Transcript Plant Propagation

Seed Propagation
Master Gardener Training
What is Plant Propagation
• Plant propagation is the process of
artificially or naturally propagating
(distributing or spreading) plants
Two Types of Plant Propagation
• Sexual propagation
• involves the exchange of genetic
material between parents to
produce a new generation.
• Asexual propagation
• does not involve exchange of
genetic material, so it almost
always produces plants that are
identical to a single parent.
Seed Propagation
• It is usually the only method of producing
new varieties or cultivars.
• It is often the cheapest and easiest method
to produce large numbers of plants.
• It can be a way to avoid certain plant
diseases.
• It may be the only way to propagate some
species.
Collection and Methods
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Purchasing
Collecting.
Harvesting
Storage
Germination
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Scarification
Stratification
Collection and Methods (Cont’d.)
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Media
Containers
Timing
Indoor Seeding
Outdoor Seeding
Spores
Purchasing Seed
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Viability
Germination Rate
Seed catalogs are very
helpful in providing
information on bloom
time, germination
requirements, cultural
requirements and disease
resistance.
Collecting Seeds
• Collected seed result of random pollination
• Saving seed saves money.
• Gardeners can maintain varieties that are
not sold commercially .
• Don’t collect from overseas
Harvesting Seed
• Collect from healthy plants
• Harvest seed just before fruit is fully ripe.
• For flowers with exposed seeds, place the
seed stalk or flower head in a bag and store
in a warm, dry location.
• Seed of pulpy fruits should be separated
from the pulp, washed and thoroughly
dried.
Storing Seed
• Airtight storage
• Temperature
• Proper storage increases
viability
Germination of Seed
• Seed Anatomy
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Seed coat
Embryo
• Food source
• Plumule (first leaves)
• Radicle (embryonic
root)
• Water.
• Growing medium
Germination of Seed (Cont’d.)
• Light
• Oxygen
• Temperature
Sowing Seeds Indoors
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Easiest and cheapest
Plants with extremely small seeds
Plants that require a long growing season
Supplies needed for indoor seed sowing include
the following:
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fluorescent or grow lights
disinfested containers with excellent drainage
pasteurized (sterile) seed-starting medium
location with proper temperature and ventilation.
Growing Media
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Loose, uniform, fine
texture
A pasteurized (sterile)
mixture
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1/3 soil, 1/3 sand,
vermiculite or perlite,
and 1/3 peat moss
Low fertility
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Regular fertilization
program is very
important once seedlings
emerge
Containers
• Recycled containers
• Compressed peat pellets,
peat pots, paper pots,
plastic cell packs and
flats.
• Peat and clay containers
tend to dry more quickly
than plastic containers
because they are very
porous.
Sowing Seed
• Most seeds should be sown 4
to 12 weeks prior to
transplanting into the garden.
• Hardening off –
acclimatization period
• Seed catalogs and packets
provide information on days
to germination and weeks
needed to reach transplant
size.
Sowing Seed (Cont’d.)
• Leave a small amount of room at the top of each
container or cell
• Keep media moist
• High light and cooler temperatures
• Generally sow seed no deeper than 3x the
smallest width – smaller seed may just be
sprinkled on top
• Plant two or three seeds per cell or pot. When
they germinate, remove the two less vigorous
seedlings.
Watering Seedlings Indoors
• Keep soil moist but not wet.
• Water when the surface of the soil begins
to dry out.
• Bottom watering helps prevent damage to
the seedlings caused by a hard stream of
water, also encourages deep root
development and ensures that the entire
depth of soil receives moisture.
Light Requirements for Seedlings
• Seedlings require bright light immediately after
germination.
• Day-length requirements vary with different
plants.
• Most plants that are started from seed benefit
from 16 to 18 hours of light.
Fertilizing Indoor Seedlings
• Growing media is usually low in nutrients.
• After germination, apply a liquid fertilizer
high in phosphorous weekly.
• Fertilizer with a 1-2-1, N-P-K ratio is
recommended and dilute fertilizer 1/4 to
1/2 the label's recommended strength and
apply sparingly.
• Always use a liquid form of fertilizer.
Pinching Seedlings
• Pinching the growing tips of seedlings will
result in more branching.
• This produces a fuller, stockier plant.
Hardening off Seedlings for
Transplanting
• Hardening-off is a physiological process
that adds carbohydrate reserves to the plant
and produces additional cuticle on the
leaves, reducing water loss. Practically, the
process slows plant growth while
acclimating the seedling to harsher
conditions.
Transplanting Seedlings into the Garden
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The garden soil should be adequately dry to prevent
compaction.
Pull apart the lower portion of the root mass to get the
roots growing outward.
Although seedlings may be planted without removing the
pot, be sure to maintain the same soil level.
Water seedlings into the soil. A cup of transplanting
solution will help plants get off to a good start.
Make your own transplanting solution by mixing 1
tablespoons of a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer in a
gallon of water.
Sowing Seeds Directly into the Garden
• Less work
• Involves more risk from weather, pests,
diseases and erosion
• Site conditions
• Frost dates