Springtime planting, greenhouse success, and the Seed Farm

Seedling Production Process:

• Winter Preparation: The process of producing native seedlings begins in the winter. Many native plants require artificial pre-treatment to break dormancy, which can start as early as December. This cold-wet exposure triggers a slow chemical reaction within the seeds, preparing them to germinate when temperatures rise.

• Greenhouse Cultivation: In 2024, 5,900 native forb and grass plugs were grown. Seeding began in February, with the seedlings nurtured in warm greenhouses under supplemental light to compensate for the short days. Most of these plugs were transplanted into the field in April and May, particularly in recently disturbed areas, woody planting understories, and restoration sites that needed increased diversity.

Species Planted:

• Shrubs: Notable among the shrubs were Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), with 784 plants each produced.

• Forbs: A variety of forbs were cultivated, including Curly-cup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), with 519 plants, and Aspen fleabane (Erigeron speciosus), with 348 plants.

• Grasses: Among the grasses, Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) led the production with 582 plants, followed by Rough fescue (Festuca campestris) and Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha).

Seed Farm Expansion:

• Gumweed Cultivation: The Seed Farm saw an expansion with the introduction of five new rows of curly-cup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), which more than doubled the existing production area for this species. A total of 1,300 seedlings were used to create twelve new beds for six species.

• Wild Tarragon Discovery: Wild tarragon (Artemesia dranunculus), a native sub-shrub that thrives in harsh conditions and provides cover and forage for wildlife, was found growing above the floodplain. Several of these plants were transplanted into the Seed Farm to establish a seed source.

Wildlife Observations:

• Bunny Habitat: The sheds around the Seed Farm provide excellent habitat for baby bunnies, who are constantly on alert for predators.

• Bull Snakes and Western Toads: A pair of bull snakes is often seen near the rock pile, and tiny western toads are frequently found when weed fabric is removed. The toads are relocated to wet, shady areas for their safety.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL PDF: 2024-06-26_RB_greenhouses-2024-seeds-springtime-planting_Field_Note.pdf