Re: HYB: Why Stratify
- Subject: Re: HYB: Why Stratify
- From: i*
- Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 03:11:11 -0000
Hi all
Been a while since I took a look, but very interested in all the talk
about stratifying and planting of fresh seed.
As a new hybridiser (only learnt where to put the pollen properly
last year) I was confused over the varying methods of germinating
seeds.
So with the 80 odd pods I got this year, I trialled different ways.
Given our conditions do not equate with a lot of America, my findings
may not be as valid for the colder areas.
We live in Sunny South Australia, 35ks out of Adelaide in the
beginning of the Barossa Valley (top wine country). Our place is
undulating with alkaline, clay soil. Our summer temps get up to 105,
and winter gets down to -1, if we're lucky and we do get some frost.
Not being sure about things and wanting to see what would work for
me, when the pods ripened and just started to split(Was told this was
too late), I took some that I had plenty of seed and potted half
straight away. I placed these on the verandah close to the tap so I
could water and keep the pots moist. The others I placed in drink
cups and allowed to dry out.
The ones on the verandah (no direct sun, and it was our hottest time
of year) sprouted early. Only two lots out of twelve didn't.
The dried ones, I planted one lot after watering until they had
plumped up, the others waited because I ran out of time. I had
changed the water every day or so, but the later ones got a bit yukky.
Of the dried ones, some germinated quickly, some didn't and the later
ones germinated just as quick as the first lot.
Of the original lot, most of the quicker growers have now been
planted into their own pot and are growing very strongly.
Of the rest, germination is still slow on some and a lot quicker on
others. Of course, now its winter, it may make a difference.
From my findings, I will be potting straight away into pots next year
and giving them more room and better potting mix than I did this
year. I may try stratifying some in the fridge in spagnum moss to
see if this helps, or makes any improvement. But all in all have
found, for me, straight in and Bob's my uncle.
What I have noticed is that some cultivar's germinate better than
others. Yaquina Blue and Altruist as pod parents have had
magnificent germination. I will be logging all of my results so that
I can determine the % germination, but these two are the best so far.
Anyway, it all makes life interesting and a challenge and I guess
that what we all enjoy
Regards
Dian Mitterer
South Australia
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