Part 3 - Planting The Seeds

Seed storage:

Seed storage is the final crucial step for good planting success. Seeds do not have to be cleaned before they are stored, but it is a good idea. To clean the chaff and pappus (the husk and fluff) off seeds, you can pour it from one pail to another facing into the wind. The wind will blow away everything lighter than the seed. If this does not get the seeds clean, another process is to rub them gently through a series of screens. When using the screens, be careful not to damage the seeds. Once the seeds are cleaned, test for seed viability. To do this, simply place the seeds in a pail of water, the viable seeds will sink and the non-viable seeds will float. Skim these off, and dry the seeds thoroughly before storage or stratification. It usually takes 4 to 5 days for seeds to dry completely. Do not use plastic bags or containers for storage as they retain heat and moisture and could lead to fungus growth, rot, or a drastic loss of viability. Use paper or burlap bags to store the seed. Always remember to clearly label to bags of seed as it is hard to remember what each species looks like as seed. It is good idea to label the date and location of seed collection on the bags, as this helps to keep a record of the diversity of the seed stock. Keep in mind that insect eggs are hard to separate out completely, and many insects leave their eggs inside the seeds themselves. To deter insect infestations of the seeds in storage, mix some diatomaceous earth in with the seeds, as it acts as a natural insecticide and will not affect the viability of the seed.