Propagation 1.

Goal: touch on several methods of propagation, but mainly discuss methods of propagating from seed, start mixes, advantages of starting plants in greenhouses and cold frames, and basic transplanting. We will be following the bio-intensive method of agriculture that stresses uninterrupted plant and root growth. Breakfastlunch-dinner strategy. 2. Methods of Propagation: a. Sexual: involves propagating from seed. Called sexual propagation because it involves the seed of the plant, requiring female and male plants. b. Asexual: starting plants from cuttings. Only specific plants can be started from cuttings 3. Starting from Seed: a. Sourcing: find out where you are getting seed from. Make sure that you only use reputable organic seed companies. You do not want to buy seeds Monsanto! b. Viability: Make sure that your seeds are viable. c. Direct Seeding: Starting Seeds directly in the ground. i. Advantages: can sow a lot if you do not have propagation space. Can sow into spaces with existing crops without disturbing their roots ii. Disadvantages: soil may be too cold for seeds to germinate, requires more water to keep areas moist. d. Greenhouses and Cold Frames i. Advantages: 1. Can start many seeds in a small area 2. Requires less water to germinate seeds 3. Can give seeds a headstart by providing a warmer environment than exists outside 4. Can monitor seeds easier in a specific space ii. Disadvantages: 1. Need a space that gets sun or an indoor space for your cold frame and/or greenhouse BREAKFAST 4. Propagation Mixes a. Start mixture: can be purchase on the store or made at home. b. One part compost mixture, one part bed soil. 5. Trays: a. Speedling trays: made of styrafoam. Unsustainable, but last for many many years making them the best choice for farmers. b. Plastic trays: cheaper but flimsy. 6. Planting: Read the seed packet a. Season/ temperature requirements: Make sure that you know what season your seed can germinate in, as well as the temperature. The temperature is

more important, as it can remain colder or warmer at different times of the year. b. Depth requirement: rough guideline is 3-4 times the diameter of the seed. Check seed packets and adhere to the reccomendations 7. Watering Techniques a. Drydown: the percentage of moisture evaporated from the top-down. When seeds are germinating, you only need to keep the top 10 percent of the 8. Poor Germination a. Season: planting too early or late in the season b. Weed killers: chemicals can limit seed germination c. Old Seeds: check seed viability, check when they were packaged, make sure that they are stored properly. d. Wet Soil: restricts oxygen (required for root growth). Can die in fertile soil. LUNCH 9. Potting Up/pricking out: Potting up is the practice of moving starts from small containers to larger ones. This is a common practice on organic farms, and allows the plant to spend more time developing in a warm, safe environment, plus giving it a lunch of rich nutrients before it. Can stimulate growth instead of inhibiting it. 10. Hardening Off: practice of moving plants outside for increasing incremental periods. This allows delicate starts to become accustomed to colder weather and real world conditions. a. Instructions: weather permitting, begin moving your plants outside during the day for several hours at a time. Start slow, and observe the plant. If the plant is handling the transition well, begin introducing it to several hours at night. Eventually, leave the tray out at night. The plants are then hardened off and ready for transplant. DINNER 11. Transplanting: a. Preparation take some time to make sure that you are prepared and the conditions are right. This can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful transplant. i. Soil: have the soil dug, smoothed, and ready to go. ii. Pattern: consider your plants spacing needs and the space in which they will be planted to maximize the usage of your space. iii. Weather: transplanting should not be done in very hot or very cold weather this will be detrimental to the plants health. If you must transplant during hot weather, wait until evening, and protect your starts for several days by creating shade using agricultural cloth,

sheets, whatever you can. This can seriously impede yield if not done correctly. iv. Water: have water handy and water your transplants in as you work. DO NOT wait until the end. The less time between exposure to air and planting in the ground the better. v. Time of day: Transplant in the evening, when the temperature cools. b. Handling: plants are ready to transplant when they have developed their mature leaves. Push the plant up from the bottom and gently grasp the plant by its leaves. c. Planting put the plants in the soil covering their first leaves. Tamp down firmly but not too hard, and water in.