Re: Paeonia - Seed Pretreatment

Christo:

I have had experience with about 3/4 of the Paeonia species on your 
list and they have all followed the same pattern as P. suffructicosa 
(warm for germination which means emergence of radicle and forming a 
branching root system followed by cold. On shifting back to warm, the 
first true leaf emerges). The main difference has appeared to be the 
length of time it requires for germination. Some species I started 
about this time last year have just in the past month germinated and 
are now in the fridge.

P. brownii and P. broteri appear to be exceptions in that the 
germination occurs at the cold phase. 

I think you cannot go wrong by starting all at warm and seeing what 
happens...

By the way, Norm Deno has discovered that P. suffructiosa have 
germination improved by 1-2 years of dry storage and  by treatment 
with Gibberelic Acid which sped up germination at the warm phase and  
often encouraged the seed to send up the first true leaf while still 
at warm (with no intervening cold).

Hope this has helped

Kristl Walek
Gardens North Seed
N. Gower, Ontario Canada Z4
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