Re: Mandragora/solanaceous plants

Lee--

>The plant that I am having trouble with is Nightshade. Our native variety
>grows well enough... but I wanted the "Enchanters Nightshade" and I have
>trouble getting the seeds to germinate. Any tips?


I also have had terrible luck in germinating 'Enchanters Nightshade' or
Atropa belladonna although I tried a new method this year that has met with
excellent results.  The method simply consists of using paper towels and
baggies:

1) Take one sheet of a heavy duty ScoTowel and fold three times.
2) Mark the outside of the paper towel in permanent marker with the species,
date, etc.
3) Moisten the towel with sterile water.
4) Open the third fold and place seeds on towel in an orderly fashion.
5) Close third fold and place folded towel in a normal baggie and loosely
fold over the tab

Belladonna seeds are small and you'll find that a nice pair of tweezers are
mandatory when handling.  Check the towels at least every week or better yet
every 2-3 days or so.  You can decrease the germination times quite a but by
using giberellic acid (GA-3) which has worked very well for me with
practically every solanaceous genera I have tried.  This year I had great
success using this method (with GA-3) on both A. belladona and A. belladonna
v. lutea, both of which did not germinate for me last year.  Same batch of
seeds germinated beginning in 10 days using this method.

This method is described in great detail in the masterpiece _Seed
Germination in Theory and Practice_ by Dr. Norman C. Deno which can only be
obtained directly from the author for $20 ppd (in the USA) at:

Dr. Norman C. Deno, Prof. Emeritus of Chemistry
139 Lenor Drive
State College, PA 16801


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