Book 29, Question 28 · Video
Why do some seeds need a cold winter before they sprout?
Some wildflower and tree seeds are protected from sprouting too early. If they sprouted in autumn, young plants might freeze. Instead, the seeds need a period of cold, damp conditions, which signals that winter has passed. Gardeners imitate this by putting the seeds in a damp paper towel in the fridge for weeks. This is called cold stratification.
Read the full answer →Watch on YouTubeSee the series on Amazon
What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do some seeds need a cold winter before they sprout?
The Big Idea
Some seeds need winter before they'll grow! That sounds strange. Why do they need the cold?
Too Early
Step one: Too Early. Some wildflower and tree seeds are protected from sprouting too early. If they sprouted in autumn, the young plants might freeze in winter.
A Signal
Step two: A Signal. Instead, the seeds need a period of cold, damp conditions. That tells the seed that winter has passed and spring is here.
Copying Winter
Step three: Copying Winter. Gardeners copy winter by putting seeds in a damp paper towel in the fridge for several weeks. This is called cold stratification.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Not yet! Cold signal. Time to sprout. Fake winter.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Many native Canadian wildflowers need this cold treatment. Protects seedlings from frost. Fridge copies winter. Sprout in spring.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, wrap a few apple seeds in a damp paper towel. Put it in a bag in the fridge. Check it once a week. Throw it away if it gets moldy. Do any seeds sprout?
Outro
Some wildflower and tree seeds won't sprout until they've had a cold, damp period, which tells them winter is over and protects young plants from freezing. Gardeners copy this in the fridge, called cold stratification. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!