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O/T The Wonder of Seeds

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Fergienewbee

Well-known Member
Our land hasn't been farmed in over 35 years. The last renter put nothing back into the soil. Patches of broomsedge are scattered in some areas, especially on the power line. I walk our land almost every day. A couple of years ago I discovered two clumps of little bluestem growing with the broomsedge. This summer there are a few more new clumps getting started, I assume from the parent plants. In all my walking, including much of the power line, this is the only bluestem I've found. No idea where it came from, on the wind or from an ancient seed bank. Several other prairie plants just "pop up" when I disc. I find it fascinating.

Larry
 
Hi fergienewbee: Similar event at my place. This land, I am told by the locals, has never been plowed. The field was used as a pasture most of the last 110 years since the railroad opened up this area. About 25 of those years, only hay was cut. Last year and 2 years ago I plowed some of it and planted soybeans(RR) since soil test indicated that was best. This year was a great year for growing hay and I finally noticed a very tall stem, almost 6 foot, of grass in the soybeans about early September. From what I found on the internet, it looks to be one of the "Tall" prairie grass plants. I may have uncovered dormant seeds when I plowed. I waited untill it was ripe and took entire plant into the house to use the seeds for planting next year. I'll have to pick a special place where it will be safe for the entire season. Looking forward to growing more. By the way, this area is called Buffalo Ridge (EL 2,000 Ft) and was considered mixed Tall and Short prarie grass country in SW MN. ag. My hobby farm address
My retirement Hobby farm
 
Seeds are a whole nearly unbelievable world in themselves...some won"t germinate without going thru an animals gut (removes outer coating and has fertilized spot to germinate in), some have extensions that expand and contract with the temperature, to screw themselves into the surface, some count the rains, won"t germinate with the first, only start with the second or third...and digging up ground often has odd things grow up...
 
agpilot;

Could be big bluestem or Indian grass. Big blue has a three-branched seed head, aka "turkey foot." Indian grass has a plumey head. I would have loved to have seen the prairie when the country was new. Must have been quite a sight.

If you want a great book about prairie, get John Madson's "Where the Sky Began; Land of the Tall Grass Prairie. His family settled in Iowa in the 1800s. Lots of handed down stories with a nature twist. JOhn Madson was a wildlife biologist/naturalsit. His wife illustrated the book.

Larry
 
Hi noncompos: Yes, I had a wheat farmer tell me about Wild Oats Screwing itself into the ground as the first part of germination many decades ago. He also said Wild Oat seeds could lay dormant about 100 years. I believed him but I was hoping he would not ask me if I had a spray that was cheap any easy to kill Wild Oats in a wheat field.. He didn't. Good farmers almost always know a lot of details about the crop they are growing.. ag
 
Hi Patrick: Hey, "ya knows where I is at" if your wife is from Ruthton (just 15 miles North)
I grew up on a farm about 65 miles SE of here and when the Mayo Clinic said I could be on a "short list" I decided to get out of the big metro areas and back to a farm. I still have a desire to get back out to Montana. Big Blue Sky country and clean air. So where about are ya at now, if I may ask? Ag..
 
Hi again fergienewbee: Thanks for the info on my "Tall grass" that I found. I only spent a few minutes with google and planed on checking much more after Fall ends A.K.A. first big snow storm.
Your comment ends hope my find is Big Blue since it has 6 seed heads. Another thing is that it was all by itself. Might need other plants for good pollination? Anyway, it was Tall. Thanks for the Book info. I'll check it out at Amazon. By the way, about 60 miles South, there are the remains of a Native American settlement that had been active for over 8,000 years before White Pioneers ruined it 150 years ago. Google Blood Run and read the Iowa state university account of it. Unreal how I grew up just 75 miles E-NE of it and no one ever talked about it. The Indians knew a lot about most everything that grew in their area. Now many kids living in Metro areas know little about nature around them.. Thanks for starting this thread.. Ag..
 
Hi Larry (stinecorner) You welcome, glad you enjoyed my 1st blog.. but yours are really good, so Thanks back at you for your pictures.. ag.
 
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