Marcos Torres

Just started planting more seeds in Chihuahuan desert sandy soil here in southern New Mexico. This time I am planting in a 5 gallon sized hole filled with a mix of 2/3rds native sandy soil and a little less than a third heavy clay soil with activated biochar slurry. Maple River farms now recommended cold stratification for a few months then freezing for 3 days. Take 50% seeds with an equal amount of heavy clay soil and mix with enough water to coat all the seeds then put in a Ziploc bag or opaque plastic tub with a lid and place in a warm place, like a seeding mat. Should start germinating in about a week and continue for up to six weeks. Plant as soon as they germinate. I will do this after the start of the new year with 30 planted in 4 x 14 inch pots to transplant later in the spring. Wish me luck!

I planted well over one hundred seeds in very sandy Chihuahuan desert of southern New Mexico. About twenty four germinated of which 18 have survived. Some are over 6 inches tall and others only a few. I suspect small rodent, possibly mice, as well as birds have been the problem. I watered once a week during the early winter with seeds germinating in late spring. That was increased to every three days in the summer which may have been too much. I made chicken wire cloches that helps but hardware cloth would be better.