Gardening Essentials Session #1: Seed Saving

Join us online or face to face on Saturday 6 June.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION CLOSES FRIDAY 5 JUNE, 8PM.

You can grow plants from seeds or from plant material, you can divide roots, add one bit of plant material to another and more!  It depends on the plant and on the season.  In the Gardening Essentials Course, we cover the basics of plant propagation in six sessions.

This early June session is the introduction to the whole topic of propagation and saving seeds. You’ll learn and practice the basic techniques for seed extraction and storage.  We’ll delve into the different plant families, how to identify and select for the best genetic traits. We’ll have some in-depth discussion around plant breeding and protecting heritage plants.

How to Join: You are welcome to join online or if you live in the Bay of Plenty, face to face. Once you register and pay your tuition, you will receive an email with all the information you need to participate: what free app or software to downloaded to participate online, what to read ahead of time and have on hand, handouts, links, and passwords.  

Here’s an overview of the rest of the propagation sessions: Later in June, we do the winter “hardwood” cuttings: grape, plum, fig, hydrangea, blueberry, currant and the like.   In early spring, tree propagation will be covered.  In late spring, we’ll look at seed raising, seed raising mix and germination. Summer, is the best time to collect and root “soft” cuttings (sage, salvias, scented geraniums) and some “semi-hardwood” cuttings (lavender, rosemary, Chilean guava). Once we get to Autumn, we are dividing plants like rhubarb, comfrey, mint, thyme and berry canes, with more “semi-hardwood cuttings.”