“A Seed is a Wish About to Come True. . .”™   Summer Rayne

Call 1-866-694-9955 to place a credit card order.  Any size order OK! Or Use PayPal Below

General Plant Terms

Cotyledon - The first pair of leaves that grow from seed plants after sprouting.  They are usually much different in appearance than the next set of leaves or true leaves.

Harden Off - The process of gradually introducing plants grown indoors to the variability of outdoor conditions. This is done by setting plants out for longer and longer periods of time. It is recommended that they first be set in the shade for several hours a day for a couple days. Bring in at night.  Then leave out for most of the day until plants can stay out at night.  Then introduce to sunny conditions, but take care not to allow too much sun as this will burn the leaves. within 10 - 14 days most plants will have acclimated to the great outdoors.

Long Day / Short Day - Some plants, like onions, regulate their growth rate by the length of sunlight versus dark hours.  Long day varieties should be planted as early as possible since the amount of bulb growth is determined by the amount of development prior to bulb growth.  Short day varieties can be planted in the fall because they will obtain enough growth to make a large bulb early in the year.  As a general rule long day varieties are planted for Northern regions and short day for southern regions.

F 1 - Hybrid - Plants that are artificially pollinated and cross bred in order to develop new varieties. These plants do not breed true to the parent plant.

OP - Open Pollinated  - pollination by wind, insects birds or other natural processes which result in a plant reproducing new generations of the same plants.   

Polycotyledon - Having more than one pair of seed leaves as in the case for pine trees.  

Scarification - This is the act of scraping or rubbing a seed with a file or sandpaper in order to soften the hard outer shell.  This makes it easier for the seed to germinate and faster, especially if soaked in water.  If the seed is really tough it can be nicked.  Cut a small notch, in the seed, next to the part where the seed was attached to the pod (hilum)  Do not cut into the embryo (the living seed inside)