Soil and Spirit: Stratification and Scarification
By Jean Golicz, Master Gardener and Mercy by the Sea Volunteer
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Last month we perused seed catalogues. Now what to do with all those seeds? Two processes, stratification and scarification, will help guarantee germination. Stratification is the gradual procedure of acclimating seeds to warmer temperatures. It replicates the natural process of resting in cool soil which then gradually increases in temperature. To accomplish this, you can place your seeds in cold moist potting soil in a dark place for several weeks. An alternative process is to place seeds between damp paper towels in a plastic bag.
After stratification takes place, germination is enhanced by the process of scarification. This happens naturally when the seed coating is subject to abrasion. Milkweed seeds benefit from both stratification and scarification.
This year the Mercy Center Garden Team will be adding milkweed to a new pollinator garden. The seed germination and plant propagation are explained in greater detail at the following Monarch Watch website.
Just like the seeds we are carefully nurturing during these Lenten weeks, our own lives can benefit from the gradual processes of stratification and scarification. Cold hearts are gradually warmed and closed minds opened. We emerge from what St. John of the Cross called the “Dark Night of the Soul” into the light of love. Spiritual growth may start in a dark place as our souls endure the abrasive forces of life but we too will experience a springtime of blossoms.
Nature reveals this process.