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With many plants seeding or being harvested during autumn, many gardeners will have an abundance of seeds to collect. These can be stored in seedbags of course, but autumn is also an excellent time to start sowing.
Seed Dormancy and Stratification
The horticultural term ‘seed dormancy’ refers to natural delayed germination which has multiple purposes. Its basic function is to prevent simultaneous germination of all the seeds in an area, staggering their germinations to ensure each seed benefits from the ideal conditions for growth. This helps ensure the survival of the plant genus during sudden bursts of bad weather, as well as enabling some seeds to germinate during times when there is less competition for water and sunlight from other plants.
The fancy term ‘stratification’ just means ‘layering’ in horticulture, and it refers to the artificial process of purposefully placing seeds in a layer of soil to subject them to winter’s cold and moist conditions.
Sowing seeds from horticulture bags during autumn time replicates the natural stratification process which softens the seed’s hard coating and prepares the seed’s embryo for growth once the spring brings more suitable weather conditions.
Best Seeds For Autumn Sowing
Seedbags containing seeds collected from native plants and any others that originate in areas with colder climates are ideal for stratification. Their winter dormancy phase occurs naturally in the wild so it is easy to replicate that with autumn sowing.
Hardy flower annuals are ideal for autumn sowing and they will provide an early display of colour come springtime. Recommended varieties include
Ammi majus, Calendula officinalis and Centaurea cyanus. Cerinthe major purpurascens, Delphiniums and Linum grandiflora are also good, as are Nigella damascene and Scabious. Other flowers that can be sown during autumn are angelica, bidens, foxglove, knautia and Solomon’s seal. You can also try red valerian and yarrow.
Depending on what seedbags you have, vegetables can also be planted in autumn. Broad beans and peas, plus the likes of radishes and turnips as well as onions, shallots and garlic are great choices to plant in autumn for a springtime crop.
How to Sow Seeds in Autumn
Storing seeds in horticulture bags or other kinds of bags for gardening over winter can preserve them, but planting them now can ensure a good early crop with minimal work next spring. It also saves you from needing to properly store the seedbags correctly to ensure they are fit for sowing in the future.
First collect the seeds on a dry day, taking care not to cause any damage to them. Horticulture bags are useful for the collecting process, though do ensure you keep the seedbags separate and identified.
Sow them in pots or trays about six to eight centimetres deep, and make sure to label them or arrange them in a way that makes them easy to identify come springtime. Then simply place the pots and trays in a suitable place outside so they will be exposed to the winter weather.
Also make sure to monitor the compost or soil you plant them in to ensure it doesn’t dry out, but do not overwater. Only water when necessary.
Once the seeds begin sprouting in spring, let them grow hardy enough to be handled before re-potting or planting in the garden.
If you need seed bags, horticulture bags or any other kind of bas for gardening then contact Smartlift who provide many different options for a wide variety of uses.
