sure seed pack has your zone

listed.

•Seeds may need to be started

How Long is Your Growing Season?

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Make plans around your last Frost Date

•Seeds may need to be started

several weeks prior to your last

frost date.

•Extend growing season by planting

cool weather crops and flowers in

early spring and fall.

•In cool climates, with the right

lights and sun exposure, you can

add another growing season

indoors.


What type of soil do you have?

•Three types of soil:•Clay soil

•Sandy Soil

•Loamy Soil

•Grab and squeeze

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•Grab and squeeze

•Do you have worms?

•What is your Ph?• 6 to 7 score is neutral

•Ph kits available at

garden centers


Sun Exposure

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Sun Exposure

The amount of sun and shade your growing area gets determines what is best to grow.

How BIG will I be when I grow up??


•Check width and height of

mature plant on seed pack

•Air circulation - Veggies and

flowers need room to breathe,

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flowers need room to breathe,

prevents molding for veggies

and overcrowding for flowers

•Vining plants need room, plan

for trellis or space

recommended

•Plan appropriate room in your

containers.

Types of Seeds


•Annual

•Biennial

•Perennial

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•Perennial

•Heirloom

•Organic

•Native Seeds

Annuals


•Last one growing season

•Known for color

•True annuals set no further

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Geraniums & ImpatiensPhoto Courtesy of Kylee Baumle

•True annuals set no further

seeds

•What is an annual depends on

your zone

•Examples: impatiens, wax

begonia and petunia


Biennial • Two seasons of growth.

• First season -

grow from seed, form

vegetation and strong

roots and store energy

for next year’s growth .

• Second season fruit or

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Foxgloves

• Second season fruit or

flowers form and plant

goes to seed.

• Examples :

Flowers: primrose, dianthus,

marigolds

Veggies: carrots, parsley and

celery


Perennial

Spoon Daisy Whirligig What is a perennial?

•Return from root stock

vs. re-seeding

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•Herbaceous perennials

die back to the ground in

colder climates

•All perennials not hardy

in all zones

•Examples: daisies, mums

and peonies


Heirloom Seeds

What is an heirloom?

•Many definitions

•Open pollination

•End of WWII

•1951—Widespread

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Photo courtesy of Brenda Haas

•1951—Widespread

introduction of hybrids

•Seeds handed down through

generations

•Well adapted and resistant

•Save these seeds!

•Great way to experience history


Organic Seeds

• The Organic Food Production Act of

1990 defines organic seed as

“produced and handled without the

use of synthetic chemicals.”

Prohibited substances and chemicals

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• Prohibited substances and chemicals

cannot be used on the land three years

before harvest.

• Regulates and certifies organic

growing operations.

• Important to know your organic

seeds come from a trusted grower.

Native Seeds


•Native plants have

thrived in a particular

area for thousands of

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area for thousands of

years.

•Movements afoot to

restore native plants.

Example: Wildflowers


Hybrid & Non-Hybrid

Seed Lingo

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Offspring resulting from two distinct

individuals.

•Hybridization can create desirable traits:

• Heavy yields •Plant uniformity

• Disease resistance

•Seeds should not be saved

•Higher cost

Produce plants true to parents due to

no mingling of genes.

•Also know as heirloom seeds

•Cost efficient for gardeners because you

can save seeds and plant year after year

Seed Lingo


Determinate Indeterminate

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Grows in contained bush form Vining plant, needs lots of room to grow

Anatomy of a Seed Pack


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Anatomy of a Seed Pack

Planting Instructions

Plant Description & Uses

Common & Botanical Names

Sun Exposure

Year Packed

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Planting Depth

Year Packed

Plant Spacing

Mature Plant Size

Sell By Date

Country of Origin

Seed Lingo


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Benefits of Starting From

Seed

•Stronger and healthier plants

•Variety is endless


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•Variety is endless

•Value and savings

•Personal achievement

•Smaller carbon footprint

•Better for you!!

Peterson Garden Project


Organizing your seeds

saves time and money!!

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The way you store seeds is very important and really easy!

Seed Viability


How Long do Seeds Last?

Knowing helps you decide

how many to purchase or

save.

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save.

Seed Viability


How to test for seed viability:

1. Take a paper towel sheet

2. Place 10 seeds one inch apart on sheet

3. Moisten seeds and paper towel with water but not so it

is dripping wet, spray bottles work well

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is dripping wet, spray bottles work well

4. Fold paper towel in half over seeds two times

5. Place paper towel in a re-sealable plastic bag

6. Place bag with seeds in warm area, 70° to 75°, away

from direct sun which can cause seeds to overheat

7. After 24 to 48 hours, germination should begin

8. If 5 out of the 10 seeds germinate then you may have

to plant twice as many seeds to get 10 healthy plants.

Three Components of Seed Storage


Temperature Humidity Light

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•Most important that seeds are


What to Remember

Packaging for Storage

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•Most important that seeds are completely dry

•Packages are clearly labeled with:

• Plant name

• date packed

•mature size of plant

•sowing instructions

To Refrigerate or Freeze Seeds?

A very good question


•Your answer will depend on your preference with

consideration to your climate

•Experts say freezing can extend seed life up to 10 years

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•Experts say freezing can extend seed life up to 10 years

•If you refrigerate or freeze your seeds use

desiccant or silica gel packs to absorb any

excess moisture

•Tip: Make your own desiccant packs by

filling small squares of fine mesh fabric with

powdered milk or rice. Tie off with twine.

Links and resources you may find helpful:

Independent Garden Centers– loaded with professionals who know much about

gardening

Garden Clubs

Botanical Gardens

Cooperative Extension Services

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Cooperative Extension Services

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html

USDA Zone Finder

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2012/120125.htm

#gardenchat – a weekly Tweetchat where gardeners gather to share information.

http://www.bggarden.com/gardenchat

Where to buy Seeds

Local Garden Centers

Baker Creek Seeds rareseeds.com/

BBB Seed www.bbbseed.com/

Botanical Interests www.botanicalinterests.com

Burpee Seeds www.burpee.com/

Harris Seeds www.harrisseeds.com/

Johnny’s Selected Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com/

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Johnny’s Selected Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com/

Jung Seed www.jungseed.com/

Park Seed www.parkseed.com

Renee’s Garden www.reneesgarden.com/

Seed Savers Exchange www.seedsavers.org/

Territorial Seed www.territorialseed.com/

Terroir Seeds www.underwoodgardens.com/

There are many, many more fine seed companies– this is just a

sampling!!


Thanks to Corona Tools and Chris Sabbarese

Special Thanks for use of photography:

Kylee Baumle of Our Little Acre -- http://ourlittleacre.com/

Brenda Haas of BG Garden and #gardenchat–

www.bggarden.com/

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Follow us on Twitter: @SeedKeeperCo

Find us on Facebook: The Seed Keeper Company

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seed-Keeper-Company/377513653435

The Seed Keeper Project:

https://seedkeepercompany.com/The_Seed_Keeper_Project.html

www.SeedKeeperCompany.com


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