Reference
Reference
This section explains words that keep cropping up on seed packets, in gardening books and in conversations with experienced growers. The definitions are in plain words, without scientific fine print, and are meant for those who are just starting to grow plants from seed. If you need a precise definition or details about a particular plant, look in plant physiology textbooks or in botanical gardens' materials for amateur growers.
"Seed leaves" and "true leaves" sound like botany for specialists, but they are exactly how a gardener can tell it is time to prick out seedlings.
Seeds
- Germination rate
- The ability of seeds to sprout under suitable conditions. It declines with storage time, so it is worth testing old seeds before sowing.
- Stratification
- Keeping seeds cold and moist before sowing. Some plants that germinate after winter in the wild need it.
- Scarification
- Breaking a seed's tough coat so that water can get inside faster. Used for seeds with a particularly hard coat.
- State Register of Breeding Achievements
- The list of plant varieties approved for use in Russia. Seed production there is regulated by the Federal Law on Seed Production, adopted in 1997.
Seedlings
- Seed leaves (cotyledons)
- The first leaves to emerge from a seed. They usually differ in shape from the leaves of the mature plant.
- True leaves
- Leaves that appear after the seed leaves and resemble those of the mature plant. They tell you when it is time to prick out.
- Pricking out
- Moving seedlings from a shared container into individual ones so that each plant has more room for its roots.
- Microgreens
- Young plants grown in the light and cut at the seed-leaf stage or when the first true leaf appears.
Care
- Hardening off
- Gradually getting seedlings used to sun, wind and cool outdoor air before planting them out in their final spot.
- Grow light
- Extra lighting for seedlings when natural light from the window is not enough. It helps keep plants from getting leggy.
- Bottom watering
- A way of watering in which water is poured into the tray and the compost soaks it up through holes in the base of the container.
- Drainage
- Holes and a layer at the bottom of a container through which excess water drains away. It protects roots from waterlogging.
Pages on the topics in this section
- Practical
Windowsill seedlings from sowing to planting out, step by step. Plus the article catalogue.
- Questions
Short answers about seeds and germination, seedlings, microgreens, herbs and houseplants.
- Collections
Reading paths: your first sowing, a windowsill garden, and what to do when things go wrong.
- Topics
A map of the guide: seeds, seedlings, microgreens and herbs, seedling care and common mistakes.
Related sections
Sources
- Plant physiology textbooks and reference books
- Russian Federal Law on Seed Production (1997)
- Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements Approved for Use
- Botanical gardens' guidance for amateur growers
Information is current as of the date of preparation. Sowing and planting-out dates depend on your region, the weather in a given year, how much light your window gets and the temperature in your home, so go by your own conditions and the instructions on the seed packet. This guide explains general principles and is no substitute for advice from an agronomist or a botanical garden specialist.