SAN ANGELO, Texas — Many of us are fascinated with the growing of plants from seeds. It might be trees, woody shrubs, wildflowers or an heirloom garden plant. Saving, storing and the proper planting of collected seeds
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Many of us are fascinated with the growing of plants from seeds. It might be trees, woody shrubs, wildflowers or an heirloom garden plant. Saving, storing and the proper planting of collected seeds is a fun challenge.
Fall is the major seed-producing season for many plants growing in West Texas. Collecting seeds when they are mature but before they are scattered by the elements of rain, wind, birds and varmints is the first step.
Coloring or opening of the fruit is the first indicator of ripeness.
Many seeds are inhibited from germinating by the wrapping or covering of the fruit.
The first step is the removal of the fruit pulp, dried skin or shuck.
To show you how variable this inhibition of the fruit on the seed can be we see that tomato seed must be removed from the fruit and the slimy pulp rubbed or washed off, then the seed is dried to germinate properly, while some acorns such as bur oaks can be germinated with the cap almost totally enclosing the nut or fruit with the seed in it.
It is frustrating when seeds are collected and planted but never grow. Some seeds have hidden dormancy requirements.
This can be as simple as time, exposure to cold, heat, moisture, or scarification or softening of the hard seed covering.
Mountain laurels demonstrate such germinating requirements.
It is easy to grow this beautiful drought-hardy Texas native evergreen plant when you hit the hard, red seed coat on sandpaper or a grinder before planting.
The seed immediately absorbs water, then germinates within weeks versus years to germinate if it is planted unscratched.
We recently sent thousands of Texas persimmon seeds to the Texas Forest Service for planting at the Lubbock windbreak farm for distribution across Texas.
The easiest way to collect seeds that were ready to plant was to collect cow patties from ranches that were heavily populated with Texas persimmon.
The ripe black fruit is eaten and enjoyed by both wildlife and livestock.
The seed has passed through the four stomachs of the cow and deposited with a slightly acidized or softened seed coat and even packaged in its own fertilizer!
Information on seed collection for many plants and preparing for planting or storing can be found on the Internet.
A good source for growing Texas native plants is the book “How to Grow Plants of Texas and the Southwest” by Jill Nokes.
Some general rules about seed storage include removal of the fruit, then drying, then placing in a cool, dark location such as the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator.
Many seeds and most vegetable seeds prefer a dry, airtight container. Pecans and acorns prefer to be stored in a moist medium such as peat moss, compost or newspaper.
For some of us with extra space, an area of the flower bed or garden can be dedicated to tossing seeds. Let them germinate if they want to, then relocate them after a year of growing.
I have had grocery store pomegranates, plums and wild redbuds germinate in a half-day sun area that is watered only by roof runoff.
Enjoy the mystery of growing plants from seed.
John Begnaud is a retired Tom Green County Extension agent for horticulture. Contact him at email@example.com