Fall is the gardener’s season of gathering in. As the garden slows, the plants hand us their next generation, and a little care now means a spring full of new plants. This season we are sharing how we collect and store native seed, along with a checklist of our favorite fall garden tasks.
Seed Collecting and Storage
In September, SHR was honored to have Michele Dani Sanchez, Ph.D., with the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Science at Clemson University, and Martin Hamilton, Ph.D., Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden, visit the Reserve and provide specialized training for our staff on seed collection for rare, native species. Seed collection is a vital part of SHR’s conservation efforts. We are growing red spruce from seed, along with pitcher plants (Sarracenia) and Allegheny spurge, our native pachysandra. However, seed saving doesn’t have to be reserved for rare natives. It’s a great way to extend your favorite open-pollinated vegetables, flowers, and other plants in your garden for future growing seasons. If you are interested in tackling this important task in your own landscape, here are some tips:
- Collect thoughtfully. Always get permission before collecting on someone else’s land and never collect from rare or protected plants. Take only a small share of the seed from any one population, leaving the majority for natural regeneration and for wildlife. Goldenrods, asters, and coneflowers are winter food for songbirds, so leave plenty standing.
- Seed is ready when it is dry, dark, and easily released. Look for capsules and pods that have turned brown and begun to split, and seed heads that rattle when shaken. Collect on a dry afternoon, after the dew has burned off. Seed picked too early often will not germinate, so when in doubt, wait a week and check again.
- Label as you go. Write the species, date, and collection location on each envelope at the moment you collect. For restoration work, like our red spruce, knowing where a seed came from matters, because local genetics are adapted to local conditions.
- Clean and dry. Spread seed in a single layer on paper in a warm, well-ventilated room out of direct sun for one to two weeks. Rub seed heads over a screen to separate the seed from the chaff and discard anything that looks shriveled or insect-damaged. Fleshy fruits should have the pulp removed before drying.
- Store cool, dry, and dark. Once fully dry, keep seed in paper envelopes inside an airtight jar with a packet of silica gel, in a cool, dark place. A refrigerator is ideal. Moisture is the enemy of stored seed, so make sure it is truly dry before sealing it away.
- Know what each seed needs. Many Southern Appalachian natives, including butterfly milkweed, coneflowers, and Joe-Pye weed, need a period of cold, moist conditions before they will germinate. You can imitate winter by sowing outdoors in late fall, or by mixing seed with damp sand and refrigerating it for several weeks before spring sowing.
Fall Gardening To-Do List
- Plant now. Fall is the best time to plant native trees, shrubs, and perennials. The soil is still warm, the weather is cooler, and steadier rain helps roots establish through the cool months, giving plants a head start in spring.
- Divide and move perennials. Overcrowded clumps of summer bloomers can be divided now and replanted or shared with friends.
- Leave the leaves, and some of the stems. Fallen leaves and hollow stems shelter overwintering pollinators and other beneficial insects. Shred leaves for mulch and cut back only what is diseased or in the way.
- Weed and mulch. Pull weeds before they set seed, then add two to three inches of mulch, keeping it away from the base of stems and trunks.
- Keep watering. New plantings need regular water until the ground freezes.
- Protect from deer. Browsing picks up in fall. Refresh repellents and check fencing around your most valuable plants.
- Tend your tools and compost. Clean, sharpen, and oil your tools before putting them away, and turn your compost pile one last time.
.