Seeds & Seed Propagation

Floral CareersPlant Propagation

3 Basic Parts

Embryo Food Storage Coverings

Embryo

Part of the seed that “germinates” and becomes the new plant.

Bean seed showing embryo

Food Storage

Cotyledons. Also called “seed leaves”.

Cucumber

Cucumber seed leaves

Coverings

Seed coat

Germination Requirements of Seed

Moisture Favorable temperatures Oxygen

Light and Seed Germination

May be required for germination in some species: Small-seeded annual plants

Seed Enhancements

Let’s use Begonia as our first example

Begonia tuber-hybrida

Begonia Fruit

Begonia seeds are extremely small!1,000 seeds are shown next to the coin.

Pelleted Begonia seeds are much easier to see and mechanically sow. Pelleted seeds are round.

Multi-pelleted Lobelia seed. Each pellet contains several seeds.

Mechanical seed sower for sowing plug trays in the greenhouse $$$$$

How about Marigold?

Raw Marigold seed is long and thin with a prominent tail.

Detailed Marigold seed has the tail removed. Detailed seed is much easier to handle and

mechanically sow.

These are coated Marigold seeds. The coating improves visibility and helps the seeds flow better

through a mechanical sower.

The End