Species propagation
Acute willow
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Acute willow, Salix spp.
Zone: Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
At the greenhouse we propagate Acute Willow using cuttings. They are cut in the fall and stored in the freezer for the winter.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your cuttings for 1-2 days
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Push the cuttings all the way into the soil. Make sure that the buds are pointing up.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet byproduct is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Buffaloberry
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea Nutt.
Zone: Grows only in the southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Buffaloberry fruits are bright red and mature in August. They can be picked well into the winter, however you should be cautious of the large thorns present on these trees. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pail with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 70 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Bur oak
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa Michx.
Zone: The black soil regions of the eastern part of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Oak acorns are a favourite winter food of bunnies, deer, and many other types of wildlife. As a result you need to start to gather them as soon as they fall in early September. Acorns can also be subject to weevils. If they are left too long they can also destroy the seed. As soon as the acorns are picked they should be floated in water. Those seeds that float are usually empty, inviable seeds and should be skimmed off and discarded. The ones that sink are more likely healthy. Acorns should enter stratification right away. Storage leads to drying out and loss of germination.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 3 days with daily water changes.
- Drain off the water and place the seed in open pails and put it in the refrigerator.
- The seed should remain moist, not wet, and should be stirred around periodically.
- Once you start to see roots emerging you can sow your seed.
- Some people like to wait until each acorn germinates and then sow them individually as it happens. This is time consuming, but you may end up with better results.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Push the seed into the surface of the media until covered. The sprout should be facing down.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination. Oak likes high temperatures during germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Chokecherry
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana L. var. melanocarpa (A. Nels.) Sarg.
Zone: Performs best in the southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Chokecherry forms clusters of crimson to black berry-like fruit. They usually mature in late summer. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pails with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it.
- It should be kept somewhere warm (~25°C) for 14 days.
- Put the bag in your refrigerator for 120 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Push the seed into the surface of the media until covered.
- Cover the soil with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Colorado blue spruce
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Colorado blue spruce, Picea pungens Engelm.
Zone: Performs best in the Southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Blue spruce seed is produced in cones. Spruce cones are typically ready for harvest in late August through to early September. To ensure that they are ripe, you should pull a scale and look closely at the seed. It should be full, plump and white. You want to harvest cones whose scales are closed, not open. Once the cones are harvested they should be laid out in direct sun and allowed to open. Cones can be placed in a tray with a mesh bottom made of hardware cloth. As you shake the tray, the seeds will fall out through the holes in the cloth.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 1 day.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize 2-3 times a week.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Eastern red cedar
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana
Zone: Will grow adequately throughout the province.
SEED COLLECTION
Juniper berries turn dark blue-purple with a whitish powdery coating when they are ripe. They typically ripen late in the fall. They can be harvested in the fall and into the winter. The longer you wait, however, the more competition there is with the wildlife. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it.
- The bag needs to be kept somewhere warm (~25°C) for 60 days.
- Next, put the bag in your refrigerator for 90 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize 2-3 times a week.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Green ash
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. var subintegerrima (Vahl.) Fern.
Zone: Best suited to the southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Green ash seeds typically look like a little set of wings. The seeds should be picked in the fall. The can be picked right from the tree, by laying a sheet under the tree and shaking the branches, or by picking up the seeds that have already fallen. You can break off the wings if you like, but it is not necessary. Seed should be stored at 10% moisture in a sealed container. Seed can be placed in either the refrigerator or the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 60 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
High-bush cranberry
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: High-bush cranberry, Viburnum trilobum Marsh.
Zone: Grows in treed areas of the Parkland and transitions forests. Somewhat into the Boreal range.
SEED COLLECTION
High-bush cranberries turn an almost translucent bright orange-red when they are ripe. This usually happens in late summer and early fall. The berries will persist throughout the winter, but you will have to compete with the wildlife to get them. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pail with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it.
- The bag needs to remain somewhere warm (~25°C) for 140 days.
- If the seeds start to germinate in the bag put some peat moss in a flat and spread the seed on top. Cover with a thin layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- After the 140 days are complete, put the tray into your refrigerator for 110 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Gently break apart the germinants so that you can sow one at a time. Poke a small hole in your media with a pencil. Insert the germinant root first. If the seed coat is still attached put it just under the surface. If the seed coat is off, the first set of leaves can remain above ground.
- Cover with a thin layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Keep moisture levels moist, but not wet.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Jack pine
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb.
Zone: Performs best in the northern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Cones should be collected just as they are starting to crack open, do not wait too long or the seed will fall out. Cones need to be dried immediately after collection. Spread the cones out in thin layers in the sun or in a well ventilated room. Drying should happen slowly. It can take anywhere from 2-60 days. Getting the cones to open completely can be a tricky proposition. Some species may open completely with just air drying. The literature suggests 2-4 hours in a 65°C (150°F) kiln will open the cones of Jack Pine. If this does not work it may be that the initial drying did not allow for proper opening or the temperatures were too cool. You can soak the cones for 12-24 hours, and lay them out to dry again. Some people use a boiling water dip to open cones as well. Once you have successfully opened your cones, they can be placed in a tray with a mesh bottom made of hardware cloth. As you shake the tray, the seeds will fall out through the holes in the cloth. You can then dewing the seeds by rubbing. Seed can be stored in a sealed container in the freezer if the moisture content is less than 10%.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 1 day.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize 2-3 times a week.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Lodgepole pine
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.
Zone: Black soil zones in central Saskatchewan. It will also perform adequately in the northern part of the province.
SEED COLLECTION
Cones should be collected just as they are starting to crack open, do not wait too long or the seed will fall out. Cones need to be dried immediately after collection. Spread the cones out in thin layers in the sun or in a well ventilated room. Drying should happen slowly. It can take anywhere from 2-60 days. Getting the cones to open completely can be a tricky proposition. Some species may open completely with just air drying. The literature suggests 96 hours in a 48°C (120°F) kiln will open the cones of Lodgepole Pine. If this does not work it may be that the initial drying did not allow for proper opening or the temperatures were too cool. You can soak the cones for 12-24 hours, and lay them out to dry again. Some people use a boiling water dip to open cones as well. Once you have successfully opened your cones, they can be placed in a tray with a mesh bottom made of hardware cloth. As you shake the tray, the seeds will fall out through the holes in the cloth. You can then dewing the seeds by rubbing. Seed can be stored in a sealed container in the freezer if the moisture content is less than 10%.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 1 day.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize 2-3 times a week.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Manitoba maple
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Manitoba maple, Acer negundo L.
Zone: Grows best in southeast Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Maple seeds are called samaras and are formed in groups of two. They typically look like a little set of wings. The samaras should be picked in the fall. The can be picked right from the tree, by laying a sheet under the tree and shaking the branches, or by picking up the seeds that have already fallen. You can break off the wings if you like, but it is not necessary. Seed should be stored at 10% moisture in a sealed container. Seed can be placed in either the refrigerator or the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 30 days. Maple emits a very unpleasant smell when it is wet. You may not want to stratify this in your kitchen fridge.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet byproduct is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Paper birch
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Paper birch, Betula papyrifera Marsh.
Zone: Grows best in northern Saskatchewan. Tends to like sandy or silty loam soils.
SEED COLLECTION
Birch seed grows in nutlets which appear like tiny cones on the tree. These cones can be harvested after they start to turn brown. This is usually in September. Once the nutlets are harvested they should be laid out somewhere warm and allowed to dry out. The dry nutlets can be placed in a ice cream pail with a handful of small stones. Shake the pail until the seeds are knocked off the axis. The seed can then be sorted using screens of different sizes. Birch seed can be stored in a sealed container in your refrigerator.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Birch seed can be sown directly, however do not anticipate great germination levels. You may need to put 10+ seeds per cell.
- The other alternative is to separate out the good seed using 90% ethyl alcohol. This is kind of hard to get ahold of, so it may not be the best option. The seed should not remain in the alcohol for longer than 1 minute and should be rinsed thoroughly.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet byproduct is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Pincherry
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Pincherry, Prunus pensylvanica L.
Zone: Performs best in Central Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Pincherry produces clusters of small bright red berries. They usually ripen in late July – early August. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pails with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it.
- You will need a place to do both warm (~25°C) and cold (~5°C i.e. a refrigerator) stratification. For the first 40 days you alternate between warm and cold every 5 days
- After this is complete, remove the seed and soak it in a dilute fertilizer solution for 24 hours.
- Place the seed bag in the fridge for 90 days.
- Soak the seed in fertilizer for another 24 hours.
- The last 10 days of stratification involve moving from cold to warm every 12 hours.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media. Pincherry requires light to germinate.
- Cover the soil with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Plains cottonwood
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Plains cottonwood, Populus deltoides Marsh.
Zone: Performs best in the southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Timing is very important on this species as the seed is released shortly after it matures. Seed pods form shortly after blooming in the spring. They appear like a small green cluster of tear drop shaped pods from a central axis. They usually mature in early June. You must watch them very closely as they should be picked just as they are starting to crack and not before. Once you start to see signs of splitting you need to pick the pods and spread them out in a box with mesh on all sides. This ensures good air flow. You may also want to add a fan. Once all the pods pop open your box will be full of white fuzz. An air compressor is handy to stir up the fuzz and release the remaining seed form the pods. Next you take a clean shop vac and suck up the fuzz through the mesh. The seed will fall to the bottom and the fuzz will stick to the filter. You may have to run the fuzz through more than one to get all the seed. The seed is extremely small and will look like sand in the bottom of your vacuum. We typically store the seed in paper envelopes in a sealed container with some desiccant. It can then be stored in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- No preparation is necessary.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination. Do not allow this seed to dry out. It should germinate in a few hours.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Potentilla
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Potentilla, Potentilla fruticosa Auct.
Zone: Sandy soils in the South and South West.
SEED COLLECTION
The bright yellow flowers of the potentilla start to fade in the late summer. At this point the plant dries up and turns brown. The flower stalks are left with small ball or bowl shaped structures which contain the seed. You need to harvest these bowls. Seed can be stored in a sealed container in your refrigerator.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- No preparation is required
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media. You may want to use a pinch of seeds per cell as germination is not the best in this species.
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Rabbitbrush
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pall.) Britt.
Zone: Grows best in dry and poorly vegetated prairie of the south and west, on eroded banks and saline clay flats.
SEED COLLECTION
Rabbitbrush seed is collected in late summer after the yellow blooms have all died back. The seeds look like tiny pencil leads (about 1 cm long) with a halo of fuzz on one end. The seeds can be stripped out of the plant using your fingers, or the plant can be shaken or beaten over a pail. Mature seeds will snap when you break them in half. Seed can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- No preparation is required
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media. You may want to use several seeds per cell as germination is not the best in this species.
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Red elder
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Red elder, Sambucus pubens
Zone: Grows best in southern Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Red Elder berries grow in clusters of dozens of tiny, bright red berries. These berries usually ripen in the end of July and into August. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pail with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container or plastic bag and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag somewhere warm (25°C) for 60 days. Next move the seed to your refrigerator for 90 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Mist regularly until germination.
- You may want to cover the seed with forestry grit (fine sterilized gravel) after germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Red osier dogwood
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Red osier dogwood, Cornus stolonifera Michx.
Zone: Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Dogwood seed ripens throughout the summer. Ripe dogwood turns white and is soft and squishy. If you squeeze a berry, the seed should pop out. Dogwood berries are favoured by many types of wildlife, but have a bitter and unpleasant taste. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pail with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 70 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Sandcherry
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Sandcherry, Prunus besseyi Bailey
Zone: Southern half of Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Sandcherry produces large grape-sized berries. In late July, early August the berries will ripen and turned a dark purple that appears almost black. These berries are very easy to pick off these low-growing shrubs. Pick the berries when they are ripe and fill the pails with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. It should be kept somewhere warm (~25°C) for 14 days.
- Put the bag in your refrigerator for 85 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Push the seed into the surface of the media until covered.
- Cover the soil with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Saskatoon
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Saskatoon, Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.
Zone: Grows best in southern Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Saskatoon berries should be picked when they turn dark purple and are ready to eat. Seeds need to be removed from the fruit. This can be done using a blender with taped blades or another method of your creation. Once this is done you should float the fruit in water. The good seed should sink to the bottom, while the skins and pulp will float to the top. This may require several rinses and some hand sorting. By pouring the seed into a container in the path of a household fan, you can remove some of the smaller seeds and other debris. If you are not planning on sowing the seed right away, it should be laid out and allowed to dry for several days. A moisture content of just under 10% is ideal for storage. The seed can then be placed in a plastic bag, sealed, and stored in your refrigerator.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Saskatoon has a tendancy to produce a clear "slime" when it is soaked which makes it difficult to handle. Some sources recommend mixing the seed with clean sand or peat moss during stratification.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 50-120+ days. The literature varies on this number and it can change from seed lot to seed lot. You could leave the seed in stratification until you start to see germination.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet. If you are stratifying in sand or peat moss it requires very little water. If you keep the media too wet you will encourage pests and fungus.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth. Some sources suggest 1-2 half hour light bursts during the night.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet byproduct is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Scot's pine
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Scot's pine, Pinus sylvestris L.
Zone: Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Cones should be collected just as they are starting to crack open, do not wait too long or the seed will fall out. Cones need to be dried immediately after collection. Spread the cones out in thin layers in the sun or in a well ventilated room. Drying should happen slowly. It can take anywhere from 2-60 days. Getting the cones to open completely can be a tricky proposition. Some species may open completely with just air drying. The literature suggests 10-16 hours in a 48°C (120°F) kiln will open the cones of Scot’s Pine. If this does not work it may be that the initial drying did not allow for proper opening or the temperatures were too cool. You can soak the cones for 12-24 hours, and lay them out to dry again. Some people use a boiling water dip to open cones as well. Once you have successfully opened your cones, they can be placed in a tray with a mesh bottom made of hardware cloth. As you shake the tray, the seeds will fall out through the holes in the cloth. You can then dewing the seeds by rubbing. Seed can be stored in a sealed container in the freezer if the moisture content is less than 10%.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 1 day.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize 2-3 times a week.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Seabuckthorn
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Seabuckthorn, Hippophea rhamnoides L.
Zone: Southern Saskatchewan, will not grow north of Prince Albert.
SEED COLLECTION
Sea Buckthorn fruit can be collected anytime after it ripens. Ripe fruit has an orangy-yellow colour. It can often have traces of red on it as well. One of the biggest challenges of picking Sea Buckthorn is the large thorns that are present on the tree. It is often easiest to pick this fruit after it freezes. If the berries are frozen solid, you can use leather gloves and just strip them off into a pail. If you chose to pick them before they are frozen you will have to pick them one at a time. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 30 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Shrub willow
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Shrub willow, Salix spp.
Zone: Grows in the southern half of Saskatchewan in moist areas like ditches.
SEED COLLECTION
Timing is very important on this species as the seed is released shortly after it matures. Seed pods form shortly after blooming in the spring. They appear like a small green cluster of tear drop shaped pods from a central axis. They usually mature in early to mid May. You must watch them very closely as they should be picked just as they are starting to crack and not before. Once you start to see signs of splitting you need to pick the pods and spread them out in a box with mesh on all sides. This ensures good air flow. You may also want to add a fan. Once all the pods pop open your box will be full of white fuzz. An air compressor is handy to stir up the fuzz and release the remaining seed from the pods. Next you take a clean shop vac and suck up the fuzz through the mesh. The seed will fall to the bottom and the fuzz will stick to the filter. You may have to run the fuzz through more than one to get all the seed. The seed is extremely small and will look like sand in the bottom of your vacuum. We typically store the seed in paper envelopes in a sealed container with some desiccant. It can then be stored in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- No preparation is necessary.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Mist regularly until germination. Do not allow this seed to dry out. It should germinate in a few hours.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Siberian crabapple
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Siberian crabapple, Malus baccata (L.) Borkh.
Zone: Best suited to the southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Crabapples ripen at the end of the summer and into the fall. The apples need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 15 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Siberian larch
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Siberian larch, Larix sibirica Ledeb.
Zone: Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Larch cones ripen in September through November. They turn brown when they are ripe. Freshly collected cones should be laid out in a thin layer in the sun, or a warm, well-ventilated room. The cones can be opened by solar heat, putting them in a heated room, or tearing them apart. Once the cones are open, they can be placed in a tray with a mesh bottom made of hardware cloth. As you shake the tray, the seeds will fall out through the holes in the cloth. Once the seeds are separated you can rub them to remove the wings. Finally, you can pour the seed in front of a household fan. This will blow out the wings and debris and leave you with relatively clean seed. Seed can be stored in a sealed container in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 30 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time you water. Trees should be allowed to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Trembling aspen
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx.
Zone: Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Timing is very important on this species as the seed is released shortly after it matures. Seed pods form shortly after blooming in the spring. They appear like a small green cluster of tear drop shaped pods from a central axis. They usually mature in early to mid May. You must watch them very closely as they should be picked just as they are starting to crack and not before. Once you start to see signs of splitting you need to pick the pods and spread them out in a box with mesh on all sides. This ensures good air flow. You may also want to add a fan. Once all the pods pop open your box will be full of white fuzz. An air compressor is handy to stir up the fuzz and release the remaining seed form the pods. Next you take a clean shop vac and suck up the fuzz through the mesh. The seed will fall to the bottom and the fuzz will stick to the filter. You may have to run the fuzz through more than one to get all the seed. The seed is extremely small and will look like sand in the bottom of your vacuum. We typically store the seed in paper envelopes in a sealed container with some desiccant. It can then be stored in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- No preparation is necessary.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Mist regularly until germination. Do not allow this seed to dry out. It should germinate in a few hours.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Villosa lilac
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Villosa lilac, Syringa villosa L.
Zone: Grows best in central Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Lilac seed capsules will appear just after the flowers disappear. They can be picked in the fall after they have turned a bright brown. The capsules need to be broken open and then the debris can be removed by fanning or sieving. The seeds are long and thin and look kind of like wood. Once moisture content drops below 10% you can store the seed in a sealed container in your freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 30 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
White spruce
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: White spruce, Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss.
Zone: Will grow throughout Saskatchewan, performs best in the northern part of Saskatchewan (i.e. Prince Albert)
SEED COLLECTION
White spruce seed is produced in cones. Spruce cones are typically ready for harvest in late August through to early September. To ensure that they are ripe, you should pull a scale and look closely at the seed. It should be full, plump and white. You want to harvest cones whose scales are closed, not open. Once the cones are harvested they should be laid out in direct sun and allowed to open. Cones can be placed in a tray with a mesh bottom made of hardware cloth. As you shake the tray, the seeds will fall out through the holes in the cloth.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 15 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize 2-3 times a week.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- Conifers require at least an 18 hour photoperiod to prevent shut down and bud formation.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, conifers require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Wolf willow
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Wolf willow (Silver berry), Elaeagnus commutata Bernh.
Zone: Best suited to Southern Saskatchewan
SEED COLLECTION
Wolfwillow seeds can be picked in the fall and well into the winter. Picking gets easier after leaf drop because the berries are more visible, however you can lose berries to wind at this point. These fruits are kind of difficult to clean because the fruits are quite dry and the powder found inside can be quite sticky. The berries need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it. Put the bag in your refrigerator for 70 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
Wood's rose
Typical Propagation Protocol For:
Species: Wood's rose, Rosa woodsii Lindl.
Zone: Performs best in the southern half of Saskatchewan.
SEED COLLECTION
Rose hips start to mature in mid May. They can be harvested once they start to turn red, or any time after that. Pick the hips when they are ripe and fill the pail with water in order to float off as much debris as possible. The hips need to be broken open. This can be done using a blender with the blades wrapped in tape or another method of your design. Place the pulp in a large pail and fill it with water. The good seed should sink to the bottom while the poor seeds, skin and pulp will float to the top. It may take several rinses to properly clean the seed. Lay the seed out on newspaper to dry. Once the moisture level drops below 10 % you can place the seed in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
PROPAGATION AND CROP SCHEDULING
Seed Preparation:
- Seed should be soaked for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Rinse the seed until no bleach smell remains.
- Soak your seed for 3 days. Change the water daily.
- Place your soaked seed in a plastic bag with pin holes poked in it.
- Put the bag someplace warm (~25°C) for 90 days.
- Put the bag in your refrigerator for 90 days.
- Ensure that the seed remains moist, but not wet.
Media:
- We use a combination of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss and 50% Sunshine #2 grower mix, but any commercial potting soil will work. You may want to add some vermiculite to your mix to ensure good drainage.
- Fill your tray, ensuring that there are no air bubbles. Do not pack down your media.
Sowing:
- Place the seed on the surface of the media.
- Cover the seed with a layer of forestry grit (fine, sterilized gravel).
- Mist regularly until germination.
Fertilization:
- Peat moss contains no nutrients so you will need to fertilize every time the plant gets dry. You should allow the plant to dry down somewhat between waterings.
- Use a balanced high nitrate fertilizer (ie. 20-10-20, 20-8-20). Start at 10 ppm and gradually ramp up to 200ppm as the tree grows.
- Add to your fertilizer a small amount of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
- Mix up a solution of chelated micronutrient mix and saturate this solution with calcium sulphate (gypsum).
- Add equal amounts of your fertilizer and micronutrient mixtures to your water when you are watering your trees.
- If these fertilizer components are not available to you, simply use a balanced tree fertilizer from your hardware or garden store.
Light:
- An 18 hour photoperiod will give you maximum growth.
Temperatures:
- After germination is complete, trees require a variation of at least 4°C from day to night time temperatures.
- During the day you want media temperatures to be about 18°C, therefore the air temperatures need to be approximately 20-24°C depending on the facility.
- Night time temperatures should drop relative to your day time temperatures. Make sure that the temperature does not drop too low or you will cause your plants to shut down.
Conditioning:
- Prior to moving your seedlings outside, you need to condition them to prevent shock.
- Start by moving your trees outside during the day and bringing them in at night. They can gradually spend more time outside until they are ready for planting.
- Watch the moisture levels closely. The sudden change in conditions along with intense sunlight and increased winds can cause your plant to use more moisture than you are accustomed to.
CULTURAL CHALLENGES
Insects:
- Beware the fungus gnat!
- Fungus gnats live in moist peat moss. The adults are virtually harmless, other than being annoying, but the larval stages will feed off the roots of your burgeoning young seedlings.
- Aphids can also become a problem in this crop. They feed off the leaves of the plant by sucking out the juices. As a waste product, aphids produce a substance called honey dew. This sweet by product is often a lure for ants. You will notice shiny spots on your leaves where the aphids have been feeding.
Treatments:
- Fungus gnat adults can be killed using an insecticidal soap or even just a dish soap solution sprayed on the plant.
- Allowing the surface of the media to dry will reduce the populations.
- You can place raw potato slices on the surface of the media. The larvae will be attracted to these and after about 24 hours you can remove the potatoes and the larvae with them. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to ensure removal.
- With this species it is more about control than elimination. Treat what you can and you should be fine.
- Aphids have soft bodies and can be removed using a spray of high pressure water. Ensure that the water is not so strong that it damages the leaves.
Disease:
- Due to the high moisture levels necessary for germination, high temperatures and soil and seed borne pathogens, germinants can often damp off early in their development due to fungal infestations.
Treatments:
- Damping off preventatives are available at your local hardware or garden store. Follow the package directions closely.
