It would be wasteful for seedlings to start growth late in the year because none could survive winter. To avoid such an outcome, the seeds must be stratified before they can germinate; that is, they must be moistened and given an extended period of low temperatures. In nature, this happens in the course of the normal seasonal cycle. Seeds are produced in late summer, moistened by autumn rains, chilled throughout the winter, and are ready to germinate in the mild, sunny days of spring. Seeds possessing this requirement can be artificially stratified by placing them between layers of moist paper
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