It All Starts With A Seed

1. It All Starts With A Seed

2. Iowa State University Extension Program development: David Fencl Master Gardener Coordinator Black Hawk County Extension Presented by: Patricia Fencl Master Gardener Coordinator Black Hawk County Extension

3. Definition: Seed • Webster – The ovule containing an embryo from which a plant may be reproduced. • A complete, undeveloped plant with it’s own (starter) food supply

4. The Seed Package • Variety name • Scientific name (seldom) • Annual, Perennial, Vegetable • Color, Height, Width, Spacing • Depth to plant • Days to germination

5. The Seed Package • Days from transplant to maturity • Size of fruit and/or flower • Special conditions • Light, water, temperature • Light for seedlings • Full sun after emergence • Keep damp, moist, not wet

6. The Seed Package Special Conditions – Artificial Light • 12 to 16 hours/day • 6-8” above top of plant or tray • Light source: one cool white, one warm white

7. Evaluating Plant Descriptions

8. The Seed Package READING BETWEEN THE LINES Which one offers less disease problems, and why?

9. The Seed Package READING BETWEEN THE LINES – What do the letters mean? V = verticillium wilt F = fusarium wilt, race 1 FF = fusarium wilt, races 1 & 2 N = root knot nematodes T = tobacco mosaic virus A = alternaria alternata (crown wilt) L = leaf spot (septoria) St = Stemphylium (grey leaf spot)

10. The Seed Package READING BETWEEN THE LINES What can you tell about these bush beans. Why?

11. The Seed Package READING BETWEEN THE LINES – What do the letters mean? CBM = common bean mosaic CTV = curly top virus BB = bacterial brown spot R = rust HB = halo blight

12. Seeding Seeding • Plant in rows (easier to transplant) • Inside – easier to transplant; easier to identify variety • Outside – easier to identify weeds

13. Seeding: Cool Season Crops COOL CROPS

14. www.hort.purdue.edu/ Seeding: Direct Seed COOL CROPS • Beets • Carrots • Peas • Snow peas • Lettuce • Spinach • Radish • Onion

15. www.umaine.edu/ Seeding: Transplant COOL CROPS • Broccoli • Cauliflower • Cabbage • Kale • Brussels sprouts

16. Seeding: Warm Season Crops WARM CROPS

17. Seeding: Direct Seed WARM CROPS • Beans • Corn • Cucurbits

18. Seeding: Transplant WARM CROPS • Tomatoes • Peppers • Eggplant • Cucurbits

19. Seeding: Warm Season Crops WARM CROPS • Tomato & Tomatillo • Pepper & Egg Plant • Beans & Sweet Potatoes • Sweet Corn • Squash, Cucumber & Pumpkin (Soil temp & Night air temp above 50°)

20. Why Seeds? Why Seeds? • Some varieties not offered as plants • Quicker start if using plants • Extended growing season • More plants • Lower costs

21. Which Seeds? Which Seed Varieties? • I.S.U. Recommendations (PM607, 1998) • Popular varieties • Different or unusual varieties • Choose based on use • Fresh eating (vegetables) • Canning (vegetables) • Cutting (flowers) • Bedding (both flower and vegetable)

22. Where & When: • Hardiness Zone • Last Average Frost Date • ISU County Extension Office • Count back 8-12 weeks (depending on variety)

23. Hardiness Zones(based on last avg. frost date) • Northern Iowa - Zone 4 • Southern Iowa - Zone 5

24. Tip: High Quality Seed High Quality Seed is Important • Seed is 4% of Growing Cost • High percentage, uniform germination • Consistent size (flower or fruit) • Rapid growth & reduced time • Plants true-to-cultivar, vigorous • React well to transplanting

25. Which Varieties? • Germination rates • Quantity in the package • Amount You Will Need • Time from Sowing to Harvest • Is Seed Treated? (fungicide, pesticide)

26. Storing Seeds Perennial Seed Dormancy • Prevents plant from growing or continuing to grow • Read catalog/seed package to determine method for breaking dormancy

27. Storing Seeds Perennial Seed Dormancy • Stratification (cool/warm) • Scarification (breaking seed coat) • Warm water treatment Methods for Breaking Seed Dormancy

28. Storing Seeds • Avoid high temperature, high humidity • Store at 50° or cooler (not freezing) • Keep packages closed until planting • Check date on Seed Package

29. Storing Seeds • Long Term Storage • Temp between 32° and 41 ° F • Humidity 50% or lower • Home refrigerator (crisper drawer) • Unsealed containers 7% to 12% moisture content • Sealed containers – high moisture content seed

30. Buying Seeds Ordering Seeds • 8 to 12 weeks prior to planting time • “No Substitutions Please!” • Pelleted Seed – worth the cost? • Allows easier placement for tiny seeds • Avoids waste from over-seeding

31. Buying Seeds: Timing • Number of days to maturity • Days from seeding to transplant • Last average frost date, count backward • ISU PM534 “Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables” • ISU PM874 “Starting garden transplants at home”

32. Buying Seeds: Research • Research several sources • Read between the lines • Buy disease and pest-resistant seed

33. Buying Seeds • ALS – anthracnose resistance • DM – downy mildew resistance • PM – powdery mildew resistance • CMV – resistance to cucumber mosaic Other common abbreviations:

34. Any Questions so far?

35. Growing Media

36. Growing Media: Qualities • Perfect drainage • Moisture retention • Large pore spaces • Sterility

37. Growing Media: Problems with Garden Soil Growing Media – Problems with Garden Soil • Compaction • Sterility • Weeds • Disease

38. Right: Garden Soil Left: Soiless Mix Soilless Mix Garden Soil

39. Growing Media: Pasteurize Soil • Sift out large particles • Moisten, put in shallow baking pan • Bake at 180° F, for 30 minutes, or, • Microwave on high, 1 minute per lb., no more than 8 lbs. at a time. • Beware of the odor, may want to vent to outdoors

40. Growing Media: Post-Pasteurize After Pasteurizing • Mix with even parts of soil, peat, pearlite/vermiculite • Store in sealed bags • Wear face mask, avoid breathing dust, etc.

41. Growing Media: Professional Mix • Most common are soil-less (contain peat, vermiculite, pearlite, or bark/mulch) • pH range of 5.5 to 6.0 • If you mix your own: 40 to70 lbs. wet Ratio of 1-1-1 peat, vermiculite, pearlite with soil

42. Growing Media: Damping off • Pathogens in contaminated soil • Clean tools, containers, remove old soil • Wear adequate protection • Store moist soil in closed containers

43. Seeding: Containers • Adequate drainage & rigid • Dampen mix day before (squeeze test) • Smooth surface • 3 inches deep • Level of mix close to top • NO SOFTENED WATER! • Flat edged roller

44. Seeding • Broadcast – inefficient & difficult • Row planting • Using jiffy cubes or peat pots (3-4 seeds, then thin) • Practice! (white paper or cloth) • Maintain adequate spacing

45. Direct Seeding • Saves time & expense • No transplant shock • Good candidates for direct seeding: Lettuce Peas Spinach Zinnia Marigold Portulaca • Must direct seed : Carrot Beets Sweet Corn

46. Seeding: Seed Size Small vs Large Seeds • Sow on soil surface • very little food reserve • most need light to initiate growth • Larger seeds • Depth = 3 x diameter of seed

47. After Seeding • Cover with plastic sheet to hasten germination • Do NOT place in direct sunlight (cooks the seed) • Remove covering when plants emerge • To slow growth: • Withhold water till surface is dry • Cool to not less than 50°

48. Seeding: Transplant • After True Leaves appear (2nd set of leaves) • Delays cause hardened, stretched, or oversized plants

49. Seeding: Transplant • Soil should be slightly damp (not wet) • Select plants as wide as they are tall • Grasp seed leaves, NOT the stem! • Lift plant with dibble • Sort to approx. same size in each flat

50. Seeding: Transplant • Make hole with dibble point • Place seedling in hole (depth same as in seed flat) • Press soil mix lightly around plant, holding it upright • Water with fine breaker or bottom water • Avoid too much heat or light for 24 hrs.