Ten of the World’s Most Invasive Species

10 Ways You Can Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

1. Clean your hiking and fishing gear.
2. Don’t move firewood.
3. Fish using native bait when possible.
4. Volunteer at removal efforts.
5. Talk to your local nursery when selecting plants for your garden.
6. Clean your boat before transferring to a new body of water.
7. If you see an invasive species, report it.

Invasive Species Science Branch: research and management tools for controlling invasive species. Invasive, nonnative species of plants, animals, and disease organisms adversely affect the ecosystems they enter. Like “biological wildfires,” they can quickly spread and affect nearly all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems …

• Asian Carp.
• Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
• Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)
• European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
• Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
• Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)
• Small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus)
• Northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis)

The seeds in a tomato are mature. The seeds contained in a fresh tomato look just the same as the seeds in a seed packet bought from a garden supply store. Under the right circumstances, these seeds can grow into tomato plants for next year’s garden.

It is possible to grow tomato plants from supermarket tomatoes, but the variety you pick and environment conditions are essential factors that can influence your chances of success. Harvesting tomato seeds and planting them are easy tasks. However, ensure to pick heirloom tomatoes, which are more suitable for breeding.

Working With Tomato Seeds Seeds from many plants can be saved simply by waiting for seed pods or fruit to dry, then opening them up to collect the seeds. The best way to remove this gel covering is to allow the fruits to rot and ferment. In nature, this happens when the fruit falls off the plant.

Several recent studies have shown that tomato seed germination is best when seeds are soaked for only one to two days before they are rinsed and dried, and that fermentation times longer than three days have a negative effect on germination.

Simply soak seeds in warm water the night before you’ll be planting them to soften the hull of the seeds and help the sprout break the seal. To germinate tomato seeds on a paper towel, moisten a single paper towel so that it’s damp but not soaked.

Tomato seeds kept at warm room temperature and sprayed with water twice daily should sprout within a week. As soon as the seedlings break the surface, move them to bright light. A full-spectrum grow-light is ideal, but a sunny window will do provided the seedlings are watched closely to make sure they don’t dry out.

Sow your tomato seeds in March or April, approximately 6-8 weeks before the final frost of the winter, or earlier if you’re growing your tomatoes in a greenhouse. Sprinkle the seed thinly onto good quality seed compost.