seed planting Vacciniuum macrocarpon

Hi I have a question relateing to starting seeds (Vaccinium macrocarpon or cranberrys) in cold moist stratification, I am new to this adventure.
1) coir - cocnut fibers, perlite volcanic glass, vermiculite hydrouus silcate of aluminum, magnesiuum and iron insulation plant growth medium! Where would I find these materials and how much of this materials do I mix togeather?
Next question, do I have to put all this into a refigerator ? ( in a plastic bag with or with out air holes for 20 weeks)

joskat,
The simplest way to cold-stratify seeds indoors is to put some vermiculite in a small plastic bag (without holes) and moisten it. Mix the seeds into the vermiculite, and store the bag in a refrigerator for the required length of time. Check it every so often to see if you have germination. For germinating seeds, you don't need a mix of the materials you mention.

If you can't get vermiculite, then just fold up a paper towel and moisten it, and place the seeds within a fold of the paper towel, and store it in the refrigerator. Check it now and then to ensure that it is moist.

altagardener,

I got a package of Asclepias Butterfly Weed, part of the milkweed family (Silky Formula Mix). The package words: Chill seed in fridge for several weeks before planting to aid germination. Soil Temp for germination is 70ºF/21ºC.
My question to you is: Should I do the moist paper towel in baggy and refrigerate or do you suggest the package of seeds unplanted be refrigerated? I have had the package of seeds in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

Thanks

Putting a packet of seeds, dry, in the refrigerator does absolutely nothing towards stratifying them. (I'm amazed at how many seed vendors send out absolutely useless instructions! It reflects very poorly on the quality of those seed vendors. This information has been available for decades and yet they choose to ignore it.) Stratification can only be achieved if the temperature conditions are applied to seeds in moist medium, e.g. moist potting medium, moistened paper towels.

Joannabanana, it is really necessary to know the species, as seed-starting requirements frequently vary by species within a genus. Is it Asclepias tuberosa? If so, yes, they need cold (40 deg F) for 3 months, then room temperature to germinate. Yes, you need to either pot up your seeds in moist medium, or place them in a baggie in moist paper towel or vermiculite, and then store that in either a cold room or refrigerator to stratify them.

You know, you can do it a lot more simply, though, by just filling a pot with soil, sprinkling your seeds on top, and throwing it outside to let the temperature variations outdoors do the stratification for you. (BTW, it doesn't matter whether you cover the seeds with soil or not, as the seeds of A. tuberosa are indifferent to light or dark for germination... as is the case with most plants, although it is important to some.) It also doesn't matter whether you put a cover on the pot or not (or use milk jugs or not) - the only reason I sometimes use covers over my outdoor seed trays is to keep from unintentionally raising a crop of birch seedlings, LOL!

Thanks,

There is no addition plant identification on the package. I guess this one is truly a perfect winter sowing specimen. Do you think it's too early to put it out side here? I will do the milk jug thing.

Also, have you started up your greenhouse yet?

No, not too early... it would have been even more preferable to set it out earlier, but hey, we often don't even get our seeds until winter is fairly advanced.

No, seeing that it was still colder than -20 C a couple of nights ago, it doesn't seem like there's any point in rushing it this year! Sure, the purpose of a greenhouse is to fight the climate, but I can't see that it's worth fighting it that much, LOL! But each to his own, of course.

EDIT: Something just occurred to me... if this is in fact Ascelpias curassavica, rather than a hardy pernnial species, you should really look up germination instructions from a reputable source, say the Tom Clothier site.

This message was edited Mar 1, 2009 2:01 PM

Thanks again. When I do a google search for Silky Mix Formula Asclepias, it does come up with Ascelpias curassavica.

There are no instructions with other websites to stratify the seeds, just cooler temps 60ºF for germination.

Well, that makes sense, I think... seems unlikely that a tropical species would need cold stratification.

So now that I put it in a milk jug, I guess I put the jug in the greenhouse. Too bad the package didn't have good info. Thank you again for your help

Don't let it freeze... tropicals can't generally take it.

Have a heater.

Good. Who knows what the weather will bring here.