Re: HYB: aphylla germination

From: Debby Wheeler <foxbrook@javanet.com>

I solicited an 'outside' opinion, knowing less of Lynn Markham's aphyla
breeding than her daughter. What they have experienced with germination
rates is pretty interesting.
Andrew Wheeler
foxbrook@javanet.com

Stephanie Markham wrote:
> 
> About the aphylas.  Crosses between i. aphylla and TBs are fully
> fertile -- they're both 48 chromosome tetraploids after all.  However,
> germination the first year for these crosses can be VERY low --  10-25%.
> If you hold over the cross for another year, or even 2, you can get 75%
> germination because the seeds are all viable, but they seem to break
> dormancy with great reluctance.  My mother postulates that the reason is
> that i. aphylla originated in a VERY harsh climate, and the seeds have
> evolved to be very tough ( with thick and hard seed coats) to survive the
> winters where they originated.
> 
> I would advise that rather than planting these seeds directly in the
> ground, that they be planted in pots, and the pots be sunk in the ground.
> That way, you don't end up with rogue plants 2 years down the road in the
> middle of something else because the aphylla hybrids finally decided to
> break dormancy and sprout.  My mother has had aphylla hybrid seeds come up
> in the middle of stuff YEARS after the seeds (germinated in pots, of
> course) were tossed, along with the excess soil from the pots, somewhere
> that eventually became garden.
> 
> Hope this helps.  Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.  I haven't picked
up e-mail at
> this address for more than a week.  My house got hit by lightning and
> nearly burned down last Monday, and I've been dealing with that instead of
> other things.  Not to worry, everyone's OK.  It'll be a few months before I
> can live in the house again, but in the meantime, I've got a 40foot mobile
> home sitting in my back yard, and we're living in that!  Kinda like camping
> in your own back yard.
> How are things at school?

> Stephanie Markham
> 
> Toadland Gardens
> 22 Lawrence Street
> Norfolk, MA 02056
> PH:508 528 7416
> FAX: 508 528 2557
> E-MAIL: toadland@earthlink.net
> 
> "Gardens and Good Things"

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