Unlocking the mysteries of the seed bank

[Deb London]

I have a bag of soil collected from an LNR. I want to try and identify the viable seeds in the seed bank as I find this subject absolutely fascinating.

I had thought of shoving it in a hole in one of my garden beds. Then I wondered if I should use a pot. Then I wondered if I should think about light and moisture levels, as the soil came from an area that is deeply shaded and damp for a few months of each year. Then I wondered if bagful is enough to have collected anything of interest.

Can anyone give advice, think of any pitfalls, or think of any other things to consider?

Otherwise I'll use this thread to report any findings.

[Meta menardi]

Certainly a fascinating subject. I have seen examples of small agitations ot soil provoking a burst of quite uncommon plants.

Example 1, a longstanding border in a formal garden given a rotovating as the garden changed to something less formal, a massive sprouting of what would have been a diverse wild flower meadow. Sprayed off, of course, darned weeds.

Example 2, a one time fen that was in arable for many years, flooded one year and then grew an amazing crop of Large-Flowered-Hemp-Nettle
Galeopsis speciosa over about 30 acres.

Give it a go, I would suggest that apart from anything to mimic a past habitat, the less you do the better.

[Deb London]

Thank you for your encouragement and those examples, Meta menardi. The Galeopsis speciosame example reminds me that it is important to try and 'go back in time' to the point at which the seeds stopped germinating and lay dormant.

I think that the area that I took the soil from has a bit of history. A hollow dug for a reason, but I'm not sure what that was. You only have to dig down a spade's depth or so to be faced with what looks to me to be impermeable clay. It floods in winter and it is likely that it always did. So I think I might keep the soil fairly moist with rainwater throughout this experiment. I might take one part of the sample and see if the seeds of any water plants remain viable, by keeping this waterlogged in a seed tray.

Other than that, I want to get as much warmth and light to the soil as possible and hope this brings something back from the brink. To resuscitate the plants, in effect.

We shall see.

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Other than that, I want to get as much warmth and light to the soil as possible and hope this brings something back from the brink. To resuscitate the plants, in effect.

We shall see.

Not sure about that Deb. Several native plants require a cold treatment to germinate. I can't remember the exact details. I've never tried what you propose, but I successfully grow a few hundred Betony, Devil's-bit Scabious, Common Knapweed and others from locally collected seed every year to diversify my grasslands and I sow for plugs in a soil based compost in winter and leave them out in a sheltered place (not a greenhouse) to germinate in the spring. I would imagine the best way to give all/any surviving seeds a chance would be to follow a similar method, spreading your soil over compost in trays, and be patient - at least 2 years before giving up. Good luck.

[Deb London]

Ahh, interesting. Thanks Johnny.

Yes, I must be very patient.

They are in the bag outside and it's freezing at night. I intend to 'plant' in spring. Any seeds might of course need further stratification. I'm thinking of mimicking what that area of the reserve would be like if the trees were removed. More moisture, more light and warmth because the hollow is near the top of a south facing slope. My garden can provide the last two, and collected rainwater the first.

But I might have to allow several winters to pass in order to see anything interesting.

It's my understanding that the land belonged to the church in medieval times. I don't know what plants remained until a few decades ago (the seed bank lasting up to 50 years maybe?). Maybe none. But the experiment will cost hardly anything and require very little effort. And nothing ventured as they say.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I have a bag of soil collected from an LNR. I want to try and identify the viable seeds in the seed bank as I find this subject absolutely fascinating.

I had thought of shoving it in a hole in one of my garden beds. Then I wondered if I should use a pot. Then I wondered if I should think about light and moisture levels, as the soil came from an area that is deeply shaded and damp for a few months of each year. Then I wondered if bagful is enough to have collected anything of interest.

Can anyone give advice, think of any pitfalls, or think of any other things to consider?

Otherwise I'll use this thread to report any findings.

My suggestion would be to use the soil (I assume by bag you mean carrier bag size or smaller ?) as though it were already a stratification medium. From there I would set about sowing via a range of propogation approaches: in shallow pots in a cold frame, cold green house or cloche now, in exterior drills now, and again in spring, in seed trays, both cold and with bottom heat/propogator in spring, in deeper pots in spring etc

By taking all these approaches you'll maximise the propogation range - of course there's no certainty that any of them will work but at least you'll have covered the bases.

CM

[Deb London]

And there was me thinking I might just shove the topsoil minus the carrier bag into a hole in the ground.

I don't have the equipment to try all the options, but I can certainly try a few of those.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Deb London

And there was me thinking I might just shove the topsoil minus the carrier bag into a hole in the ground.

I don't have the equipment to try all the options, but I can certainly try a few of those.

Sods Law (a true 'gardening law') would probably predict bunging it in a hole would be the most successful option The plastic trays that supermarkets 'overpack' food with make great mini seed trays - just punch a few holes in for drainage. Clear plastic (like what electric goods come in) , stretched over a few sticks, makes a good cold frame. Seeds brought on in an airing cupboard is an OK sub for a propagator. Just go for the greatest number of options that are feasible.

CM

[Deb London]

Good idea about the seed tray improvisation. We have no airing cupboard, but at least we have a heated pet bed, which will be available for modification when the weather warms up. I do have a small plastic greenhouse.