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| Sunday, 24 August 2003 |
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Gardening: Success with sowing by GWEN HERAT It is no secret that all gardeners and horticulturists have been disappointed by seed germination at some point in their gardening careers. Many have given up in disgust and some with impatience after trials and re-trials. Yet, how many of them lingered to find out the real cause? Most will agree that they may have not germinated at all, or one of two among the lot would have, but, later died for reasons they never failed to find out. You may have expected hundreds to have germinated. You will lament that after following all the directions given in the packs, nothing worked. The fault is not yours. With very fine seed, the seed itself may be to blame, especially with begonias and such flowering border plants. Though the seed may have been fine, how about your soil, the weather condition and the suitability of plants emerging from such seed, to your environment. Have you had a close look at the seed few days after sowing, whether ants or gnats have damaged them. There are many reasons why fine seed fail and the fault is not yours neither the seed's. Sometimes, the sowing instructions may be inadequate, especially if you are a beginner. There are many seeds that need special treatment and seed packs do not necessarily give the right directions. Weeping Willow (Asoka) These towering plants are a common sight in Sri Lankan gardens but how many of us have tried to raise them by ourselves. They stand majestically on either side of the road leading up to the Independence Square but are not pruned properly and branches thinned down. The Weeping Willow must stand erect and slim to serve her purpose as a wind-breaker. It is easy to raise your own plants by soaking the seeds in water for two days. Germinate two seeds in a polythene bag and allow both to grow to a foot in height. Before transplanting, get rid of the weaker one. Eucalyptus These germinate readily through some hard species and need a period of cold before they will sprout with germination. To achieve this, soak the seed in water with a teaspoon of vermiculite. After two days, strain the seed and vermiculate into a plastic bag containing moist compost. Seal the bag and place it in the fridge for six weeks. As April is the best month to sow Eucalyptus, start the process to meet this target. Sow the seed thinly and evenly and cover with a fine layer of top sand. When you first moisten the compost, add some bio cheshunt compound against damping off which is a sure precaution. Germination takes place in two or three weeks time. The seedlings will be around 8-10 inches tall at this stage. Palms Unlike a decade ago, the palm has taken a permanent place in most of the gardens. Palms have grown smaller, compact and come in an array of colour and at times with bi-colour streaks on their leaves. They are pot grown for the purpose of interior decor and lights up any dull corner in your home beside the garden. Many palms are raised from seed but plantlets around established palms too are a favourite way of raising more palms for the garden. However, palms grown strictly for indoors are the rainforest species. The seed of desert palm retain their viability longer than others. Soak seed in water for two days before mixing the seeds with moist compost in a clear polythene bag containing fibre dust too. If the seeds have been lying around the trees for a while, remove all surrounding flesh first, taking care not to damage the top skin. Seal the bag with a rubber band and place in a cool and airy place for germination. Once seedling are strong, first plant them individually in pots and after a couple of years, you may put them down in the garden. They are a show piece while in pots. Ferns It is essential to sterilize the compost in an over for about 15 minutes at 120'C/120'F or if you opt a pressure cooker, for five minutes. Ferns produce seed that keep competing with mosses and liverworks. Use the sterile compost with moisture and cool boiled water. Sprinkle a fine layer of spores (seed) over the surface and cover with a lid. The soil should not be deep and the container must be shallow. Move the container to a cool place away from the sun. Within two or three weeks the compost will be covered with slime from which tiny fronds will appear. This may take up to six months. In the process, small clumps of three to five plants will be peat-bound. Once the ferns are growing strongly, pot them individually. |
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