Growing Serviceberry Seeds

Harvesting and Preparing Seeds

• 1

  Harvest the berries in summer when the seeds are completely ripe. Ripe seeds are dark brown with a leathery coating.

• 2

  Place the berries in a blender container and process on low speed until the they are macerated.

• 3

  Rinse the seeds over a wire screen to remove the fruit. Fruit left on the seed will ferment and ruin the seeds.

• 4

  Lay the seeds out to dry on the screen overnight or until they are completely dry. Discard the smallest seeds.

• 5

  Place a mixture of one part vermiculite, one part perlite and one part peat moss in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Mix in the seeds and seal the jar. Place the jar in the refrigerator for 3 to 6 months.

Planting Seeds

• 6

  Plant the seeds in spring, directly in the garden or landscape where you want them to grow. Place three seeds in each location and cover them with one-fourth inch of moistened soil.

• 7

  Mark the area where you planted the seeds. It may take several months for seedlings to emerge.

• 8

  Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Don’t allow water to stand in the area.

• 9

  Thin to one seedling per location once they emerge.

• 10

  Apply mulch around the seedlings when they are tall enough that they won’t be buried. Mulch insulates the soil against drastic changes in temperature and moisture content. It also reduces the number of weeds.