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Seed Preparation

What is Seed Preparation?

Plenty of flower, vegetable, and herb seeds will grow no matter where they are scattered or planted. Others are a little more particular! Do some seeds need more or less light, or maybe complete darkness? Should they be treated in a certain way before they’re planted to promote growth? What about unique considerations for moisture and temperature? We’re here to help you understand the science behind the art of gardening, so you can achieve the best possible blooms, fruits, and veggies.

Let’s break down the various types of seed preparation. Don’t worry, each product we carry will be clearly labeled if any of these processes is required. 

Scarification

This process is exactly how it sounds. You’ll be scarring or scratching the seeds before planting them. It’s easy to do and doesn’t require any fancy tools, just a sheet of sandpaper or a small nail file. Click below learn more about how, why, and which seeds are scarified below. 

Soaking

We know that it’s important to have a hose or watering can handy for plants and veggies already growing in the garden. But some seeds or corms actually prefer to be soaked before they’re even planted! This quick and easy method can encourage growth and speed up the growing process for a number of varieties. We also provide you with a complete list of products that will benefit from this treatment. Click below to learn more about soaking seeds and corms below.

Special Light Requirements

Wait a second, don’t all plants need light?! Well guess what, a few flower seeds actually require darkness to germinate. It may seem counterintuitive, but we’ll explain why some seeds perform best in an environment void of light. What does this exactly mean? And which seeds? Click below to learn more about light requirements.

Stratification

We’ve covered moisture and light, so let’s move on to temperature. Stratification is a treatment that creates a false winter for seeds. Mother Nature knows exactly how to handle this process, but sometimes we choose to lend a hand! Click below to learn which seeds need cold or moist stratification, and why time is an important factor in the process.