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permie love

~ permaculturist + master gardener

permie love

Tag Archives: seeds

love tip #10: gathering seeds

05 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by Dusty Lynn Baker in love tips

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Black-Eyed Susan, bulbs, Fall, gardening, gathering, love tips, Mother Nature, plants, Seed Savers Exchange, seeds, storage, trees, Tulip Tree, wildflowers

As I return to the world-wide web and all of its wonders, I’m also returning to my land and gathering seeds from the finest of the plants–ones that I will want to plant more of in the coming seasons.

Seeds collected today from my property

Seeds collected today from my property

How does one know which seeds are ready and how to store them?  These are questions that can be answered in general, but also with a unique answer for each plant type.  Confusing?  Well, yes and no.

The best answer is that Mother Nature lets you know when things are ready!  Plants and/or their seeds either dry up, drop from the plant, are blown in the wind, or as hikers and pet owners both know, are carried inside on humans and furry pets alike.

  • My Black-Eyed Susans have big dried seed-cones that I’m able to clip whole and store.
  • My Eastern Redbuds have bean pods that have dried and browned and are just starting to fall.  (These have gorgeous flowers in the Spring.)
  • And, although the Pin Oaks’ acorns are still green, they are falling to the ground, thus telling me that they are ready to be gathered as they will dry and brown within the week.  (Our squirrels bury their seeds rather than store them, losing most, so I’ll save these to give to them in winter!)
  • Without seeds, I still have baby Tulip Trees that have volunteered themselves in my flower beds.  I let them have their way in the flower beds this past summer and now, with just one growing season, they are 2-3 feet tall and ready to transplant once their leaves drop.
  • And don’t forget Hostas and spring/early summer bulb plants.  With fall comes the perfect time to move, divide and conquer many of these so that they will be in place and ready to grow as soon as nature commands in the Spring.

As for storage, everything has its own rules but nearly all require time to dry (lowering moisture) and storage in a cool, dry, dark place until ready for planting.  And while some say that the seeds must be in breathable containers (such as paper), others swear by their old habits of using sealed glass jars such as canning jars, or old mayo or pickle jars, or plastic zipper bags.

Gathered wildflower and tree seeds in Mason jars

Gathered wildflower and tree seeds in canning jars

I say to each his own.  If you’re worried about a particular seed, research it to find out if it has any special needs.  For example, my PawPaws have seeds, but they have extremely particular growing needs that are difficult to reproduce.  But regardless, don’t fret, take on the challenge to keep your favorites and enjoy the process as it plays out.

To see some of the plants listed above, visit my plant inventory page.

You can also visit Seed Savers Exchange for more information on the process and to gain access (via membership) to a seed exchange service.

 

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greenhouse boxes are cooking

24 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Dusty Lynn Baker in Uncategorized

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boxes, bricks, fire pit, gardening, grass, greenhouse, limestone, parachute cord, perennials, seeds, sunroom, tiller, weeds, wood chips

Got two 3′ x 3′ greenhouse boxes set up just outside of the sunroom door.  I purchased these and am concerned that they’re a bit lightweight so I’ve staked them down (inside) and, I’ve placed bricks with parachute cord over the lids to hopefully keep the wind from taking them until I find a better strapping option for the lids.  (Suggestions greatly appreciated!)  I have a feeling, that later this year or next spring I’ll be building more permanent ones with wood and recycled windows.

Greenhouse boxes

Before placing the boxes, I tilled the ground under them and in the walkway between.  I then placed newspaper over the soil inside of the greenhouses to block the sunlight and kill the existing grass and any weed seeds that I stirred up with the tiller.  The walkway is lined with newspaper also and then topped with wood chips from our property.  With newspaper and chips in place, I then soaked the area in and around the boxes to settle the soil and pack down the chips and paper.

Since this is the beginning of a pathway to our fire pit, I plan to continue the wood chips in a T-shape around the boxes so that I won’t have to worry about mud when working on the sides opposite the sidewalk.  I’ll then add perennials along the future pathway and line the edges with limestone rocks gathered from our property.

 

 

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