Millie demonstrates some tricks to successfully grow a range of Australian native plants from seed. Subscribe 🔔 [ Ссылка ]
Why grow from seed?
There are a huge range of plants that you can grow yourself from seed including lots of Australian species. From ephemeral wildflowers to towering eucalypts, most of them start in the same place – from a seed. There are so many good reasons to grow from seed – it can be a low-cost way to produce lots of plants to fill out a large space or to share plants with others. Growing from seed also increases genetic diversity in the garden and can result in variation in colour and form.
Seed raising kit:
You can start raising seed with very little (remember in nature, they raise themselves), but for consistent results, it is important to keep things clean. Make sure you wash containers free of dirt which could contain pathogens and pop them in the sun for a few days to get some UV rays. It is also good to sterilise your mix. Millie does this by combining some sieved native potting mix with added perlite (to hold both oxygen and moisture) then putting this into the tray and scalding with boiling water. Allow to drain.
Where to get seed:
Of course, you can collect native seed from your own garden, or a friends, but never from the bush unless you have a licence. Many of the plants Millie grows have come from the local seed bank! By sowing and growing a good number of locals, and sharing them with neighbours and friends, she hopes to increase the local plant population. If they establish successfully, she can send some seed back to the local bank.
Breaking dormancy:
While some seeds are always raring to go, others have mechanisms that protect the seed while they wait for the perfect conditions. Think about a little seed, developing from the flowers and falling to the ground, then having to wait out a harsh Australian summer before autumn rains or survive months of bitter cold. If you learn aa little about the species you want to grow, you can identify the best technique to trigger germination.
Hard seed coatings are a common seed protection in things like wattles and many of the other peas. Millie has a Kennedia prostrata seed that she is going to prepare for planting. The traditional way to crack the coat of many species is using hot water, just off the boil. Simply pour the hot water over the seed and let it soak overnight then you can sow straight into a tray of mix.
TIP: They can be tricky to handle when wet so you could also use a short cut and simply sow seed into a tray of mix and pour the boiling water over that!
Another process that stimulates many Australian seeds is fire or smoke. Heat can help release some seeds, but more importantly, it is the karrakins contained in the smoke that break their dormancy. You can make a little fire and smoke your seeds every time you sow, but for convenience, Millie makes some smoked vermiculite to use all year round.
Stylidium graminilfolium is smoke responsive germinator. Also known as the grass trigger plant, the pink and white flowers have an incredible mechanism for landing the pollen on the pollinator! Not all triggers are easy to cultivate, but this is one of the best. While they grow readily from seed, word on the street is they hate being pricked out, so instead of putting them into a massed tray and pricking out, Millie sows the fine seed into some single cell trays then covers with a layer of the smoked vermiculite and waters in.
Pricking out:
Germination is just the start of the seed raising journey. Once the seedlings are up, you need to prick them out. Hold them carefully by the seed-leaves (not the stem) and transfer them into individual pots. Backfill, water and pop into a sheltered spot to grow on.
Growing your own seed really is a skill worth honing, and so rewarding. For very little outlay, you can grow loads of plants. And do lots of learning along the way!
Featured Plants:
GRASS TRIGGERPLANT - Stylidium graminifolium
RUNNING POSTMAN - Kennedia prostrata
MALLEE WATTLE - Acacia montana
Filmed on Dja Dja Wurrung Country | Creswick, Vic
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