Soil and Spirit: Stratification and Scarification
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.