Seeds

SEED is a life product which contains 2 important things: a tiny plant called an embryo, and some food to help it grow. Most seeds are produced by the parent plant at the end of the growing season. Seeds capable of germinating are termed viable.Some seeds are viable for only a short time and should be planted as soon a they are obtained, but most will retain a high degree of viability over long periods if kept chilled and dry.You can keep unused seeds for several years in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

New plants grow from seeds. Each seed contains a miniature plant. When the growing conditions are right, the seed splits open and the plant begins to grow. This is known as germination.

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Collecting Seeds.
Ready or Not? Unripe seeds do not have all the things they need to grow. They may not have formed a baby shoot and root, they may not have laid down a food supply for the newly-germinated plant, or they may not have formed a protective coat around the seed. If the seed has not completed its development, the seeds will not be able to grow into a new plant.

Picture right is an immature passion fruit. As the seeds develop, the ovary gets bigger, and at this stage we can recognised it as a seedpod, or, in this case, a fruit.
Inside the developing seedpod, the seeds are still barely visible around the edge of the fruit, and most of the seedpod is empty space.
Each seed is attached to the wall of the ovary by a small stalk, through which it receives the food it needs to grow. It is therefore vital that the seeds remain attached to the ovary while they are developing.

Ripe seeds are contained in ripe seedpods. When the seedpod is ripe (i.e. full of mature and ripe seeds), it will open naturally so that the seeds can be dispersed and find a place to grow. Harvesting seeds is collecting them when they are mature and ripe but before they are dispersed. To do this, you need to be able to recognised the signs that the seed is mature and the seedpod is ready to disperse them.
Unripe seeds are soft, green or white, and contained in a seedpod that is green and fleshy. Ripe seeds are yellow, brown or black, hard, and contained in a seedpod that is (usually) white or brown and dry. Ripe seeds usually come out of the seedpod easily.

An unripe seedpods in most cases, the seeds are so slightly development that they are almost invisible, even though the seedpod may be quite big. Even when the seeds have reached their full size, if the seedpod is still green, they are unlikely to be any good. To prolong its lifespan, Seeds need to keep chill in a fridge at 16 degrees C ; by doing so, it can last many years before you decided to sow.

The mature seedpod has reached its full size and has begun to change colour. The inside of the seedpod is full of seeds and the juicy flesh that will attract animals to eat the fruit and disperse the seeds.
The seeds are large, fully formed, have a hard protective coat and may no longer be connected to the wall of the fruit.
If we left the fruit on the plant, the flesh and juice would dry up, and the pod would wither and dry, because it is no longer being supplied with food from the parent plant. Eventually the pod would split open to release the seeds.
In the example, the seedpod is a Passionfruit, but the development of all seeds follows the same pattern. Seeds cannot be produced unless the flower has been fertilised, and seeds are not viable unless they are mature and ripe. Unripe seeds are soft, white or green, and enclosed in a hard green fleshy fruit (pod). When seeds are ripe and mature, they change to brown or green and develop a hard covering, and the seedpod dries out and changes to white or brown and eventually splits to release them.
Producing seeds uses a lot of the plant's energy. If the plant is dead or dying, it will not have enough energy to complete the process. This is one of the reasons you are unlikely to be able to get seeds from cut flowers. The plant needs to be able to gather food while it is developing seeds, and the seedpod needs to remain attached to the parent plant until the seeds are fully developed.
Development of the seeds, from fertilisation to shedding of the ripe seeds, can take several weeks or even months, but seeds gathered before the process has been completed will not be viable.
If you want to collect seeds from the plants in your garden, you can help by ensuring that the plant has enough food and water to give it the energy it needs to produce seeds.

A new birth takes place: a germinating seed.

As with many things in life, the preparation of a growing medium can be as simple or as complicated as you choose to make it. If you like things simple, purchase a bag of ready mixed growing medium and proceed to sow. If you want to concoct you own surefire super-soil, on the other hand be prepared to draw on your knowledge of chemistry, alchemy, even sorcery. In my experience, however, the simpler method is usually quite successful.

Seedlings are often started in a soiless, nutrient-free medium, because an overabundance of nutrients is detrimental to plants in the very early stages of life. Seeds started in such a medium will requires either frequent feeding in later life or transplanting to a container with nutrient-rich, soil-based medium. Seeds started in individual containers should be sowed in a soil-based mixture that will sustain the plant throughout its life indoors. A good commercial potting soil mixed with a lighter substance(such as vermiculite) will suffice for this purpose. These seedlings can remain in the same container until they are ready to be planted outdoors.

To avoid the possibility of exposing seedlings to disease, sanitize all containers with a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part household bleach. Diligently scrub containers that have held plants in the past, as disease can cling to even small particles of soil left in the container. Water must be able to drain freely from containers or the soil will become waterlogged, drowning roots and fostering fungal diseases. Use an ice pick, pencil point, or tapestry needle to punch drainage holes in the container bottom. To prevent the growing medium from slipping through the drainage holes, line the bottom with a layer of newspaper cut to fit it neatly.

Stunning Strawberries on Right

Most seeds can be sown straight from the packet, but occasionally the seed casings are so tough that they need to be chipped or soaking before planting to hasten germination.
Chipping is the process of removing a small sliver from the end of a seed, using a sharp knife. Sometimes you might need to even use a file to remove a small part of the outer tough skin like the Canna seeds.
Soaking seeds in warm water usually for 24 hours, helps soften seed cases, thereby facilitating speed germination.

In addition, some seeds require a period of cold, known as cold stratification, to germinate.This can be accomplished by refigerating the seeds for a specified period. Larger seeds can be refrigerated before sowing, but it is usually easiest to sow tiny seeds before they're refrigerated.
Sowing Depth
As a general rule, seeds should be covered with soil to three times their diameter.
Very small seeds can be mixed in with just a little fine sand to facilitate even distribution on the soil surface.
Small to medium seeds can be sprinkled directly from the packet onto your palm and sow them individually. If the seeds requires covering, scatter a fine layer of growing medium over them.
Large seeds can either be sown individually in rows in a tray or sown one per small pot.
Very large seeds( for example, beans) should be sown in individual pots.
Seedlings that object to root disturbance should be started in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground( for instance, peat pots ).

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Lavender

A fragrant hardy perennial shrub valued for its oil and everlasting dried flower fragrances. In the tropics, we could only imagined growing lavender in the garden. Lavender can be grown in the tropics but with less Lavender's fragrance. The oil will be lesser than those grown in cooler region, but it need to be grown in a controled enviroment like a nursery. Imagined with frequent thunderstorms, torrential rains, blazing and scorching sun at a constant temperature of 30-32 degrees centigrade. Lavender is widely used in borders and herb gardens, lavender is a 1'-3' tall evergreen shrub with narrow, somewhat fleshy, often fragrant leaves. Its tiny , tubular flowers in blue or shades of purple, as well as pink and white, are clustered at the ends of long , slim stems. Attractive hedge-type plants for formal or informal gardens, lavenders can also be grown in containers or in the borders.
Type : Hardy perennials, sometimes grown as an annual
Flowering Seasons : Late spring through summer,
depending to species.
SOWING
Indoors: 6-8 weeks before planting out.
Outdoors: Early spring, when soil is cool and a light frost is still possible, or early autumn.
Depth: Just cover.
Germinating
Time: 15-90 days.
Requirements: Place seeds together with moistened growing medium in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 4-6 weeks Cold Stratification. Requires 55 degrees F thereafter.
Transplanting: After last frost.
Spacing:15"18"
Light: Full sun.
Soil: Ordinary, well drained,somewhat poor, with a ph level of 6.5-7.5. Lavenders are drought tolerant and a good choice for xeriscaping.
Caring for plants.

Easy. Prune back hard in early spring and cut off all dead flower stalks after blooming to maintain a tidy appearance. Fertilizing plants will decrease flowers' fragrance . Harvest flowers when buds are barely open and dry them in a warm place for several week; remove flowers from stems before storing. Try growing L.dentata or L.stoechas indoors; Add lime to commercial potting soil, feed occasionally with half strength fertilizer, water sparingly, and give at least 4 hrs of sunlight a day.
Propagating: Take cuttings in spring or summer or grow from seeds.
Combinations: Anthemis,chrysanthemum,Dianthus , Paeonia, Roses, Salvia, Santolina.
Buy Lavender Seeds from Ebay.

Lavender Seeds from Farmers

The colorful, trumpet-shaped blooms of Petunias are a common sight in gardens all around the world. The common garden Petunia is the result of extensive breeding and hybridization, but the primary species from which it was developed are native to Argentina. Petunias come in a wide variety of solid colors, as well as with blooms marked with blotches or stripes of contrasting colors. Gardeners can also choose from cultivars with single or double blooms and those with smooth, ruffled, or fringed petals. There are three basic classes of plants: Grandiflora, Multiflora, and floribunda. Grandiflora petunias bear single or double flowers up to 5 inches in diameter; multiflora petunias bear smaller, 2- to -3 inch single or double blooms and are more disease resistant than grandifloras. Floribunda petunias combine the size of grandiflora blooms with the diseases resistance and weather tolerance of multifloras. They bear single blooms. Petunias, extremely adaptable annuals, are versatile, colorful, and easy to grow. They can be used as bedding plants, along beds or borders, or in containers and hanging basket.

More tips on growing Petunia.

Some plants do grow better or faster from bulbs compare to seeds. But not all can grow from bulbs. Almost all kind of herbs and flowers are grown from seeds too.

It can be planted in all regions around the world, in conditions of adequate sun, water and good soil.

A handsome Chinese Celery growing beautifully on right.

Modern herb gardens may be purely functional or may be ornamental, sometimes as part of a design and containing boxes and raised beds. The development of alternative medicine is also encouraging people to grow and use fresh herbs (e.g., for the treatment of acne).

Buy Herb Seeds from Ebay
Visit Mary's Eden Ebay Store at http://stores.ebay.com.my/Marys-Eden

Growing flowers from seeds>

There is a large numbers of herbs which you can select from, could it be for cooking or medicinal purpose. If for cooking, you may wish to check your cooking shelf which may give you some ideas the common types of herbs use in your daily cooking.
Many cookbooks also offer information on uses of various herbs as flavorings or garnishing.

There are so much of varieties and recommendations of herbs for you to choose and start planting the seeds, in your garden or small pots by the window in your kitchen with sufficient sunlight.

The common herbs with strong accent :
Basils, mint family, dill, coriander, thyme, rosemary and sage. These herb seeds are easy to obtain nowadays.

Bear in mind that herbs can be annuals, biennials or perennials when selecting herbs to grow if you are a beginner. A friendly guide to cultivating over 50 culinary herbs.

For those who do not have a garden, gardening with pots and containers is an ideal way to put to start.

The key to success with any container, as in the garden itself, is a good, nutritious growing medium and adequate drainage. Pre-mixed potting soil is available in most places and saves a good deal of time and labor, though for really large containers it is probably still best to mix your own.

This should consist of good earth(prefarably baked to kill any weeds or pests it might contain, well-rotted manure or a good substitue, compost, and river sand, in ratio of 2-1-1-1.

At the bottom of the container there should be a layer of broken shards, gravel, or other material to prevent roots from clogging the drainage holes; the depth of this layer depends on the container size and may be 30cm or more in really large ones.

Most potted plants should be watered daily and regularly fed either with compost or inorganic fertilizers in pellet form. Water should never be allowed to stand intrays or saucers that may be placed under pots on terraces, which is not only bad for the plants but breeds mosquitoes as well.

View More Containers Sizes and Shapes.