Ready to Plant!

I am ready to plant! I am shallowly planting my seeds in plastic cups and containers filled halfway with Miracle Grow soil. I am doing a little test trial to see more or less how native seed germination works. I have done my research on how the seeds need to be treated in order to germinate. I have so far ONLY done cold/dry storage. Most seeds that I have need moist/cold storage in vermiculite or sterilized sand. I know of a prairie restoration site that only does dry/cold storage and that has worked for them, sooooo that is what I am going to try and see what happens!

Cleaning seeds

Seeds of compass plant, common milkweed, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, big bluestem, swamp milkweed, marbleseed, grass-leaved goldenrod.

Spreading out the seeds and turning on the fan from above so that they are nice and dry for storage.

Storing them in paper bags for moisture absorption so that the seeds won't go moldy.

Me cleaning some marbleseed seed.

Cleaning seed is a lot of work, but satisfying once you see your results.