Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County

Propagation

Gardening Video: Starting Seeds and Growing Transplants Indoors

A Sowing Circle Presentation:
Starting Seeds and Growing Transplants Indoors

Sponsored by the Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library
in partnership with Buncombe County Master GardenerSM Volunteers

Presenter: John Bowen, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer

This three-part program is presented by John Bowen, Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer and long-time gardener. John shares tips and tricks for starting seeds indoors and tending the young plants until they are ready to transplant into your garden. He talks about containers, planting media, lights, temperature, and other parts of the process to grow those healthy, robust transplants we all need. He also discusses timing and helps us learn when to plant for the best outcome.

To access this video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link below:

Starting Seeds and Growing Transplants Indoors

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org, click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page and select the video from the list provided.

Gardening Video: Propagation from Stem Cuttings

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Propagation from Stem Cuttings

Propagating Perennials_CC BY-NC 2.0_FlickrPresenter:  John Bowen, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer

Do you want to expand the quantity of annuals, perennials, and shrubs in your garden?  Or grow and overwinter your favorite annuals for next summer’s planting?  Propagation is a fun and easy way to do this.  John Bowen, retired science teacher and lover of plants, will show you how.

In this 50-minute video, John covers the propagation steps from A to Z—selecting and preparing the cutting, rooting hormones, the pros and cons of different rooting media, and light/moisture exposure for root development. He shares ideas for preparing different types of propagation containers and creating mini-greenhouse effects.  The presentation includes a hands-on demonstration and ends with an informative Q&A session.

As John says, “Try it. You’ll like it.  You can’t have too many plants!”

Video access
To access this video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link:
Propagation from Stem Cuttings

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org, click on the ‘Resources’ tab at the top of the page and select ‘Gardening Videos’ from the drop down menu.

Learn more
–  North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 13, Propagation
–  Mike Kincaid website:  Propagate Plants Like A Pro
–  Book:  American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques by Alan Toogood

The New Gardening Year: Can I Use Old Seeds?

What a wonderful time of year to be a gardener! The mailbox overflows with seed catalogs showcasing what is new for 2020. I also find myself looking at the 78 seed packets I already have—most great performers from past years—and see some were “packed for use in 2015” or even earlier!

Seed Packets

It’s time to decide if you need to buy new seeds; we can plant onions and peas outdoors as early as mid-February and if you grow your own transplants, you’ll want to start planning, too! For example, tomatoes will need 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost to grow to transplant size, so you’ll need to start them indoors early to mid-April here.

Seed longevity

Must I buy seeds packed for 2020 and throw away these old favorites? Not always—many seeds are viable for years. The Chicago Botanic Garden provides some general guidelines for vegetable seeds: http://my.chicagobotanic.org/wp-content/uploads/Seed-Viability-Chart.pdf

So, for example, if you have cucumber, pumpkin, or squash seed from 2014, you might be fine, but onion, leek, parsnip, or parsley seeds from 2018 may already be worthless!

Testing seed viability

If you want to test your own seeds, Ward Upham, Kansas State Master Gardener Coordinator, suggests the following quick and easy test for each type of seed you want to test:

Place 10 seeds on a paper towel moistened with warm water and cover with a second moistened towel. Roll up the towels and place inside a plastic bag with enough holes for air exchange but not so many that the towels dry quickly. Place the bag in a warm place such as the top of a refrigerator. Remoisten towels with warm water as needed. After the first week, check for germination. Remove sprouted seed and check again after another week. Add these numbers together to determine the percent germination.

Testing Seed Viability and Germination

Planting old seed

If your old seed is still viable, you can simply plant extra seed in anticipation of lower germination rates.

Storing seed

The best places to store your seed are where it is cool and dark, such as the refrigerator or a cold basement. If you save seed from your garden, be sure the seeds are dry before you store them. For purchased seeds, keeping them with their original packets allows you to quickly determine the contents. Seal seeds in an airtight container, such as a canning jar, to prevent moisture.

Article by Bob Wardwell, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer

For more information:

Vegetable gardening planting times: https://extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NC-Vegetable-Planting-Guide-1.pdf?fwd=no

**Note: Planting times for Western North Carolina Mountains are in purple and times to harvest from seed are indicated in the left-hand column. Those with an “*” should be started indoors rather direct seeded in the garden.**

Tips for growing plants from seed:

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/13-propagation#section_heading_5129

 

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Buncombe County Extension Office
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Helpline 828-255-5522

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