A SECRET TECHNIQUE to growing plants from SEED (you NEED to try THIS!)

[@newme2547]

When we lived in Costa Rica we used to buy our trays of vegetable seedlings from a particular nursery that was in very high demand, industrial growers used to buy seedling trays by the truckload. Over time we befriended the owners and they explained to us some of their growing secrets. They used to make their own potting mix from only two ingredients: pure sand and rice husk charcoal. Both ingredients were devoid of nutrients for the developing plant, bit it did retain moisture. The seedlings developed very strong and very well branched roots looking for nutrients, and performed very very well once transplanted into a normal garden soil. Same principle, quick results.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic, yes same principle.

[@ryankremer9832]

Would this work with cuttings too?

[@domenicomonteleone3055]

​@@StefanSobkowiakiam very happy that I follow you 💯 beacuse you are very informative Happy 2024 😊😊😊😊😊

[@noraniali2093]

Tqsm for sharing. Gonna try this❤

[@RealBradMiller]

​@@ryankremer9832YES! I can almost guarantee it.

[@forestgirl9233]

This makes so much sense! I was so worried about germinating my seeds since I don't have money to buy "fancy" soil from the store. The soil over here is arid, according to any gardening video it's absolutely not suitable for getmination but now I see it's a blessing in disguise! Thank you for sharing such a valuable information, sir! ❤❤❤

[@KindredAcresHomestead]

This is the concept of hormesis and plant epigenetics. I’ve been studying this and implementing this method for years. It works incredibly well.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MaterMultis]

Ha! No wonder people (me) buy plants from a nursery, plant it and it's dead once it's in the ground despite it's supposed hardiness zone compliance. The only ones that survive are the ones I am consistently feeding, watering and sheltering. (I also live in high desert so I have a few extra challenges) . Thank you! And thanks to your Kiwi friend! ❤

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I think many people have experienced the failures especially when their soil is not "garden soil". Try starting your own in sand with drops of water to survive.

[@renatamcstay]

This has been my method only the strongest survive. Thank you for strengthening my thoughts

[@jvin248]

Before experimenting on your expensive tree seeds. Rig up test trays of different soil using bean seeds to see any differences. Big bag of supermarket pinto beans for a few dollars.

[@dingdonglong803]

Wow this incredible and it totally makes sense. Also explains why sometimes when we bring plants home from nurseries and plant them in our less than stellar soil they struggle. It's because those plants were given ideal growing conditions from the very beginning.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yup

[@2A_supporter]

I did this experiment myself at 14 with weed plants and all my vegetables started them all out in bad conditions let them go to seed in bad conditions for a few years and now to this day the seeds are breed are abundant they start in the middle of winter and get going in spring my other thing is just simply piling leafs

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic. Thank you.

[@realvipul]

you mean growing seeds in bad soil plus in very weedy soil and allow them to compete? that seems good idea

[@chuckbailey6835]

​@@realvipulI think he ment cannabis

[@stefanisilva2493]

​@@realvipulI'm doing this experiment in a small space of my land. In 3 months will see the results and will come back to discuss it if somenody comments here.

[@srinigypsy]

​@@stefanisilva2493ill check back

[@midwestribeye7820]

This makes SO MUCH sense! I'm going to try it this spring. Thank you!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You are so welcome! Have fun and document the results.

[@AlsanPine]

i will have to try this. i have been developing another method, for 30yrs and mostly with veggies and small fruit, that works extremely well. before i plant seeds, i place them in a cardboard box with a ripe banana for a week. this boosts the robustness of the plant noticeably. the reasoning behind it was that normally, seeds are dropped in the wild where vegetation is decomposing and producing the same gas that we use to ripen fruit. so the seeds have plenty of ethylene which is a plant hormone. i have been experimenting with this for decades and the results are consistent for the plants. some plants do respond more to this. any fruit would give the best result. tomato, pepper, cucumber, pumpkin, etc show easily withing days of sprouting. i have not tried it with large fruit as i buy them bear root for my orchard and have not tried raising from seed but i would think it would work. try it sometime 🙂

[@forestgirl9233]

Wow, I will try your technique! Thank you for sharing! ❤

[@AlsanPine]

@@forestgirl9233 you are most welcome. have a great new year 🙂

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic.

[@nikkireigns]

Do you push the seeds into the banana, or just nearby, uncovered?

[@AlsanPine]

@@nikkireigns i put seeds in little lid caps (to keep them segregated) and place them in the box and close the lid so the banana gas stays inside the box and blanket the seeds in their little trays. you do not want to open the box too much. the key is keeping the gas inside to cover the seeds. i also dry and grind down all my banana peel and spread the powdered result on my beds as fertilizer (improves root development). i also grind up all the eggshells and add it to my compost on my beds (improves disease resistance and robustness).

[@londonpickering8675]

Fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to record this and share.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thanks for listening

[@JS-mh1fh]

Thinking of trying this with tomatoes, and once they're sending out shoots, to snip those off, and placing into really good soil. This may also be a good way to extend the harvest a bit since late season tomatoes fetch a better price since most others have died off.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Absolutely. I think the time needed for veggies is much shorter, may be just 7-10 days.

[@bluemoon8268]

… Tomatoes really benefit from being planted deep … so it would be best to just remove leaves up the stem and add your leaves and soil up the stems to create more roots …

[@JS-mh1fh]

Yes, @@bluemoon8268, I already do this. I am a grower (started with tomatoes 40+ years ago) and sell plant starts. I sell specific heirloom varieties with research that shows their cancer preventive qualities. I'm hoping to lengthen and speed up the amount of sales for starts, as well as increase my production this year. The varieties can be difficult to grow, do not have an abundance of production per plant, and have no disease resistance. I'm looking for ways to quickly propagate the plants to increase my yield so I can be more ready with a continual supply of fruits should I need to remove the plants because of disease issues. This past year was particularly bad where I am since we had a drought in June and a lot of rainfall in August - we ideally want the reverse.

[@JS-mh1fh]

​​@@bluemoon8268 not if I want to both have a second, later planting date using shoots, and secondly, I can get shoots started then transplanted to larger pots to sell at a higher price at local markets. I sell seedlings/starts, sometimes portable gardens to city dwellers or those with health or mobility issues, as well as the produce at local markets.

[@ashtree9693]

For edibles the most amazing programming I've experienced is as per Anastasia's advice in the Ringing Cedar Book series. The idea is to place the seeds in your mouth for 9 minutes standing (with bare feet) on or near where they are to be grown, The seeds apparently register (from your saliva) the deficient nutrients in your body and uptake more of those nutrients as they grow specifically for you. The buzz from eating food using this method is indescribable. There is other hints in the book also. With your advice I might also make a small pocket of poor soil for them to germinate. 😎🙏

[@TheNutritionalMystic]

I loved that series

[@luisuriashermosillo6804]

Excellent!! It makes sense, of course. We detect what happens in our surroundings, andc react to that. Guess ancient growers, who had ni ferrilizers used more this technics, based in natural posibilities of our bodies, as plants and trees and animals . There are stories about kids nurtured by wolfs, with only theri milk. ☝🌟🤗

[@shambalaspaceoflove7528]

Incredible series of books🎉, jam packed full of ancient wisdom from Anastasia that we forgot over eons...but are bringing back... I love the wedding rite 🙏🥰

[@jameswarner7435]

Absolutely fascinating. I am so glad I clicked on this video. This is truly enlightening material. Thank you so much. I cant wait to put this to use!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Wonderful!

[@TheSwaffordHomestead]

I enjoyed the video! I really like the idea of programing seeds! The video also made me realize I have been doing (similar) to this to my garden plants... I grow as much as i can from seed (hundreds of plants) to get the healthy plants I want. (Most plants you buy here are expensive & struggle to get started.) I start them in a mostly peat moss mix. Maybe just a weak mix of liquid fertilizer after the true leaves if needed. When they are transplanted into the garden plots, within a few days there thriving!

[@bbtruth2161]

Love it! Yet another bit of knowledge to try, learn from, and add another part to the whole.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

That's the plan!

[@thepetmafia]

We are with you please continue the researches ❤

[@Psa141]

Good tidings to you Stephan Sobkowiak and yours. I started an experiment with this technique, 2years ago, late in the summer. My criteria: Plant a few varieties of test seeds, the medium was to be ‘clean’ and low cost: Sand. It worked. An Australian fellow had a vid about using it for all his seedlings. A success this past year transplanting plants to a predominantly lake sand soil garden with some amendments. Most did much better, stamina & yield. There was a severe blight however, affecting tomatoes-wet conditions, but the crop was set to be good, so I’m hopeful this year. I’m interested in your adapting this for trees; seeds, cuttings? Thank you for the additional info on its uses. I have fruit seeds saved, lol, need to research that; a project? Have a blessed day.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic. I don't think it will work well for cuttings (i've been wronged by nature before!!) since they are not from a seed (the gene expression is best from seed). But it's worth trying.

[@johnliberty3647]

David The Good mentions you a lot and this is the first video I watched. This is one of the best gardening videos of all time. I still need to test this to believe it but now I have a mission to find out and that’s the absolute best gift to give to humanity. Thank you sir.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thanks. When testing use a control with a few seeds to compare with and without the treatment.

[@JV-li6ho]

do you have a link?

[@johnliberty3647]

A link to what?

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

Very interesting, it reminds me of the experiment the cannabis seed company Dutch Passion did. By manipulating factors such as light temperature, light hours, wind, NPK levels etc. they were able to raise the ratio of females from around the standard 50%, to over 80% and up to 90%.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Wow, genetic plasticity in action.

[@kimnenninger7226]

Really interesting video. What a great way of thinking about starting seeds. I normally get plants from the nursery that are in great soil that is watered every day. I take them home and put them in the horrible soil in my yard. No wonder that they all die.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes i think your experience is quite common, it’s usually a reverse programming.

[@jakebarney]

I’ve heard my great grandfather started his seeds in egg shells filled with sand. I see an experiment in my near future

[@exhile3747]

Basically, putting the seed for programing (about 2 months) in the poorest soil (like sand or pure sand and rice husk charcol) and with the minimum amount of water. The idea behind is that when the first root discover and analizy the enviroment where it will grow, the seed programs itself to poor conditions and low water (programing), then you can transplant to a rich soil and you will have a strong plant.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thanks, good summary.

[@easygrows2699]

I saw something similiar in a permaculture forest, dude has a 40 Year old Jaboticaba Tree that hasnt fruited even once. On my suggestion he took an air layered cutting and planted it into a pot with poor soil, 6 months later i get a call from him all excited that the cutting is full of flowers and that i should please explain to him why. I told him that my guess was that the regenerative forest soil is so abundant in nutrients and water, that the Tree doesnt want to reproduce itself, its like, i live in abundance and perfect conditions, i can get 500 years old if i want, why make babies 😁.

[@gkseeton]

Wow, marvelous application of epigenetics! ❤

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad you think so!

[@Meowbay]

My father (born 1937) uses this technique since the 1970s on his (organic) farm in SE France. He uses fine rocky gravel, a bit larger grains than sand usually is, about twice the size thereabouts, multicolored. (Similar type you often see in fish-aquariums..) He mixes that with cinnamon powder and thyme-leaves, which are especially good for seeds that need a long time to germinate, prevents mold, fungi and moss forming. The details about thyme-leaves I have no idea why, but it works. And like you describe here, he waters very little, usually just with a fine-water-dust spray once each evening. He also uses rotting fruit gassing techniques someone else mentions here in the comments, he does not just use banana, but all kinds of fruit peels rotting, like plums, pears, apples. And he does the gassing in the same closed cage during germination, in the same go, so skipping a pre-gassing option. His seedlings grow like crazy after that, and fruit and veggies are always abundant. We're now trying the same in our food-forest. You have to closely watch the gassing thing, because you need to avoid fungi/mold from the rotting fruit reaching the seeds. Light and extra heating are not needed during germination stages. My father even says heating during germination results in weaker plants. Light is only needed as soon as the first green appears, and then you should always avoid direct sunlight for more than an hour a day. This is also logical, evolutionary, seeds would never be in full sun. Most seeds genes are based in thriving jungles, with shade or filtered green light on ground level. Keep this in mind too. Full direct sunlight for young seedlings is rarely good.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Great details, fantastic. Thanks.

[@RC-yb5dp]

I now understand why my different seeds, some that are known to be difficult to germinate, grew so well. I purchased vermiculite cubes with no fertilizer, and I had the best crop of plants that I have ever had years ago. I have not been able to germinate certain seeds because I started using the so-called best seed starting mixture. I will just use vermiculite and see what happens. Cuttings from roses, lavender and hibiscus plants are started in just plain sand. Wow, thanks for this lesson. Adding other nutrients is not needed in the rooting stage.

[@alchemistalwash481]

What a brilliant idea :) I will definitely be trying this, although my plants are always neglected and roughly sown lol. thank you very much for sharing.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You are so welcome!

[@SeekingHisWill77]

Wow, such meaning for life in general!

[@vaughan7835]

Brilliant! In Mid coast NSW AUSTRALIA, I accidentally found this out about 6 months ago, mid winter, with Banana pups. Got 2 from a local guy but kept in pots. I couldn't visit them very often. They both dried out & died. Just left them BUT a bit later we had heaps of rain then more sun. They both came back to life, along with a brother or sister. So 1 + 1 = 4. They are powering on in the ground now in a banana circle, compost pit in the middle...

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic. Works not just for seedlings.

[@Rabbiting0n]

So with grafted fruit trees, would you have to program the seeds of the rootstock only, or both?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You could program the rootstock but what you add as scion doesn’t benefit from the programming.

[@mariacastaneda6736]

I will try your amazing experiment to see the results

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good luck! Please use a control.

[@nicholassteel5529]

This is amazing info! Glued to the end! Thanks🙏👍✌️

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ericmodeen4164]

This works with every species, not just plants, nature's code sometimes needs a little kick to unlock

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Curious where have you seen it applied outside of plants?

[@ericmodeen4164]

@@StefanSobkowiak not intentionally applied but in the case of domestic cat's when abandoned and they have offspring the offspring have a greater instinct to survive

[@19AKS58]

A popular theme in human longevity/wellness these days is hormesis, which basically is making conditions tougher on the body so it will bring forth its "A" game

[@srinigypsy]

​@StefanSobkowiak its like kids who grow up in too much comfort and wealth become soft n whiney later in life

[@luisuriashermosillo6804]

Really enlightening!!! Kids who grew in restructions, with drastic changes in weather, that is suffering colds and heat, not very rich food, maybe just mothers milk in the first years, like poor people, grew stronger and live more, without suffering diseases. And kids that grew with all comodities, controlled temperature always the same, overprotected, their bodies never excerzise nor learn to be strong, and live shirter, failed lives. I am afraid, like the classic next generation of parents whi were poor, worked hard and. built a huge bussines, their children, growin in abundance, are spoiled and unable to handle the family bussines, that soon fails in bankrupcy. Very interesting reality for all living beings, indeed!!!! Wonderful!! Spread the word!!! 🌟🙏🤗

[@cacmang42]

Never heard this. Does anyone have anymore tests of this to share? I want to see more

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Check the comments, examples beginning to emerge.

[@CD-kg9by]

That's how growing plants from seeds has always worked. For propagation, you always use a medium/soil with low nutrient content. That's the whole magic already.

[@LittlePieceOfHeaven.65]

very interesting and makes complete sense ! Will the seeds ( say I plant tomato seeds this year in poor condition with this technique) next year be planted in poor soil again to start with or is it already programmed ?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good question. First for veggie seeds the time in the seedling soil should probably be shorter but still work. Second there is an effect that seeds from a site are already better adapted to your particular conditions (I forget the name of the effect). Would still be worth applying the technique in a simple side by side test in following years. I suspect there would be faster progression or advancement to the seeds if applied for a few years.

[@LittlePieceOfHeaven.65]

@@StefanSobkowiak I will for sure try a side by side this year. Thanks!

[@denisdufresne5338]

For sure I will try it. It a super discover for me.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thanks, document the results please with a control untreated.

[@realvipul]

very interesting way to look at seeds. I wonder cuttings growns can genetic switches manipulated this way..

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I don’t think it works equally with cuttings. Realize cuttings are from a long ago germinated seed that produced a plant that has long been propagated by cuttings.

[@zb3948]

Brilliant! And THANK YOU for sharing your experience and knowledge with the world. I hope everyone understands you are saving so many people literal years of trial/error, money, frustration, etc. Your example of using sand and gravel as a poor soil is great. I have mostly clay (wet) soils. I'm assuming I should use that as a starting mix as well. Do you see any issues with using a silty-clay starting mix?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You're welcome, thanks. For your tests I would use sand and gravel only in pots. Since clay is far more fertile and won't give your plant the BIG change needed. Since you will only keep the seeds and seedlings in for max 8 weeks it would be a 1 gallon pot max. Try both and see.

[@jasonhughes726]

Great Video thanks.

[@Gonzalo_M]

Great video! 🙂 I wonder if this would work well for creating a “superior” rootstock. And then to graft a specific cultivar. 🤔 Interesting! Thank you! 😃

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes it will but the rootstock will likely grow a very large tree.

[@Gonzalo_M]

@@StefanSobkowiak do you think that it will be a good idea to use this technique for rootstock and grafting?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Rootstock may be larger than standard sized tree but with grafting and then excellent training you can get fruit trees that each produce a ton of fruit. Give them LOTS of space, at least 40'x40' probably more.

[@TheCog1983]

I haven't heard the term "Seed Programming" before; however, it sure sounds similar to what is termed seed suppression. A handful of native horticulturists use the technique in their nurseries in Australia. Keeping seedling in tiny pots with minimal care for 6-10 months. Then went planted into fertile soil,,,BOOM, growth accelerates. This method been around for a long time.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic, may be why I learned of it in NZ.

[@TheCog1983]

@@StefanSobkowiak , thanks for sharing your video mate.

[@happytomeetyou.3027]

I have never heard anything like this, thank you so much.

[@KarenCampbell-qh1xt]

Can’t wait to see this! Thank you!

[@jimmaag4274]

I'm currently cold stratifying 405 red oak acorns. I had planned on starting them in the best potting mix I could get. They are going onto a mostly clay hillside but clay is no good for a treepot, what would you suggest i mix in with the native clay soil to get good enough drainage to use it in small containers?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

sand. You have a great opportunity to test the technique with 2 different soils. Builders sand and your clay soil.

[@jimmaag4274]

@@StefanSobkowiak Interesting, I actually have several bags of builders sand left over from a trenching project. I have 200 14" treepots to tryout this year, and I was planning on putting the other 200 acorns in one of my garden beds that has pretty good soil. I'll keep some records and report back when I have something to share. I'm 57 so I'm planting for my grandchildren.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Planting keeps you young as you want to see the results of your work.

[@themagnanimous23]

​@@jimmaag4274 @stefanSobkowiak Surprised to see this advice. If you add a little bit of sand to clay, you are actually going to make the drainage worse. Organic matter would be a better choice to add to the clay unless you have enough sand to make your mix for the treepots a bare minimum of 50% sand. You will see if you google about adding sand to clay.

[@jimmaag4274]

@@StefanSobkowiak @themagnanimous23 Stefan, this brings to mind another question I had about this method, how long should we leave the seed in the poor soil? The entire first season, or are you thinking let the seed try to grow long enough to develop some roots and then move to the soil? I'm currently planning to plant them into tubes at the farm this fall as soon as they lose their leaves. This is my first time trying to grow from acorns so I have many questions.

[@Naturalcrusader]

I’m going to test this out with a great different qualities of soil I’ve got hundreds and hundreds of tree seeds

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic. Document the journey well please. Even keeping small quantities of the soils for testing.

[@Naturalcrusader]

@@StefanSobkowiak I have similar glacial till that you have so we’ll see how it goes

[@srinigypsy]

i will try this with purple castor bean seeds. i will germinate some in just sand.

[@Nobadcasts]

Brand new to the channel and love this video, is there anything like this for cuttings? Grow cuttings in poor soil then treat them like royalty after a bit? Also how about grafting? Would having poor soil seed starters help a grafted variety much more

[@karabean]

I was wanting to know this same exact thing because there are a lot of trees that are better off started from scion and not seeds.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I don't think it will work well for cuttings (i've been wronged by nature before!!) since they are not from a seed (the gene expression is best from seed). But it's worth trying.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Welcome aboard. Lot's to binge watch.

[@themagnanimous23]

It may not make the genetics stronger but sand is great for cuttings. I make a small sandbox, put it in shade during the humid season. Cuttings will root but won't rot because of the drainage and roots don't tangle with one another in the sand. You can put a ton of cuttings in a small sandbox.

[@Nobadcasts]

@@themagnanimous23 I appreciate the advice!

[@grahamfenn9060]

Do you think this method simply makes the programmed plant a heavier feeder than usual? Should this method be used in primarily in heavy fertilizer contexts or will it work regardless?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

It will work regardless since it makes the plant very economical ie able to live with less but given more it will grow faster.

[@nocapitals9833]

Do you think this can work with wet napkin baggy and then plant in bad soil each day you see a root poke out?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

It can if the timing is right so the root just pokes out.

[@rikilosiewicz77]

Will this technique work with cuttings? We have beach plums in New Jersey. My neighbor has a tree that is barely surviving. The tree was part of a program where beach plum trees were provided as a strategy to encourage planting native trees. Every year I think about the tree and want to understand what can help the tree thrive. Mostly I believe it needs more sun. It should grow in the sandy soil unless the trees were started in rich potting soil and people planted them in the sandy soil thinking they would produce fruit which it has merely put out a couple of plums occasionally. I live on a bay island. If cuttings would work I'd like to give it a try planting the cuttings in sand to see if the programing technique would stimulate happy trees in our climate here.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I’ve been going through some of the epigenetics literature and it may. Appears effects are not just on seeds. There are genes in all cells. Worth trying.

[@rikilosiewicz77]

thanks i'm excited to try it. @@StefanSobkowiak

[@gimiandtarascott8496]

so how long should you leave the vegetable seed in the poor germination soil before transplanting? just the normal transplant interval? and do you re pot them or put em straight into the field?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Have not tested but the usual amount you give to trays seems right.

[@iamthewelcher]

Thank You! I will be trying this. Pretty sure the hardest part will be to manage the minimum amount of water...

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You can do it!

[@yes12337]

I think this is why my seedlings have been underperforming, as I really tried to give them everything they could ever want and probably overdid it. This year I'll start all my flowers and vegetables in the worst soil I'll manage to get and hopefully they will grow faster. This or I'll just drop seeds directly in the garden, because I found the seeds planted this way performed better than the seedlings planted weeks earlier (!) and kept at home when the weather outside was still too harsh 🤯 I've already learned that little abuse is beneficial for most plants and since I started to trim the ones I want to grow faster (including orchid's roots) they bloom like there was no tomorrow 😅

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Fascinating.

[@dami2001]

Very interesting content, I will try this method, thank you very much for your help!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad it was helpful!

[@honestlee4532]

This sounds like it's worth a try. There are limits to the bad soil though. I lost a bunch of seeds by trying to start them in poor soil. I later discovered that the ph in the soil was about 7.

[@johnlord8337]

It seems counter-intuitive - but the logic makes sense. As the old saying of growng a lotus plant in (------) - and once above all that it really grows tall, firm, stable, and productive. Childhood (and seed) young experience when growing up, having an initial hard life, then getting into proper environment and culture - and both child and seed become abundant producers in society.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Absolutely

[@Permisiepl]

I have made an experiment with peppers, willing to verify this method a bit faster that it would be possible with trees :) I have planted same seeds in very poor (80% sand, 20% peat) soil, and in very rich (50% compost, 50% peat) soil. When the seedlings reached 4 true lieaves stage, I have transplanted them to the rich soil. After a month, there is no difference between these two groups, but I will continue to experiment :)

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Fantastic, keep us informed of the final harvest. Thank you for doing the test.

[@brianpalmer967]

This is amazing. And it's very practical - something anyone can do!

[@jenniferwaddell878]

Wanted to combine this with another tip…was watching David to Good and he cut out the main top of the tree out when he planted it in his “grocery row garden”. Could I do this with a 6’ bare root jujube tree in the bad soil, or wait to cut it after I plant in good soil.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I dont recommend cutting when planting, you can train (bend down branches) instead.

[@tiarianamanna973]

Makes sense! Amazing 😅 thank you so much 👍👍👍

[@jurgenwerner5480]

Another great video, thank you Stefan! I do believe this method makes absolut sense for annuals. Concerning fruit trees, more precisely cultivars, I have been told so far that you cannot propagate them via seeding but you need a scion in order to conserve the properties of that cultivar. Or am I wrong?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

True. But you can plant seeds, especially using this technique to give better adapted trees, but they will be huge. You can always overgraft them later.

[@arcadiapermaculture974]

I wonder what the impact is of this technique on long-term survival/viability of the plant though? Great for timber production or Christmas trees, but maybe not for something you want longevity from?

[@melodyscamman244]

One of the most compelling reason why each gardener should keep a journal...😉

[@StefanSobkowiak]

From what I saw the programmed trees looked like they would become monster champion trees. Only time would tell. Got a lifetime to test?

[@oklahomesteader]

Very interesting!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I think so too!

[@anneg8319]

Would the seed sprouting temperature need to be correct?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

In their range.

[@characterofgodvideos]

For annuals, is it 7-10 days in the poorer medium after placing the seed in the soil or after actual germination (because germination times vary)?

[@malik2433]

After germination

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Germinate in the poorest soil, then plant in better soil.

[@thefoodforestnamibia]

Fantastic Cid o thank you!

[@Malvision1]

I wonder what the new roots from a fig tree cutting might be doing? I start my fig cuttings in bark because no Mould will form . Not much nutrients there .

[@jvin248]

That's an interesting idea that also matches with Landrace Gardening techniques (look up Joseph Lofthouse), save your own seeds so you can get them to adapt to both your soil and your gardening techniques (lofthouse lived in a high altitude marginal rain environment and didn't like to weed or spray chemicals, survivors thrived). The seeds also appear to have many bacterial riders that the plant stores so it can put their favorites into the soil around the roots to feed with exudates that collect minerals for the plant; while compost tea users put that into the crop trench so the plant is finding more of the right biology already there that it can feed, incorporate, and thrive. I decided against using seed starting mix this fall (concerns with grazon and other chemicals) and already have a big bucket of seed tray material from the garden, so we'll see this spring.

[@MiladyMeowMeow-bf7nk]

I was just thinking about Joseph Lofthouse as well!

[@IbrahimShh]

Does it work if I soak the seed in wet napkins just till it breaks the shell or should it be from the very start?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Best from the very start.

[@IbrahimShh]

@@StefanSobkowiak Thanks!

[@WoodlandT]

I wonder if this explanation partly works to explain why volunteer seedlings can grow and survive in areas they would likely die but definitely struggle if I planted them as an already growing nursery plant. It obviously doesn’t include the moving to richer soil and excelling. But these volunteers don’t necessarily grow exceptionally well in these difficult conditions. But they do much better than if they had been planted there by us

[@MrMockingbird1313]

A good video. A world class professor of gene switching is Dr. Adam Rutherford in the UK. He has written several books and is a funny read. Anyway, he speaks to the idea that genes get turned on or off and the effect for the organism. Mostly it's about humans, but it is about all creatures.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Wonderful thanks.

[@janew5351]

Stephan, my Haskap berry plant is starting with leaves because of this in these unual warm conditions . Do i cover it, because cold and snow are comming ? I do not want to loose all my berry plants. The black current is in full bud but No leaves beside the haskap.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

It’s not the first time haskap has encountered such weather. Worst case they lose the buds and grow new ones in the spring. Don’t cover them, it can make it worse when the sun warms the cover.

[@janew5351]

@Stefan, thank you so much for your response ! I was so worried.

[@jm1979mx]

Stefan, I have started to be a farmer in the last 2 years, LEAVING SOME MATURE TREES WHERE THEY STAND, 4- 300' rows 15'ft apart and 15' spacing of Apples mix FUJI & CAMEO, PEACHES MIX ELBERTA & SOUTHERN BELLE, PLUMS SANTA ROSA & ?, COMICE PAIRS. IN THE YARD WE HAVE CHERRY TREES 5 DIFFERENT KINDS, FIGS, 100 CONCORD GRAPE VINES AND 75+ BLUE BERRIY BUSHES AND 3 LARGE GARDENS 40X40 VEGS. 30X50, WATERMELON AND 30X30 CANTALOPE PATCH WE HAVE AN OLD FARM THAT HAS NOT HAD ANY CHEMICALS OR BEEN FARMED IN 65+ YEARS IT WAS A DAIRY FARM BEFORE. THE SOIL IS LIKE WORM CASTINGS EVERYWHERE. BESIDE PERMACULTURE FOREST ORCHARD AND THE MANUAL WATERING BACK IN THE WOODS, I LIGHTLY CLEARED. WE HAVE HONEY LOCUST, SILVER MAPLE, CHERRY TREES SICAMORE AND THE INVASIVE FINGER OF HEAVEN TRASH TREE. MY BIGGEST BATTLE IS THE 15 DEER THAT LIVE HERE I USE 5FT FENCINING WITH A 5FT RADIUS AND 3 WOOD STAKES AND AN ELECTROCULTURE. I USE HARDWOOD MULCH AND NOW INTSALLING ELECTRO CULTURE COPPER PIPE ANTENNAS ON BAMBOO STAKES OUTDOORS AND MY INDOOR CUTTINGS AND PLANTS LIKE BLUEBERRY, AND SOME HALF DEAD GRAFTED APPLE TREES I PICKED UP CHEAP THEN REPOTTED AND INSTALLED A 18" PC OF BARE COPPER WIRE TWISTED AROUND A STICK OR JUST THE WIRE TWISTED AND THE TREES AND BUSHES HAVE RESPONDED GREATLY THE GRAFTED APPLE TREES HAVE SHOOTS OF 9- 10" IN JUST 3-4 WEEKS. AND THE BLUEBERRY BUSHES ALMOST THE SAME ABOUT 7-9" NEW GROWTH. ALSO, IT RAISES THE NUTRIENT LEVELS OF THE SOIL HELPS WITH DROUGHT TOLERANCE AND FROST RESISTENCE. A WIN WIN WIN FOR SURE. LOOK INTO ELECTRO CULTURE FARMING THE OLD KNOWLEDGE THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN AND THEY SURELY DIDNT TEACH US IN SCHOOL NOW DID THEY? WAIT TILL YOU SEE THE OLd ARTICLES and ON HOW THE AG DIRTBAGS SHUT AETHER ENRGY ELECTRO CULTURE DOWN early 1900s BECAUSE IT WOULD PRODUCE TOO MUCH FOOD AND PUT THE BIG COMMERCIAL TYRANTS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE EARTH IS RUN BY TRAITORS TO US ALL. GIVE US AN EDUCATED VIEW ON THIS SOMETIME SOON? Peace brother from Frederick, Maryland. Jimbo

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Wow you got a lot done in two years using another kind of culture, permalectroculture.

[@jm1979mx]

@@StefanSobkowiak I'm careful how much I clear and even more so with the permaculture perspective. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with all🌲👍 Check out electro culture tech history . And jets us know what you think. Fruit is where it's at Electrons and amino acids not Acid protein meat and carbs that turn to sugars. If you want to learn the chemistry of the human body listen to Dr Robert Morse ND. One of the best Naturopathy Dr. Ion the earth. And a spiritual soul also. Have a blessed day👍🌲

[@VoteThirdPartyorFourth]

3:15 in: what you're describing is called "Epigenetics."

[@joseamilcarsalgadolainez3586]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@douggodfrey6521]

Nice presentation kid Very Interesting

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@grazvydasj6956]

This is a good insight into how we, by our "too much love" approach for plants, disable some of their possibilities. Dear Stefan, does this apply equally to the annual or biennial plants (veggies)? Could poor conditions increase the risk of enhancing wild traits of plants and somewhat diminishing the cultural traits (e.g. quality fruit of apple seedlings)?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good question. For annuals it works also, just program for a shorter time, I think 7-10 days may work. Worth testing. For the wild traits it's possible but I have no proof, but since most fruit are grafted it would just the the seedling rootstock. Worth testing and documenting.

[@Malvision1]

I'm starting my seeds on a damp paper towel. Do you think i should move them to sand after germination?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes. A little early to start unless you are far south and its spring already.

[@Malvision1]

Not starting them I'm just getting my ducks in a row.@@StefanSobkowiak

[@alexsyo2370]

Awesome video! Thank you very much! I have one question: I have studied epigenetics and in humans during the Dutch Hunger winter the exact same concept caused obesity and diabetes in almost all the kids born in that period. Has there been some research on potential health risk for the plant grown in this way? I don't know, maybe they will limit the exudes to feed the bacteria to save some nutrients or the rapid growth might attract aphids (just hypothesis), thank you!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

A lot still unknown

[@victorialg1270]

This is why landrace gardening is so much better.

[@katespencer4038]

Thank you i really needed this

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Glad it helped.

[@jesse6468]

Very interesting, but according to that theory, would the plant not be more susceptible to fungal infection if you start it in dry soil and then transplant it?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good question, worth testing.

[@pamelavolpe9156]

a french from france pascal poot does the same. planting in minimum watering etc.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Thank You Pamela. I wonder if he's one of my past students from my teaching tours in France.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I checked out his channel and see he's been growing his own seeds in tough conditions for 30 years.

[@melodyscamman244]

Thank you so much. I'll be setting some seed to stratify on Jan 2d (Earth's perihelion with the sun) and will experiment. 👍👍❤️

[@cosmos5623]

Tough love. Love it.

[@LibbyOnTheLabel.]

I definitely need to experiment with this! ❤

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Please do!

[@christophergruenwald5054]

My garden transplants always get a shock when putting them out. My soil while not lacking in nutrients has a ph of about 8. Coming from a peat starter to that I’m sure is a shock. I wonder if I started them in the garden soil in pots how that would do? We have very high calcium carbonate so adjusting the ph isn’t an option so one must work with what they have. About the only thing you can do to improve conditions is increase the organic matter in the soil and last spring I was at about 5%.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes your soil with no added organic matter will give better results since the seedling will ‘program’ to your higher pH soil.

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

If you're going to add organic matter consider something acidic like pine needles. What I would do for a test is use the goldilocks method - create different soil mixes with varying percentages of native soil including one that is 100%, one that is 0%, and then 1-3 in between. Then transplant them all at the same time and see what happens.

[@christophergruenwald5054]

@@TheRealHonestInquiry I’m not ADDING organic matter into my soil by mixing it in with a tiller. I’m creating organic matter which gets incorporated into the soil by my worms and microbes over time. I’m no till and everything gets chopped and dropped. Also have the soil covered with an armor at all times. My armor of choice is wood chips. And pine needles will never acidify the soil. The very high calcium carbonate is a strong alkaline buffer. I could dump tons and tons of elemental sulfur on the ground and never make an adjustment to the ph.

[@susantillander2080]

Would this work with clay soil?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Try soil that is less fertile.

[@joannatkaczuk]

I grow fruit trees from seeds ( need lots of them as I share land with beavers) and willing to test that technique. Just wandering if the tree, like apple will turn genes for small/acidic/thick skinned fruit when started this way…?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good question, test it and see. The beaver want the bark and will go for fallen fruit.

[@cacmang42]

Is there another word for this technique that I can search the internet for more?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Check epigenetics and seed priming

[@CD-kg9by]

@@StefanSobkowiak Huh? Those are two completely unrelated topics. Seed priming is an idustrial method to speed up the propagation time of seeds.

[@johnliberty3647]

I wonder if this applies to seed storage. Here in Florida maybe put a few seeds in the incubator so they lock in high temps into their DNA. Probably lose a few seeds to bacteria or fungus… but it would be fun to see if those seeds become plants with more heat tolerance.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Probably work to some degree since it is done by freezing certain seeds to acclimate to the colder climates. There is an upper limit to seed viability.

[@truthforall1303]

That’s interesting. However I grew some Tamarillos and they grew well then the frost last year was really bad in UK and they died and since then all my seeds didn’t germinate so on the package it says plant in sterilised seed compost so this time I have and I’m waiting to see if they grow. Mandy UK

[@Malvision1]

wil try it .

[@devinsullivan7233]

Instead of saying plant seeds in a “worse” soil it would be better to say plant them in a soil with “low nutrient levels”. But, use a soil that has an ideal texture to allow oxygen and drainage for seedlings. Also a soil and water with the correct ph and abundant with beneficial bacteria’s and fungi. That’s perfection.

[@chrispinmweemba9141]

This got me thinking. How do wild plants manage to survive in the wild with barely any water for long periods except once every year and when you transplant domestic plants on a farm or somewhere they fail to adapt if not watered consistently. and if you try to plant a wild plant at home without enough water it also fails to adapt. Could it it be as a result of natural genetic programming. and if so, like you are saying, is it possible to program fruit trees to survive on minimum water or without close supervision🤔?

[@Kaëlanii]

Great video

[@johnkillen588]

Brilliant!

[@Nick-Freeman]

i’ll do a bunch of different tests on my video 😊

[@Shane_O.5158]

thank you.