Planting trees 207
Preparing seeds for planting
Some seeds, usually those with soft coverings and which are mealy or juicy,
must be planted soon after they are collected. Other seeds may need to be
stored for many months before you will plant them. (For information about
storing seeds, see page 303.)
Most seeds need water to sprout. When a seed is
covered with a thick or hard skin it may also need to be
softened or cut before the water can soak in. Some seeds
may need more treatment before planting.
• If the seed covering is not too hard (you can dent
or break it with your fingernail) and not too thick
(not thicker than the cover of this book), plant it
directly into moist soil.
• If the covering is hard but thin, wrap the seeds in a
piece of cloth. Let them soak for 1 minute in water that
is too hot to touch, but not yet boiling (80° C). Take
them out of the hot water and quickly put them in cool
water to soak overnight. Plant them the next day.
• Another way to treat seed coverings that are hard but thin is to soak
seeds in cold water for 1 full day, then cover them with moist cloth sacks
for another 24 hours. Repeat this procedure for 6 days. On the 7th day,
plant the seed.
• If the covering is hard and thick, rub the seeds with a
piece of rough stone or sandpaper until you see the soft,
inside part of the seed. Be careful not to rub too deep and
damage the seed.
• If the seed covering is soft but thick, cut a thin
strip of the covering away from the soft inside
of the seed, being careful to cut the seed as
little as possible.
• Some hard-coated seeds are best treated by soaking overnight in water
mixed with cow dung, then dried in the sun for 1 day. Repeat this
process for 3 to 4 days. The good seeds will sprout and be ready for
planting. The seeds that do not sprout can be discarded.
Some seeds need more complicated treatments, such as being heated in a low
fire, chilled, or being eaten and passed by animals. Experiment to find what
works best. After many attempts, you will be an expert at starting tree seeds.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012