FREE: Organic Lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) - 200+ Seeds

. Grows throughout the US. In the wild the seedlings appear in mid to late spring usually before the last frost. Some will continue to germinate into the summer.
. If you already have your garden spot prepared for next year (even only a couple of square feet), I suggest you take 1/2 or 1/3 of the seeds & mix them with sand & broadcast them now (even on top of snow if you have it). As you can see from the pic I added, the seeds are quite small (only about 1mm.) & the sand will allow you to broadcast them more evenly. If you rake them in, do so very lightly as they require light to germinate.
. Or else in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked. If you have an old window to lay on the ground you'll be able to work that piece sooner.
. The seedlings transplant readily with almost no setback. About 3% of the seeds are brown and those germinate easily. The majority are black and have varying degrees of dormancy some remaining viable for decades.
. Initially only 10-30% of the seeds will germinate this season which is why I offer 200+ seeds. The rest will germinate next season & the next, etc.
. Place the envelope with the remainder (or all) of the seeds in a zip lock bag & store in the freezer (at least 5 weeks) until ready to sow in the spring.
. To get a head start on the season you can sow some indoors on top of a small flat or tray or pot about 6-8 weeks before your average last freeze date.

. Germination is increased by light, strong day and night temperature fluctuations, and the presence of nitrate in the soil. So a decent amount of compost in your indoor mix should help increase your percent germination.
. Additionally to achieve the temperature fluctuation, if youre up to it, place your tray or pot in the fridge after dark and return it to the windowsill in the AM until your first seedlings begin to emerge.
. After potting them on you can move them into the garden around the last freeze date with minjmal hardening off.
. Remember the seeds that didn't germinate are still viable but dormant so add the remainder of the mix to some spot in the garden where you want Lamb's quarters in the future or from where you can just transplant future emerging seedlings.
. In the fall one mature plant on the average will produce over 70,000 seeds. You'll have all you can use and more the following season.