Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is offering an opportunity to learn how to easily start native plants from seed using common household items. The class will be Wednesday, January 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the SWCD office, 3350 Hill Avenue, Suite K, Toledo. There is a $5 registration fee per person/family.
Most, if not all, native plants, and some non-native, need to be stratified, which means they require exposure to cold temperatures in order to germinate in the spring.
Through this class, participants will mimic this natural process using repurposed milk-jugs that will act like mini-greenhouses.
Native plants are ones that grow naturally in a local area and are adapted to its climate, and therefore require less maintenance once established. Each participant will get to make two milk-jug greenhouses, planted with native seeds of their choice including purple coneflower, beebalm, black-eyed Susan and dense blazing star.
Once home, the milk-jugs need to be placed outside for the duration of winter. As temperatures begin to warm, tiny sprouts should be visible inside the milk jugs. Each jug will be planted with one species of native plant.
In the spring, participants will be invited to come back to up-pot their native plants and do an optional plant exchange with other participants. Date to be determined for the follow-up class.
Participants are asked to bring two one-gallon opaque jugs.
Registration is required and can be completed at LucasSWCD.org/seedsowing or by calling 419-893-1966.
