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Experts believe that seeds are produced by as many as 250,000 kinds of plants. In springtime, fancy displays of seed packets begin to show up at your local drug store and supermarket. In the Philadelphia region, there’s always an abundance annual flower seeds to choose from at hardware stores and garden centers such as geraniums, verbena, impatiens, salvias, coleus, lobelia, zinnias, and marigolds, as well as other varieties. A garden center may carry only three to four varieties of marigolds, but they may offer ten to twelve types of marigold seeds. A pack of seeds can produce hundreds of plants and most times cost less than a dollar. Starting plants from seed saves money.
During the growing season of summer, you can also harvest seeds from your perennials to start indoors the following spring. Vegetable seeds are easier to acquire and germinate very successfully, perennial seeds require a little more patience and skill; but there are many that can be collected from your garden right now, in August, and through October in the mid-Atlantic region. Some easy perennials to harvest seeds from are yarrow, coreopsis, echinacea (coneflower), sweet William, hollyhock, veronica, daylily, hosta potentilla, corydalis, and salvia.
Collecting perennial seeds is not difficult; all it takes is a watchful eye in the garden. Seeds are formed on plants in many different, shapes and sizes; therefore, there are different methods for harvesting them. Walk the garden and take note of the spent blooms that are fading and watch for seed pods that are swelling for the next few weeks. The seed will become more apparent and pull away from the bloom. Once the exposed seed swells, it will begin to turn brown. Once it turns brown, it’s ready to harvest. In some instances, the gardener must break open a casing and then take out the seeds.
The motivational life application lessons found in a tiny seed are enormous!
Death is the beginning of life for a seed. Seeds are the part of a plant that produces offspring in order to produce its legacy before it dies. If we study the anatomy of a seed, we will notice that most seeds are hard and dark, but inside they are tender and full of life. Inside the dead shell, new growth waits; and in the right conditions the new growth begins to emerge. Once the seed falls into fertile ground, the outer shell opens as it dies. Once the seed coat breaks, the seed begins to germinate by growing down into the soil and developing a primary root. The other roots develop, anchor the seed, absorb minerals, and water the seed, which enables it to grow. Death is the beginning of life for a seed. The plant has to die before it produces seed and the seed shell has to die and open before it can expose the life it holds inside. There is a scripture in the Bible that states, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24) Like a seed, sometimes, in order for us to grow, thrive, and bloom, we must lay aside things that hinder us from growing and becoming more successful. Once given the right environment, which includes the right amount of water, oxygen and temperatures for a seed, germination will take place. Once we establish a good environment, we too will continue to grow. After the seed germinates, it will continue to grow and eventually produce blooms; the blooms will produce fruit; and the fruit will produce more seed, which ultimately produces a harvest.
The size and shape of a seed has no relationship to the size of plant that develops from it. Look at the size of an acorn in comparison to the oak tree that it produces. There is another bible reference in Matthew 13:31 which speaks about a mustard seed to show that although a seed as small as a mustard seed can seem insignificant, it can grow and produce amazing results. A small plant can yield a global harvest. The size of a seed has no relationship to the size of the plant that develops from it. What small seed should you be planting in your life that you have been procrastinating on? It may be going back to school, starting a new business, losing weight, writing a book, or even starting a family. It doesn’t matter how large or small the seed is, start planting. No matter how insignificant your plan may seem, remember it won’t grow if you don’t sow. Remember, a handful of seeds have the potential to feed an entire generation.
Most perennial seeds don’t germinate immediately. They can remain dormant for different periods of time yet they are still able to germinate under proper conditions. It’s been reported that scientists found dormant 10,000-year-old lotus seeds that could germinate when conditions were favorable for growth. Some of our efforts, the seeds we plant, will not grow when we planned for it to grow. Some types germinate within days, others take several weeks, and a large number of perennials require what is called stratification which will mimics cold conditions.
Hopefully, observing the life of a seed will not only provide you with the motivation, inspiration, and information to reach down to earth and sow seed that will breathe life back into the earth, but more importantly, back into you. Take note of these seeds of success and get growing!
1. William A. DiMichele, “Seed,” World Book Online Reference Center. World Book, Inc., 20 Apr. 2004. <http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar499880>.
2. DiMichele, “Seed,” 10 Apr. 2004.
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