1. Seed Handling, Seed Storage and Commercial Seeding
Plant Propagation

2. 3 General Fruit Classifications
Dry – Indehiscent
Dry – Dehiscent
Fleshy

3. Dry - Indehiscent Fruits that do not split open when ripe.
Ex: Maple, Elm, Ash and Oak

4. Dry – Indehiscent Fruits
Ash Samaras
Maple Schizocarps

5. Dry – Dehiscent Fruits Fruits that split open when ripe.
Ex: Redbud, Honeylocust and St. Johnswort.

6. Dry – Dehiscent Fruits
St. Johnswort Capsules
Redbud Pods

7. Fleshy Fruits with a fleshy pericarp.
Ex: Crabapple, Viburnum, Dogwood, Callery Pear and Serviceberry.

8. Fleshy
Viburnum Drupes
Callery Pear Pomes

9. Seed Collection and Handling

10. Dry – Indehiscent Fruits
Hand Collect Fruit
Purchase Seed (Sheffields, NY state)
Dry and de-wing (if necessary)
Store and plant later
Provide necessary seed treatments
Sow

11. Dry – Dehiscent Fruits Hand Collect Fruit Purchase Seed
Dry; allow fruits to split open
Separate seed from fruit
Store and plant later
Provide necessary seed treatments
Sow

12. Fleshy Fruits Hand Collect Fruit Purchase Seed Maceration
Flotation or Fermentation to separate seed from fruit
Dry
Store and plant later
Provide necessary seed treatments
Sow

13. Seed Storage

14. 2 Kinds of Seed
Short-lived seed.
Medium to long-lived seed.

15. Short-lived Seed Remains viable in storage for 1 year or less.
Ex: Poplar, Maple, Willow, Elm, Hickory, Birch, Oak, Beech, Walnut and Buckeye.
Storage: High Humidity/Low Temperatures

16. Medium to Long-lived Seed
Remains viable in storage for 1 year or longer. In some cases 15 or more years.
Ex: Most conifers, fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, grains, legumes, geranium and morning glory.
Storage: Low Humidity/Low Temperatures

17. Outdoor Commercial Seeding

18. Successful seeding depends upon the following…
Good quality seed (viable).
Overcoming seed dormancies.
Providing the proper environment for seed germination.
Proper temperature
Moisture
Aeration (oxygen)

19. Steps in preparing an outdoor seedbed for spring planting…
#1 Prepare a raised bed about 4 feet wide.

20. Raised Bed for Seed Sowing

21. #2 Bed sanitation. Methyl bromide (fumigant)
Vapam (granular-activated by water)
Basamid (granular-activated by water)
After sanitation it is critical that the beds be allowed to “air-out” several days prior to seed sowing.

22. Robert Anderson, USDA Forest Service
Laying plastic for fumigation using Methyl Bromide of forestry nursery seed bed
Robert Anderson, USDA Forest Service

23. #3 Sow the seed.
Broadcast
Rows
Weed control issues.

24. #4 Roll the seed. Good seed-to-soil contact. More even germination.
Un-rolled seedbed
Rolled seedbed

25. #5 Cover seeds with coarse sand.
Helps eliminate problems associated with damping-off.

26. #6 Provide light shade. Helps reduce transpiration.
Eventually remove shade and acclimate seedlings to brighter/drier conditions.

27. Hoops can be used to provide support for shade cloth

28. #7 Maintain moisture! Never let the seed bed dry out.
Use frequent, light irrigations to maintain moisture.

29. #8 Provide proper aftercare.
Continued watering
Fertilization
Weed control

30. The End