Home Gardener's Propagation (UK Only). David Squire
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Название: Home Gardener's Propagation (UK Only)
Автор: David Squire
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Сад и Огород
isbn: 9781607652427
isbn:
Agrostemma githago ‘Milas’
Half-hardy annuals
Sow mainly in late winter and spring in greenhouses in gentle warmth (see pages 18–19). A traditional medley is Begonia semperflorens (Wax Begonia), Lobelia erinus (Edging Lobelia) and Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alyssum).
Petunia x hybrida
Hardy biennials
Sow in a nursery bed in spring and early summer (see pages 14–15). For extra colour, combine spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips with the popular biennials Bellis perennis (Common Daisy) and Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-me-not).
Dianthus barbatus
Hardy herbaceous perennials
Sow in nursery beds in spring and early summer (see pages 14–15). Seed catalogues abound with herbaceous perennials that can be raised from seeds, including Achillea (Yarrow), Dictamnus albus (Burning Bush) and Echinacea purpurea (Purple Cone Flower).
Coreopsis verticillata
Shrubs and trees
Sow seeds of shrubs and trees at any time of year. As their seeds usually have tough coats, they need to be stratified (see page 9). Alternatively, chip or sandpaper them to improve their chances of germination.
Cistus x dansereaui
Climbers
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
Many climbers are increased from cuttings or layered stems, but a few can be raised from seeds, including Lathyrus latifolius (Everlasting Sweet Pea), Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea) and Tropaeolum peregrinum (Canary Creeper).
Vegetables
Lettuce ‘Buttercrunch’
Most vegetables are grown from seeds (see pages 16–17). Many, such as peas, lettuces, beetroot and spring onions (scallions), should be sown where they will germinate and grow until harvested. Others, including Brussels sprouts and cabbages, should be sown in seed beds; later, the young plants should be transferred to their growing positions.
Culinary herbs
Petroselinum crispum (Parsley)
A few culinary herbs, such as Allium sativum (Garlic) and Allium schoenoprasum (Chives), are bulbous and are easily increased by division. Others, such as Anethum graveolens (Dill), Anthriscus cerefolium (Chervil), Carum carvi (Caraway), Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil), Origanum majorana (Sweet Marjoram), Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) and Satureja hortensis (Summer Savory), are usually raised from seeds. These and other culinary herbs are featured in the A–Z (see pages 42–78).
Palms
Fresh seeds and high temperatures, up to 35ºC (95ºF), are usually needed to encourage germination. However, an easier way is to mix seeds with moist peat and place them in a strong, clear, polythene bag. Seal the bag and put it in a warm, shaded greenhouse, perhaps under the staging. When roots and leaves appear, transfer the seedlings into individual pots.
What is germination?
To most gardeners, germination is when young shoots appear above the surface of the soil in the garden or compost in seed-trays (flats) and pots in greenhouses. Technically, however, germination is when the embryo within a seed breaks into growth, initiating the development of shoots and roots. The requirements for germination – moisture, air and warmth, together with the influence of light – are described on page 9.
SOWING VERY FINE SEEDS
Fine, dust-like seeds, such as those of Begonia and Meconopsis, are difficult to see and handle; although you can just press them onto the surface of the compost, often it is better to mix them with dry silver sand and then sow them. Here are a few clues to success when sowing fine seeds:
• Select a dry, shallow pot, about 13 cm (5 in) wide, and fill it with soil-based seed compost (this has a finer texture than peat-based types and forms a flatter surface for fine seeds).
• Firm the compost evenly with your fingers, then refill and level it with the pot’s surface. Use a round compost presser (or the top of a jar) to level the surface about 12 mm (½ in) below the rim.
• Open the seed packet and add a heaped teaspoon of silver sand to the packet. Close the packet and shake to ensure the contents are well mixed.
• Some gardeners sow seeds directly from the packet, but unless you are experienced at this it is likely that all of the seeds will fall out in a heap.
• Instead, tip the mixture of seeds and silver sand into a piece of white, stiff, paper or card – about 15 cm (6 in) long and 6 cm (2½ in) wide – that has been folded into a V-shape along its length. Then you can easily see the mixture of seeds and silver sand, and by directing the folded paper over the compost and tapping its end you can encourage the seeds to fall over the surface evenly.
• There is no need to cover the seeds; just use a presser, or the top of a jar, to press them into the compost.
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