Dedicated gardeners are often people who love to try new things. New plants, new varieties of familiar plants, new techniques ... they are always looking for a better way to grow a garden, orchard, or landscape plants. Often this experimental nature expresses itself in starting woody plants from seed. This not only provides plants at a very low cost, but gives a greater sense of accomplishment, having raised the plant from a seedling.

For those of us with of a severe case of this experimental disposition, fall weather brings on the temptation to save seeds from anything in sight. Fall is the time when most species have mature seed, and this is our main window of opportunity for seed gathering.

To insure success when planting them, seeds should be given proper handling. If they are gathered and stored in less-than-optimal conditions, germination rates may be poor when you plant them.

Actually, the best way to “store” them is to immediately plant them where you want them to grow. This duplicates the natural cycle that the tree would go through, with a little extra help on your part. Be aware that some seeds may have extra germination requirements, so this method could delay germination if those requirements are not met. If you need to store them indoors, place them in the refrigerator in a jar with a tight lid or in a sealed plastic bag. Keep them there until you are ready to plant in the spring.

If you are storing seeds that are surrounded by a fleshy fruit or berry, be sure to remove the fleshy part before storage. You can do this manually, or by letting the seeds sit in water for a few days until the fruit begins to decompose. This will allow the easy removal of the seed, but it is messy and is definitely smelly.

If you are storing the seeds indoors, you should also make sure the seeds do not dry out. During the period of refrigeration, moisture can be maintained by placing some peat moss inside the jar or bag. The moss should be moist, but not overly wet. Check periodically to insure that the moisture level maintains a proper balance. The best temperature is around 36 degrees. Slightly higher temperatures may be acceptable, but a longer time period will be needed to satisfy dormancy requirements.

Generally, seeds do not have to be planted deeply. A good rule is to plant the seed about twice as deep as the seed’s largest dimension. If planting in the fall, a cover of mulch to protect the seeds from winter extremes is helpful. You may want to protect the seed from foraging wildlife by placing a wire mesh or basket over the seed.

Tim Baker is a horticulture

specialist in Daviess County.