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  • From: "Sage Austin | Eureka! Design" <eureka AT hctc.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] Buttermilk legume answer for Bev's previous question
  • Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:16:39 -0600

Bev, I'm waaay behind on answering stuff. Yes, the freezing/pouring boiling water cracks the seed coat. I do believe the mycorrhiza feeds on the buttermilk, which also serves to stick the stuff to the seed. You might want to check out the Soil Food Web at http://www.soilfoodweb.com/

We had our second Healthy Harvest seminar today, and I talked about how I start seeds and brought up this technique. I learned from one of the attendees that supposedly you can mix buttermilk and lichen in a blender and paint it on rocks to make it grow and "age" the rock.

Legumes have many different flowers types, so it's not always easy to recognize them. For instance, the fuzzy flowers of sensitive briar or mimosa don't look at all like a sweet pea or lupine flower, which don't look like an orchid tree (Bauhinia sp.). But one thing almost all have in common is a joined stamen-filament. In other words, if you dissect the flower, the stamens look like matches all attached at the bottom instead of separate. We mostly recognize legumes by their fruit, or pod. But some aren't as readily recognizable, for instance the curled burr that comes off burr clover doesn't look like a pod.

--Sage

EarthNSky wrote:
Sage, I really value your knowledge and expertise on this. I love gardening, but this is a weak area for me. Can you explain what the various actions actually does for germination? I am guessing that the rapid temperature change from freezing to boiling cracks the seed coat, but the rest? Buttermilk carrier medium for the bacteria? Bacteria feed on the yeast in the buttermilk? I have to admit that I did not realize that bluebonnets or lupines in general were legumes. I would not have thought to inoculate them.

And Lynda, I would like some seeds from that KY coffee tree if you can spare a pod or two.



Sage Austin | Eureka! Design wrote:
Some annuals can benefit from this, too. Bluebonnets are considered winter annuals, but have a pretty tough seed coat. I freeze them overnight, then pour boiling water over them in a colander, roll them in buttermilk with legume rhizobium added, and scatter them. Works like a charm!

--Sage

Lynda wrote:
Kentucky coffee tree. <g> I know this one because someone sent me some seeds and said it would be impossible to grow them. I stuck them in the freezer, gave them a couple of little slices and then stuck them in the ground just before the snow hit and I now have a couple of Kentucky coffee trees.







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