My Valerian Seeds Sprouted!

I realized I've missed doing homestead updates on steem. Lately my steem time has been fairly focused on working on and promoting Homesteaders Co-op. But I want to get back in the habit of regular homestead updates! I realized I have a backlog now of stuff to share.

My valerian seeds just sprouted a few weeks ago.. probably right around new year. This is kinda crazy to me because the seeds have been sitting in this pot since early spring 2018. I thought they would have sprouted by summer, but then when they didn't I thought I wouldn't see them sprout until next spring, if they sprouted at all.

It seems strange that they would sprout in the middle of winter, but then again this winter has been really mild where I am living. We have been getting frosts and freezes but it has been consistently above freezing more than not.

My takeaway from this experience (aside from feeling joy that my valerian sprouted!) is to be patient with perennial seeds. If they don't sprout in days or weeks like we are used to with most veggie seeds, don't give up on them. I am told some perennials and trees can take multiple seasons to "unlock" dormancy and sprout.

This is a perfect example. I put a lot of perennial seeds in pots last spring and summer. Most of them were cold stratified for 3-4 months. While I had a good number germinate, many of them did not. They are still sitting in my nursery, getting rained on, getting frosted and freezing and going through another stratification period.

I will not give up on them, at least not for a few years! I'll keep patient and keep watch over my nursery. Luckily there has not been any pest predation, except for the occasional stratching from a curious bird and the seeds remain safe in the nursery.

I've learned to mark the pots not only with the species but also the year it was put into pots. Since many will be a multi year process I can keep track of them and know how long they take to germinate, or not. My notebook includes more details like where and when the seed was collected or purchased for future reference.

Well, if all these babies survive, it looks like I will have some extra valerian plants to share with my friends or neighbors, or sell at the farmers market :)