Gift-a-Garden Seed Jars

Description

True Native California Wildflower seed mixes in upcycled jars which can be used to mix a planting medium (like sand).

Choose the Color (of the flowers) and Theme (type of planting area) and Jar size.

Seed mixes will vary with availability but will be packed with seed list.

Mini Gift-a-Garden Jar Planting Instructions:

• Pre-weed area (hoe, rake out weeds roots & all, or pull by hand); water, then wait for weeds to emerge. Once weeds emerge, weed area well again. Repeat 1-3 more times until weeds are out of the soil (works great in Spring & Fall).
• After a good & deep rain in the Fall, lightly rake planting area.
• Remove jar wrapper & string & save for later
• Fill your Gift-a-Garden Jar about 1/2 to 3/4 the way full with playground sand or rice hulls.
• Replace jar wrapper & string, place your hand on top & shake well. Poke holes in wrapper if paper or cut small slice if fabric
• Sprinkle seeds over surface so it is a very thin layer, you can shake them out from the jar gently
• Walking over it gently a few times will set the seeds into the soil.
• Keep soil moist with a gentle watering can until they germinate, slowly back off watering as they mature.

Alternative instructions:
If you want to choose which plants go where or more closely observe the process and have better success you can germinate them in a seedling tray or inside a greenhouse.
• Pre-weed area as above while growing the seedlings, both take a similar amount of time but can be done at the same time and will greatly increase success.
• In a large seedling tray, fill with playground sand or fine compost (or a mix of both, if you live in a dry climate choose mostly compost, if you live in a moist climate choose mostly sand). Sprinkle only 1-2 seeds in each hole; Keep moist.
• If you have cold winters, plant in Fall. Keep tray outdoors in a protected area to allow natural cold-stratification (some seeds may need two cycles of cold-stratification to germinate, such as Western Juniper).
• Areas with mild /warm winters, the seeds will benefit from cold stratification. Seeds may be started by putting them in a moist paper towel in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. Plant what germinates in your seedling tray or a small pot. To help remaining seeds germinate, allow to sit at room temperature near light until sprouting then transplant to small pot (this simulates Spring/Summer). If seeds remain ungerminated they may need the second cycle of germination in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.
• Mixes with fire-germinated seeds like miniature lupine can use liquid smoke, smoke paper, or create your own, and either treat the seeds or the garden area so the smoke helps them germinate.
• When seedlings have their second set of leaves you should be able to identify them easily by looking at the plant info & pics on Calscape.org.
• Transplant when roots are visible at bottom of tray to your planting area.