Give Your Seedlings a Head Start: The Seed Stratification Trick
Spring is finally here, and gardeners everywhere are itching to get their hands dirty! But before you sow all your seeds directly into the ground, consider giving some cool-season vegetables and flowers a head start with a technique called seed stratification.
What is seed stratification?
Seed stratification mimics the natural process seeds experience in winter. Some seeds require a period of cold and moist conditions to break dormancy, a protective state that prevents them from germinating prematurely. Stratification weakens the seed coat and simulates the chilling temperatures winter brings, signaling to the seed that it's safe to begin germination.