How to Cold Stratify Seeds for Spring Planting (the easy way)
This will be easy-peasy!
So, you’ve found out one way or another that you need to cold stratify your seeds, prior to spring planting. What the heck?! Don’t
panic (like I did the first time I read the words “cold” and “stratification” in the same sentence). There are a few ways to do this, but we’re going to cover the easiest method in this blog post.
The Easiest Way to Cold Stratify Seeds
The “paper towel method” is (at least in my humble opinion) the easiest way to cold stratify seeds for spring planning. It’s normal to be hesitant or nervous when doing something for the first time. Plus, we are dealing with life here! ;) Just keep in mind that nature can’t always be controlled, and IF something happens to go wrong (unlikely), the consequences are going to be pretty minimal (unless you have the last rare seed of its kind). Okay, so pressure off. Prepare to be amazed!!
Cold Stratify Seeds Using Paper Towel
Supplies
Seeds
Plastic baggie(s)
Sharpie
Paper towel
Bowl or cup of water
Instructions
**Your going to put the seeds in your refrigerator for four weeks. Make sure set a reminder so that you don’t forget to remove the seeds once the four-week period is complete.
Fill a bowl or cup with cool to room temp water, and soak seeds for 1 - 2 hours.
Drain the water out of the bowl using a colander. For smaller seeds, line a colander with paper towel or a coffee filter.
Grab a full piece of towel and put it under the faucet quickly, then wring it out so that it’s damp, but not sopping wet. Spread the seeds out on the top half of the paper towel and then fold it in half.
Wrap a dry paper towel around the damp one to help maintain proper moisture. You want things moist but not wet (which could encourage mold growth).
Place folded paper towel in a baggie. Using your sharpie, note the date and type of seed on the baggie. You may also want to include the date it will be in four weeks, when you’ll pull the seeds out of the refrigerator.
Pop the baggies in the refrigerator (never use the freezer) for approximately four weeks.
Check your seeds regularly. I usually peak in on them every week or so. If the paper towel feels dry, lightly mist it with water.
If the seeds begin to sprout, they are ready to be planted. Otherwise, once you get to the four-week mark, you can plant your seeds indoors using seedling trays or directly in the ground if and when the conditions are right (always make sure the last freeze date for your area has passed).
