Seed stratification: when is it needed and what is its methodology. What is stratification and its types for?

Seed stratification is an important process that many have not heard of. But in this case, either a person is far from gardening everyday life, or he does it without even knowing the term itself. In fact, this is placing seeds in "winter" conditions, but without throwing them into a snowdrift, but artificially providing them with cold and moisture.

Such an event will not negatively affect them, but on the contrary, germination will accelerate, and germination will increase. How to stratify seeds yourself to get excellent results? First of all, it is worth knowing that every culture needs an individual approach.

Nature is smart and has taken care that the seeds are low temperatures did not die, but quietly wintered, giving shoots in spring. However, this has led to the fact that in some crops the seeds will not produce shoots without going through the “embryo sleep”. Therefore, they are not only not afraid of the cold, but also need low temperatures.

Our ancestors stimulated the growth of sowing material simply - they placed it between 2 layers of moistened earth and "threw" it so, without covering it with anything. Today, seed stratification at home is possible. To do this, the seeds are placed on a cloth napkin or mixed with a mixture of wet sand and peat, everything is put in a bag with a zipper fastener and kept in the refrigerator.

It is worth taking care of a suitable humidity, it should be moderate, otherwise the seed will either germinate faster than necessary, or become covered with molds.

For most trees, shrubs and perennial herbaceous crops, stratification is mandatory, especially in the northern regions. The ideal temperature is between 1 and 3 degrees, and the duration of the event varies from culture to culture. For example, barberry will need from 2.5 to 3 months, cherries - from 150 to six months, and lemongrass seeds - 3-4 months.

Stratification of strawberries and strawberries

A quick procedure is suitable for the seeds of these common crops: during sowing, a 2-centimeter snow layer is placed on top of the soil, and strawberry or strawberry seeds are spread over it using a thin wet stick (an ordinary toothpick is suitable), and then they are not covered with anything.

The containers are placed on the lower shelves of the refrigerator for two to three days - this is enough time for the snow to melt and tighten the seeds into the soil to the required depth. After this period, the containers with strawberries are removed and placed on the windowsill. Now they should be covered using glass or transparent film.

There is another stratification option suitable for strawberry and strawberry seeds - the warm method. The seeds are placed on a moistened paper napkin, another one is placed on top, and then they are carefully rolled into a roll. After it is placed in a polyethylene bag, tied in such a way that there is little air access, and kept warm for 24 hours.

Lavender Seed Shock

Stratification of lavender seeds is also necessary for them to wake up and begin to germinate, otherwise it is not even worth waiting for good germination. To do this, two months before planting, the seed must be placed in a damp cloth (gauze folded in several layers is suitable) and kept in this way in conditions room temperature a few days.

After that, the material with the seeds is placed in a bag and sent to the top shelf of the refrigerator. They should remain in this position until landing. You can also improve the quality of germination by placing the seeds in dissolved succinic acid or Epina.

Evening primrose seed treatment

This plant also needs to mimic natural conditions, and the procedure can be carried out at home using a refrigerator. Before the stratification of primrose seeds begins, it is recommended to hold them in a solution of potassium permanganate, for this they are laid out in a liquid for a couple of minutes, and then soaked in water for a day. This is a great way to disinfect.

When the seeds are swollen, they are sown in small containers filled with earth or peat pots. We must not forget that the larger the seeds, the deeper they are placed, but the smallest specimens are sprinkled quite a bit. To preserve moisture, containers can be covered with foil.

After planting and placing the seeds in the refrigerator, it is worth making sure that the soil does not dry out, since even with short-term dehydration, the seeds may die. Another popular stratification method, using a sponge, is also suitable for primrose seeds, as some varieties of this plant have rather tiny seeds, which makes sowing difficult.

An incision is made on the sponge with longitudinal grooves, into which the seed is placed. Then the sponge is placed on a plate or tray, moistened with water. The moisture level should be maintained throughout the entire period of stratification and further germination. For small seeds, it is better to take a fine-pored sponge.

Stratification for Aquilegia Seeds

Aquilegia or catchment can often be found on garden plots... it unpretentious plant with pretty flowers, undoubtedly becomes a decoration of the site. And the stratification of aquilegia seeds is carried out as follows: under the influence of heat or cold.

As in the case of primrose, the seeds should be pre-treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, which will disinfect the material for the upcoming sowing. With the cold method, the seeds are placed in a container with a moistened base and placed in the refrigerator for 30 days. Ideal is considered temperature regime within 5-7 degrees.

During the thermal procedure, the seeds, "packed" in the same way, keep the same time, but already at a high temperature - 32-35 degrees.

Shock effect for clemitis

it amazing plant used to decorate fences and various buildings, as it literally covers the surface with a beautiful floral carpet. Most often, large seeds of clematis are sown before winter, immediately after harvest. But this method is not suitable for all plant varieties, since it will take a very long time for their germination (up to 500 days). Therefore, it is recommended to carry out stratification, and postpone sowing until spring.

The procedure for large seed material is carried out as follows: they should be kept for 3 months at a temperature of 5 degrees - in the refrigerator, or placed in a snowdrift outside. But it is worth knowing that if they are left in the yard, they can fall into the paws of rodents.

Seeds of medium size are stratified for about 1 month: first, they are soaked for two days in water, which is changed every 2-3 hours. This is followed by a bubbling procedure, where the seeds are placed in water, which is oxygenated by an aquarium compressor.

As for small seeds, it is enough to put them in water for a day before planting, and then start sowing.

Delphinium seed stratification

For this plant, a wet method is suitable, in which the seeds are laid out on a damp cloth, covered with another layer and a roll is made of them. Then they are covered with wet moss, placed in a suitable container and placed in the refrigerator for 7 days.

After this time, it is necessary to assess the condition of the seeds - they should be swollen. But if some of them gave small sprouts, then they need to be sown, and the rest should be placed in a colder place. The fact is that whitish sprouts are capable of breaking off during planting and then you should not wait for seedlings.

Rose seed stratification

The seeds of some of the most luxurious flowers also need "shock therapy". To do this, they are taken out of the fruit and immediately placed in a sieve for disinfection, a 20-minute rinsing in hydrogen peroxide begins.

Then they are laid on a base that can retain moisture for a long time - cloth napkins, cotton pads, etc. It should also be moistened with hydrogen peroxide. The same damp material is placed on top, and everything is neatly rolled into a roll. Seeds are stored in this way for 2 months on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. But they will need periodic airing and wetting of the material.

Seed stratification is a procedure that provides seeds with the necessary conditions, which "starts" the germination mechanism and improves sowing results.

Seed stratification is literally "interleaving". The emergence of the phrase is associated with the pre-sowing preparation of grains by mixing them with layers of wet sand and then placing them in a cellar. Today, seed stratification is a broader term that implies a different essence of the action being performed.

Classification

Seed stratification is a process that improves future germination. It is divided into warm and cold. In the first case, the seeds are soaked and kept under conditions high humidity and the necessary aeration. Sphagnum moss is an excellent accumulator of moisture. Due to its bactericidal properties, it helps to control the growth of fungal infections. At the same time, the air temperature can fluctuate in the range from 10 to 35 degrees Celsius. The need for this operation is due to the presence of underdeveloped embryos in some seeds. An example of this is a plant like lemongrass.

Cold stratification of seeds is a process that presupposes the preliminary soaking of the grains followed by their maintenance under conditions of low positive temperatures. Moderate ventilation is also a necessary requirement.

Some plants need phased stratification: first warm, then cold.

Fundamental rules

Every novice gardener asks how to stratify seeds. First of all, it is recommended to soak them in water. After that, the seeds are disinfected with a dark pink color. Also, a special preparation "Maxim" is suitable for this task. After disinfection, the seeds are sprinkled with a substrate. Some people use washed sand for this, which is pre-fried in the oven. But in most cases, the use of peat, sphagnum is practiced, which are inherent in bactericidal properties and suppression of the development of various kinds of rot. The seed to substrate ratio is one to three, respectively.

Some gardeners are smart and place the seeds on a damp cloth or cloth in a small box. Two pieces of foam rubber moistened with water are perfect for this task, between which the seeds prepared for sowing are laid out.

Important conditions

After the above procedures, the seeds should be provided with the required temperature, depending on the type of stratification (warm or cold). If it is necessary to create coolness, they are placed in a refrigerator or basement, and to provide warmth, they are placed near the system. central heating... It is important to remember to create labels that indicate where and which seeds are. For this purpose, an adhesive tape, a corner cut off from the foam rubber, or so on, is suitable. Successful stratification presupposes sufficient moisture in the substrate. It should be maintained at the proper level, while excessive accumulation of water should be avoided.

In the event that there are a lot of seeds, and there is not enough space in the refrigerator, you can take them out to the balcony and place them in a pallet. The latter is wrapped in several layers of paper.

Primrose seed stratification involves placing them directly in the snow. The grains of such plants as lobelia and gloxinia are prepared in a similar way. In the process of snow melting, these small seeds will be compacted, drawn into the ground. The necessary conditions for such preparation: the safety of the snow cover and the absence of nearby pets. Strawberry seed stratification is carried out according to the same principle.

How to "wake up" the seeds

Sowing material of some vegetable crops so deep physiological dormancy is characteristic that germination occurs only in rare cases. An example of this is katran, or wild garlic. This property is due to the conservation mechanism in nature, with the help of which untimely germination leading to death is excluded. In order to "wake up" such seeds, preparation for sowing involves their stratification in conditions of lowering temperature and increasing humidity. Katrana and wild garlic require warm and cold stages of preparation for sowing. This procedure begins three to four months before sowing, that is, in January. The material is placed in gauze bags or in a nylon stocking, after which it is tied and marked with a label with the name. During the first three days, the resulting bags are soaked in water, which is regularly changed. After that, the seeds are placed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

At the end of the preparation, the bags are carefully straightened, transferred to a box or box filled with substrate. The latter must be constantly wet. The seed container is placed in a cool basement. Onions are stratified for five months at temperatures from zero to five degrees Celsius, wild garlic - from eighty to one hundred days at air temperatures from zero to three degrees Celsius.

Scarification

Experienced summer residents and gardeners know firsthand what the stratification of flower seeds is. It includes scarification - the process of damaging the hard shell of seeds in order to accelerate their swelling. It is made by careful filing, splitting, scratching, grinding with sand.

Create stressful conditions

In order for the seeds to germinate better, preparation for sowing involves the use of the method of scalding with boiling water. Thus, the seeds of white acacia and gleditsia are processed. To begin with, they are placed in hot water, the temperature of which ranges from eighty to ninety degrees Celsius. Volume calculation hot water produced in a 1: 2 ratio (seed: water). After that, the seeds are left in this state for a day in order for them to swell.

Creating contrasting conditions for seeds

For optimal germination, seed preparation for sowing involves treatment with water at different temperatures. For this, the seeds are put in a bag, near which a couple of large containers of water (hot and cold) are placed. Next, the bag is placed in turn in a hot and cold water for thirty seconds. The duration of the procedure is from ten to fifteen minutes. Finally, the seed bag is placed in a container with a small amount of hot water and left in this state for a day.

Accelerating development with the help of cold

The snowing method helps to better represent the flower seeds. The seed container is buried in the snow one to four months before warm season, depending on the variety. They also resort to laying out bags of seeds from gauze or nylon among a large snow heap. This method significantly increases the vigor of germination. In order to avoid melting of the upper snow layer, it is covered with hay, board, cloth, and so on.

The day before spring sowing the seeds are soaked. This makes it possible to achieve a state in which the shell softens and the embryo swells. The process involves placing the seeds in a bag that is submerged in water. The temperature in the room should not drop below 18-20 degrees. The water changes daily.

How to grow clematis

Fashion trends have introduced charming flowering vines into the gardens of flower growers. Clematis pleases with an unusually huge assortment of varieties. Despite this, not everyone has the opportunity to purchase a seedling or cutting of this amazing flower... However, you can buy seed that will grow an equally beautiful plant. Stratification of clematis seeds forms the basis of preparation for planting them in the ground. placed in a container filled with a special soil mixture, the basis of which is made up of equal parts of such elements as peat, sand and earth. Here, the seeds are aged for several months at a temperature of five degrees Celsius. Do not forget that the clematis seed is quite an attractive meal for various kinds of rodents. In this regard, it will not be superfluous to protect the sowing from external influence animals using a fine mesh or simple transparent glass. Subject to the above recommendations, you can achieve friendly shoots in a series of 10-20 days.

How to grow grapes from seed

Some people think this is a rather troublesome and problematic activity. Grapes grown from seeds begin to bear fruit in the 4th or 5th year, in some cases later. But there are also varieties that bloom in the second year.

In order to select disease-resistant varieties. The seeds are taken only from well-ripened berries. More fast germination helps to achieve the stratification of grape seeds. It includes a thorough washing of the bones under running water followed by placing them in a nylon bag and a polyethylene bag. Then the seeds are placed in the refrigerator, periodically taken out of the bag and washed. From the moment the seeds crack, they are ready for germination. This happens one to two months after the beginning of stratification. Thanks to this method those seeds that were isolated in September begin to crack in November.

Thus, rational pre-sowing treatment of seeds increases their germination several times. Stratified difficult-to-germinate seeds give friendly fast-growing shoots. In such material, the water content is significantly increased. Thanks to this factor, special enzymes are activated in the seeds, which trigger the redox process. All this brings the seeds out of hibernation, called the state of the biochemical pause in the development of the embryo.

The method of increasing seed germination copied from nature is called artificial stratification. Using it at home is not difficult at all. All you need is a refrigerator and some free time. As a result, 100% seed germination can be achieved. This will help to reduce the cost of purchasing seeds, preserve favorite and rare varieties.

• Show all

  Natural stratification

  Many hundreds of years ago, when there was not even a written language, not to mention scientific developments and recommendations, people knew how to grow plants necessary for their life, no worse than today's graduates. Cognition of practical methods of growing a particular plant occurred in people by observing nature and imitating it.

  A person only needs to look closely at the chain from the formation of a seed to its germination in natural conditions.

  

  Process in nature

  The seeds have ripened on your favorite flowers, amazing fruits have been collected, or rare seeds of exclusive plants have been purchased and there is a desire to multiply them, and, possibly, organize your own business on growing seedlings.

  Then you should start with a general understanding of how seeds are stored for the most better germination at the right time.

  Autumn, beautiful apples ripened. It's still warm enough, and the birds ate the apples and spread the seeds in different places... Many of the seeds have fallen into fertile soil for germination, and the seeds are full of strength and ready to germinate. But the information laid down by nature in the genes of the seed tells him that it is not the time for seedlings, the temperature will drop, the seedling will not have time to gain strength and will die. Inhibitor genes block growth and command rest.

  When the external conditions for the growth of seedlings are favorable, an unblocking command will come in and the sprout will begin to break through and gain strength. But this will happen with the beginning of a new natural cycle - in the spring.

  And the seed will spend the cold under the snow cover, which will provide it with a minimum, but positive, temperature and a sufficient amount of nutritious moisture. Scientists called this process natural stratification.

  

  

  Seed preparation

  Having collected the seeds, a person must create similar natural conditions their storage, eliminating the risks of natural anomalous phenomena, and this will be called artificial stratification. An important stage - preparation of seeds for stratification.

  This process refers to the following procedures in order of execution:

  • disinfection-exposure of seeds in a solution (1 gram of potassium permanganate per glass of water) for 30 minutes;
  • rinsing in clean warm water after disinfection,
  • cleaning from any tissue, the seed shell cannot be broken;
  • soaking in cold, non-chlorinated water for up to 12 hours;
  • drying is a prerequisite for decay.

  For storing seeds during the stratification period, any soil suitable for a given type of plant is suitable, and even without special preparation. But there is a risk that such a substrate is contaminated, so it is better not to risk it and disinfect the soil.

  For small volumes, it is enough to place the soil in the oven, preheated to 120 degrees for one hour or turned on the microwave for 10 minutes at maximum.

  As soil sand will do, peat, vermiculite and their mixtures in different options... The ratio of seeds to soil is usually taken in a ratio of 1: 3.

  Purchased soils and mixtures do not need to be subjected to additional disinfection.

  

  Cold stratification

  Before widespread in the everyday life of refrigerators, glaciers, cellars, and snowdrifts were used for stratification. Now everyone has refrigerators, but glaciers and cellars are in short supply.

  Modern household appliance will completely allow maintaining the required temperature throughout the entire period of stratification, and it is stable and guaranteed. Inspecting the seeds and maintaining the correct moisture content will not pose any particular problems.

  The start date of stratification is measured from planting a plant in the ground or for seedlings. If honeysuckle is supposed to be planted in pots on March 10, with a period of its stratification of 60 days, it is necessary to put honeysuckle in the refrigerator on January 10.

  Table. Timing of stratification for seeds of woody and shrub ornamental plants.

  Group	Name of breeds	Timing of stratification	Notes or special conditions
  1	Cotoneaster, hawthorn, hornbeam, ash, viburnum	12 - 18 months	Collection of unripe fruits to speed up stratification
  2	Cherries, euonymus, linden, rose hips, nuts, plum, hazel, sucker, snowberry, clematis, deren	6 - 8 months	They manage to prepare for germination only if they are laid for stratification immediately after collecting seeds
  3	Maples, currants, barberries, elderberries, honeysuckle, mountain ash, bird cherry, some apple trees	15 - 25 weeks
  4	Apple tree, pear, Norway maple and sycamore, common honeysuckle, privet	60 - 100 days
  5	Actinidia, maples, ash, lilac	40 - 45 days
  6	Conifers: spruce, fir, larch, pine, thuja	20 - 30 days	Able to germinate without stratification, but it is used to accelerate germination and increase germination

  

  At home, plant stratification takes place at temperatures from 0 to 5 degrees Celsius, which is quite realistic in a household refrigerator. After preparing the seeds for the cooling process, they are placed together with the prepared substrate in various types of packaging, from boxes and various small containers to bags and tissue bags. Small seeds of flowers or raspberries, strawberries can be laid for stratification without soil. It is enough to place them evenly on a damp soft tissue, roll up into a tube, secure it with a thread and put it in the refrigerator.

  The type of container is not fundamental and must meet only two requirements: so that the seeds can be looked at for mold and increase their moisture content if they dry out.

  How long do flower seeds keep in the refrigerator?

  Table. The timing of the stratification of flower crops.

  Name	15	20	30	40	60	80 and more days
  Astrantia			+
  Verbena	+
  Viola	+
  Vatochnik		+
  Wulfenium					+
  Geranium		+
  Dodecadeon		+
  Dicenters	+
  Delphinium	+
  Bathers		+
  Lilies				+
  Toadflax		+
  Daylilies						+
  Likhnis	+
  Bows			+
  Lavender			+
  Mylnyanka						+
  Hellebores			+
  Mimulus		+
  Primrose			+
  Hazel grouse		+
  Felicia					+
  Sharovnikov		+

Hello, dear friends of summer residents!

In the previous article, the main ones were considered, but the method seed stratification requires more detailed consideration, since novice summer residents have a vague idea of \u200b\u200bcarrying out this technique at home and on the Internet there is very little reliable information on this issue, written in an accessible language.

Mainly seeds of ornamental crops, trees and shrubs require stratification. The method of seed stratification consists in exposing them to low temperatures in conditions close to natural in winter, in order to eliminate the effect of the blockers and growth inhibitors contained in them and thus bring them out of the dormant state. That is, for the seeds to be stratified, we create an "artificial winter", which in terms of conditions is close to the real one for the culture in its homeland.

From the above definition, it becomes clear that some seeds, the plants of which grow naturally in temperate and warm climates, are incapable of germination when stored at home. And we, acquiring such seeds, should know - are they ready for sowing? This information should be on the seed package. Usually, only information is indicated whether the seeds require stratification, and the mode of its implementation remains a mystery to us. Therefore, we must be prepared for such a situation. Most ornamental crops need cold stratification, and if you have no other information, it is better to store them for 3-4 months at a temperature of 0 to +3 degrees.

Based on the foregoing, it is not difficult to explain the situation when, having acquired the seeds of some ornamental crops, we immediately sow them, but we do not receive seedlings and we scold the "careless sellers" for this. And these seeds, it turns out, require appropriate preparation before sowing in order to bring them out of dormancy. Often such seeds die, but it happens that they sprout the next year.

If you plan the sowing in advance, it is better for the seeds to be stratified, it should be carried out before winter, and then the seeds will undergo a cooling stage under natural conditions. But in our climatic conditions, not for all cultures is acceptable winter sowing... Apricot seeds requiring stratification must pass it at low positive temperatures, and such conditions in winter in middle lane does not exist at all. And there are plenty of cultures in need of such conditions. In short, for each plant species its own stratification regime is recommended.

The technique of cold stratification, which literally means "stratification", has been practiced for a long time. To carry out this technique, wet sand, moss, peat, cotton wool are used as an interlayer and stored in a refrigerator, trenches or basements in winter.

Seed stratification it happens: warm, cold and combined... The latter type is used for plant seeds that are difficult to germinate by exposing them to variable temperatures and placing them in a moist substrate. These include the seeds of some ornamental trees and shrubs.

Seeds can be conditionally divided into three groups:

• Cold stratified.
• Liable to warm or combined stratification.
• Not subject to stratification.

The seeds of plants growing in temperate climates, where there are always winters (often warm), require cold stratification. Before sowing seeds temperate climate need to be taken out of dormancy by soaking them and placing them for a period of 1 to 4 months in cold storage at a temperature of 0 +4 degrees. Ornamental crops grown in our gardens mostly belong to this group.

Cold stratification is needed: erythematosus, blue cyanosis, pulsatilla, primrose, peony, hellebore, buttercup, lavender, bellflower, clematis, delphinium, buzulnik, asparagus, fruit seed crops and many others. The seeds of some crops are capable of germinating without stratification, but their germination will be very low. For sea buckthorn, honeysuckle, and strawberry seeds, stratification is not required, but if they are kept at a low temperature for a month, germination increases significantly, and plants develop faster.

Plants, whose homeland are subtropics, where there is practically no pronounced winter, need warm stratification. After soaking, they are kept for 1-2 months at a temperature of 14-18 degrees.

The latter group includes most vegetable crops that do not require seed stratification. These cultures originate from the southern regions of the planet and the tropical zone, where temperatures are never low in winter. The dormancy period for the seeds of this group is minimal or absent at all, and a standard one is needed for sowing them.

Carrying out cold stratification of seeds

• We select the recommended substrate. You can use vermiculite as it, river sand, cotton wool and other mineral substrates. For better air exchange and disinfection of seeds, it is advisable to add sphagnum moss. You can use a ready-made peat mixture for flowers, having previously sieved it and adding sand, and also disinfected with a warm strong solution of potassium permanganate.

• We moisten the substrate by taking four times less water by volume. Allow excess moisture to drain by compacting and placing the substrate on a fine mesh.
• We disinfect seeds using a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicides, which are intended for this. See how to do it right.
• We fill the plastic containers layer by layer with the prepared substrate and seeds (4: 1). If the seeds are very small, it is better to scatter them evenly over the surface of the substrate, sprinkle with sand and moisten using a spray bottle. This will allow to grow small seeds in the same container before picking. Cover the containers from drying out with a lid.
• In order for the seeds to swell, we leave the filled containers at room temperature for two days.
• Then we put the containers in the refrigerator, where the temperature should be maintained from +1 to +6 degrees. For a small group of seeds, freezing is required: aconite, aquilegia, primrose, hellebore, eleutherococcus, tree peony, most species of the Root family and some others. We put such seeds in the freezer.
• In order to provide the seeds with good air access during the stratification process and to exclude the compaction of the substrate, the containers are periodically shaken and turned over. Once every five days, the seeds are removed from the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes and, opening the lid, ventilate, remove condensate, formed mold and wipe the container with a solution of potassium permanganate.
• Seeds that have undergone stratification (if they have not yet hatched) can be treated with growth stimulants before sowing, as recommended in.

The duration of cold stratification is from one to six months.

• The stratification of anemones, hosts, gentian, physostegia, catchment area, aconite, lilac, bird cherry lasts from a month to one and a half.

• From two to three months, the stratification of Astrantia, multiflorous rose, cotoneaster, honeysuckle, chaenomeles, viburnum, Thunberg barberry, and felt cherry continues.
• For four or more months, it is necessary to stratify the seeds of prince, mahonia, almonds, lemongrass.

Seeds with a long period of stratification will not be damaged by their longer stay in cool conditions, since they will begin to germinate only in favorable conditions.

Best regards, Sergey Mozgovykh

When it comes to the results of labor on an agricultural plot or vegetable garden, the phrase - the battle for the harvest, will be quite appropriate in this context.

Not only the phrase, but also the methods of fighting are akin to the military . How not to recall the basic concepts from the theory of military art. And indeed, in order to achieve a strategic goal in the garden, as soon as we are talking about it, various tactics and specific forms and methods are also used.

Uncommon talent, skills and knowledge will be very, very useful here.

Stratification is in the same line with them. Agree, there is something in this word, consonant with military terms.

What is stratification and what is it for?

Nature abhors repetition, endowing each plant with exclusive properties. One has enough warm earth and warm spring sun to wake up from winter peace. Others need help and advice, imitating the natural change of seasons - without such a procedure, seedlings will be lethargic and uneven.

In the natural environment, natural stratification is much easier. A ripe seed for the winter is immersed in a state of dormancy - the embryo is sleeping. During this time, under the influence of frost and moisture, the hard shell softens, cracks appear on it.

In spring, the cold and damp environment motivates the awakening of the embryo and its craving for warmth and sun. This is manifested in active and vigorous seedlings.

And what about at home?

Indeed, often the seed is harvested in the fall and stored at home in a warm room or bought in specialized stores. And there they do not deal with specific pre-sowing preparation.

This is precisely why artificial thermal action is used. A kind of home modeling of the winter transition period as a trigger for the plant. Stratification of seeds correctly means that it is necessary to create conditions for high similarity and generous harvest.

Video from an expert on seed stratification at home:

Timing of stratification for different crops

Perennial flowers and herbs, as well as stone fruit, vegetable and pome plants need mandatory support.

Not every species needs this procedure. For example, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage or thyme can do it on their own.

You need to understand that each culture has its own period of thermal preparation, not withstanding or breaking which you can not only not get the desired effect, but also ruin a living green organism.

Require stratification and mandatory stress handling onion and leeks, carrots, parsley, parsnips, celery, scorzonera (also called sweet root), black carrots, Spanish goat.

Tomatoes, radishes, lettuce can do without stratification when grown from seeds. But by applying it, you can already feel real benefits from green shoots.

If you plan to plant seeds of conifers - pine, fir, spruce, larch, then stratification will also help a lot (although some gardeners believe that it is not necessary). It is required to soak the seeds in the thawed icy water and keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days - this will significantly increase germination.

Types of plant stratification

It would seem that this procedure is simple, but it has several varieties.

By timing, stratification is:

• autumn;
• winter;
• spring.

Four ways of holding it have divided the event into the following types:

• cold;
• warm;
• combined;
• stepped.

Cold

This type of seedbed preparation is used for seeds of perennial crops. It is acceptable for regions with clearly graded seasons. This definition should include regions with a temperate climate.

With cold stratification, the following conditions are created for seeds:

• air temperature - from zero to + 5 ° C;
• humidity from 60 to 75%;
• the duration of cold treatment can be from one month to six months.

Cold-processed crops: pome fruits, stone fruits, perennial flowers.

Warm

Preparatory pre-sowing activities carried out according to the "thermal algorithm" are the simplest procedures that do not require special skills.

Future plants, which are still in a dormant state, are placed in conditions where they quickly awaken - a temperature from 17 to 22 degrees with a humidity of at least 70%.

Experienced gardeners advise - a similar start is recommended for vegetable crops: tomato, eggplant, cucumbers, various peppers.

To speed up "pecking", the material is placed on a sunny windowsill or under a bright light, placing the seeds on damp cotton wool or a napkin,

After the sprouts appear, the slightly grown young culture is ready for planting in the ground. This can be a peat pot or a glass of fertile soil. If weather conditions permit - air and ground temperature, then they can be placed on a prepared bed.

Combined

The combined method is a rather laborious procedure for seeds that germinate for a long time and are covered with a hard shell.

This applies to almost everyone perennial shrubs and trees such as viburnum, yew, plum, apricot, hawthorn, snowberry.

For example, viburnum and hawthorn need a particularly long-term combined stratification. It can last anywhere from six to eight months.

To awaken, the seed is first placed for four months in a comfortable environment, where the air temperature is up to 25 ° C and the humidity is up to 75%. And then in conditions where the air warms up no higher than + 5 ° С.

Each type of green crops needs an individual approach:

1. The yew has a different stratification calendar: the heat period lasts up to 1.5, and the cold one up to 3-4 months.
2. Lemongrass is buried in wet sand, where at temperatures from 18 to 28 ° C it stays for up to 30 days. After this period, it must be kept in a cool container for the same amount, where the air does not exceed + 5 ° C.
3. Planting gentian seeds should be placed on a damp cloth or in a plastic bag with soaked hydrogel. There he should be twenty days at + 20 ° C. Then the seed needs a half-month exposure to cold - no higher than + 4 ° C.
4. will grow better if its seeds are placed between moistened napkins or cotton padswill stay in the refrigerator for half a month. And then, without reducing the humidity, until the sprouts appear, they will be placed on the windowsill above the battery.

Stepped

In terms of complexity and time costs, this is the most time-consuming pre-planting process. It consists of an alternating “turn on” of a cold and warm cycle.

But we should not forget that each flower, however, like any natural individual, including animals and humans, needs an exclusive approach.

This is especially true of correct stratification.

Seed stratification methods at home

For the best germination of their favorite crops, flower growers, using generally accepted techniques, add their know-how, generously sharing their experience with colleagues.

The most "tested" methods include the following types:

• dry;
• in cabbage stumps;
• wet;
• winter sowing.

Dry

This is the simplest and least time consuming method.

It consists of two stages:

1. Preparatory... Here the planting material is disinfected. It can be carried out using a half-percent solution of potassium permanganate. Future green crops are soaked in it for thirty minutes. Then drying and, if necessary, packaging. Don't forget to sign the generated containers or packages. This is the case when it comes to large species diversity seed fund.
2. Directly the temperature effect itself... It can also be done in different ways. In the refrigerator, maintaining the required temperature conditions - no higher than + 4 ° C. Or outdoors, in an open area, by burying a container in a snowdrift before the spring thaw. If, of course, climatic conditions permit.

At the same time, the timing of stone fruit stratification, as well as the algorithm for carrying out it, differ not only in weather conditions, but also on the type and variety of crops planted.

In cabbage stumps

Confirming the proverb - "the Kazan woman is cunning, and Ryazan is more cunning", resourceful gardeners invented a very peculiar way of auxiliary training. It is about embedding planting material in cabbage stumps.

By the way, this is not only original, but also very effective method, which does not require special efforts from the performer.

All that is needed for this is to separate the stump from the cabbage, cut the core out of it and place the seed there. Close the hole with a plug made of the same stump.

It will not be superfluous to mark the digging places with a pole with a tag so as not to get confused in the spring.

With the arrival of favorable days for planting, the stump is dug up, and the stored seeds are planted in the garden.

Wet

This is a somewhat laborious, but extremely necessary procedure for certain crops, for example, such as ash, walnut, maple, euonymus and others.

Here, craftsmen also use several techniques:

1. Sanding... Containers with the substrate are being prepared. It can be river sand (preferably washed), old sawdust, moss or peat. The seeds, like the soil, must be dried and disinfected. Further, the substrate is moistened and the containers are filled by two-thirds. Seeds are laid on top and covered with soil. To prevent the formation of fungal spores, the soil is slightly impregnated with one of the biofungicides. It can be Trichodermin, Fitosporin or Alirin-B. If the containers are not large and there is a place for them on the lower shelf of the refrigerator, then this better conditions for storage. The main thing is that the air should not be higher than + 4 ° C. During the entire storage stage, the conditions of detention are monitored. If necessary, the soil is moistened.
2. Heat treatment in fabric rolls... Pieces up to 35 cm long and 10 cm wide are cut from natural fabric. Wet moss or cotton wool is laid on them, on top of which seeds are laid. Rolls are formed, which are tied and lowered into water for greater impregnation. A roll or rolls, if necessary, are signed and folded into a plastic bag. After that, they need to be placed in the refrigerator, on the vegetable shelf down. There they will be in the cold (+ 4 ° C), until favorable landing conditions... If during monitoring a fungus is detected, then preventive procedures - the tissue is removed and replaced with a fresh one.

Winter sowing

This is the easiest way of thermal preparation for friendly spring shoots. All planting material is placed in the ground in the fall. There he undergoes natural stratification. This method is appropriate for winter garlic, various greens, certain varieties of salads.

This is far from complete list exclusive ways of stratification. If you correctly and skillfully apply one of them, then in the spring on personal plot, the flowerbed and the garden will see the wonderful results of the work of the owners.