Go To Seed

 

 

 

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Temperature: The temperatures aren't set in stone, as most annuals should pop up at any temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees, while some tropicals will prefer the higher end of that range. Perennials and hardy annuals, which tend to like cooler conditions, usually will sprout at any temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees.

Moisture: To keep the seed starting mix moist for your seeds, cover their containers with plastic wrap until the seeds begin to sprout. Use aluminum foil instead for those which prefer darkness for germination.

Chipping or Sanding Seeds: These processes are only ncessary for seeds that have very hard coats, which water won't penetrate. To protect your fingers, hold each seed between the "jaws" of needle-nose pliers on top of a cutting board as you nick it with the tip of a utility knife. To sand the seed instead, rub it against an emery board or sandpaper until you break through the seed coat.

Soaking Seeds: You easily can soak seeds overnight in Styrofoam cups, writing the name of each seed on the side of its cup. If you need to heat the soak-ing water to a certain temperature, use a candy thermometer to measure that temper-ature. Otherwise, use lukewarm (room temperature) water.

Gibberellic Acid: If you need to use gibberellic acid, dissolve a 100 mg packet of the white powder in about 1/2 cup of water overnight. Then add an equal amount of water to the mix to make a 500 ppm solution, which is best for most species, before soaking your seeds in the solution overnight.

Smoke Treatment: For seeds that require smoke treatment, add 1 teaspoon commercial smoke flavoring to every 3 tablespoons of water you are using. For the best results, find a flavoring that contains only smoke and water in its ingredients list.

Cold or Warm Treatment: When seeds need to be kept damp and either warm or cold for a certain number of months, fold a paper towel into a card shape. After writing the name of the seeds and the date on front of the "card" with an indelible marker, soak the paper towel in water, squeeze out the excess water, and place the seeds inside the card.

You can keep several such cards inside a folded-over sandwich bag to help preserve their moisture.

Keep in mind that, when a seed begins to sprout inside the towels, the first thing to emerge usually is a radicle (main root). So, if you pot up the seed at that point, be sure that you position it with the root underground and lower than the seed from which it is protruding.

 

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Plants Beginning with L

Lachenalia (cape cowslip): Sow the seeds in damp and sterilized cactus and citrus potting mix, barely covering the seeds with that mix. Keep the container at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 50 days or more.

Lagerstroemia (crepe myrtle): Soak the seeds overnight before placing them inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 1 month. Afterward, sow them 1/16 inch deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix and keep them at 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until they sprout in 2 to 3 weeks.

Lantana: Soak the lantana berries in water for about a week, changing that water frequently. Once all the pulp has been washed off the berries, sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 12 days or so.

Lapageria (Chilean bellflower): Place the seeds inside a damp paper towel in your refrigerator for 6 weeks before sowing them 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 6 weeks to 4 months.

Lapeirousia: Sow the seeds in damp and sterilized cactus and citrus potting mix, barely covering them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take 4 to 8 weeks.

Lathyrus (sweet pea): Soak the seeds overnight before sowing them 1/4 inch (6.4 mm.) deep in damp and sterile seed starting mix. Keep the container at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 4 or 5 days.

Laurentia: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), and the seeds should sprout in 6 days or so.

Lavandula (lavender): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their container under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), and the seeds should sprout in 2 to 4 weeks.

Lavatera (tree mallow): Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 12 days or so.

Leea: Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, which can take a month or more.

Leonotis (lion's tail): Sow the seeds 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep their container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 3 to 6 weeks.

Lepechinia (pitcher sage): Soak the seeds overnight and press them into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 3 to 6 weeks.

Lettuce: Sow the seeds directly in your garden, planting them 1/8 inch deep at temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (5 and 21 degrees Celsius). They may sprout within 2 days at the higher temperatures, but can take a week at the lower ones. However, temperatues which are too high can prevent germination.

Leucanthemum (shasta daisy): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) until the seeds sprout, usually in 5 days.

Libertia: In autumn or early winter plant the seeds 1/8 inch deep in damp and sterile seed-sowing mix. Place their container in an outdoor location, such as a coldframe, over winter. They should sprout in about 44 days.

Ligularia (leopard plant): Commercial seeds are best, since those received in trades often aren't mature enough to germinate. Place them in damp paper towels inside your refrigerator until they begin to break open in about 21 days, after which you can pot them up in damp and sterile seed starting mix.

Lilium (lily): Because lilies have a wide range of germination requirements, according to species, you'll want to consult Norman Deno's Seed Germination Theory and Practice to find instructions for the one you wish to sow.

Lima bean: Sow the seeds directly into your garden two weeks after your last frost date. Plant them 1 inch deep and they should sprout in 5 to 8 days.

Lisianthus (prairie gentian): Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 9 to 12 days.

Lobelia: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 9 days or so.

Lonicera (honeysuckle): Place the seeds inside a damp paper towel in a baggie in your refrigerator for 3 months, before moving their towel and baggie to a location with a 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) temperature. Once the seeds begin to sprout, pot them up in seed-starting mix.

Lopezia (mosquito flower): Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 4 days or so.

Lunaria (honesty or money plant): Sow the seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in damp and sterile seed-starting mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 11 days or so.

Lycium (goji berry): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed starting mix, barely covering them with the mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 1 to 2 weeks.

Lychnis: Press the seeds into the surface of damp and sterile seed-starting mix, but don’t cover them with the mix. Place their containers under the center of a grow light at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 4 to 7 days.

Lycianthes: Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed starting mix, barely covering them with the mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 8 days or so.

Lysimachia (loosestrife): Sow the seeds in damp and sterile seed starting mix, barely covering them with the mix. Keep the container at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and the seeds should sprout in 7 days or so.