How to Cold Stratify: Most native seeds need a “winter” to germinate

 Most native seeds need a “winter” to germinate

Pick one:

Spread outside in the fall, winter, or early spring

• Native seeds are happy the way nature does it,
  they’ll survive snow and freezing

• Lightly press into the soil, don’t cover small seeds

• Critters or wind might take a few away

• C30 can be sowed in the early spring

Cold-stratify them indoors

• Lightly moisten a paper towel, peat moss or perlite, in a Ziplock bag

• Add seeds & put in the fridge 

• Seed packets say how long for each

• Start over winter, sow in spring at end    of their required 30/60/90 days

• Paper towel needs to be changed every 3 weeks to avoid mold

  
  

Winter sowing with milk jugs

• Cut a milk jug in half, leaving a strip
  attached as a hinge

• Put drain holes at the bottom

• Fill bottom half with moist soil

• Sow seeds inside. Lightly press into soil. Don’t cover small seeds.

  
  

  Video on the winter sow method:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-E4U7jMo_M 

  
  
  
  
  

  Video on fridge method:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v0C1XuKPpA