Can't make up my mind

Strangely, enough, Dendro, the thread is called "Can't make up my mind" .... appropriate or what?

We all agree it's a beautiful tree and to be honest, I've never considered it as a conifer!

 

Conifers have cones - hence the name. The ginkgo sheds its leaves in the autumn, has catkin like flowers and nut like fruits. Def. not a conifer. Dominant in the Mesozoic Era,long known only as a fossil, but then discovered growing in Chinese temple gardens... Beautful autumn tints and although it is a large tree, it can be kept small or even as a bonsai.

 

I don't know a lot about Ginko B but I understand that the leaves produce a very greasy sap which in autumn fall could make roads slippery, I did read that somewhere, honest. I wondered if that is true why nearly every street tree in New York ( and there were hundreds) were Ginkos! :confused:

 

Haven't heard that, Strongy, but I'll believe you! :D If so, does sound a particularly stupid thing for them to have done in NY!

I was surprised to see that several had been planted around the edge of the cricket pitch in Leverstock Green, one of the bits of Hemel - in between some very mature Horse Chestnuts. But I'm sure they'll look great once they're established..... Just hope they don't have the horrible smell in the fruit.....

 

Sorry Dave P, your thread has been completely hi- jacked, but it is intresting as to how we like to put things into groups, and when we do that there are always exceptions, that dont really fit.
Yew is another common tree thats not easy to group, along with quite a few rarer types to this country that are similar.

 

I plead guilty to the hi-jacking of the Bauhinia chat! But the title is called "Can't make up my mind" :D ... apologies DaveP!

 

No apologies please - Bauhina has a limited life and the vagaries of Ginkgo's classifaction are far more interesting. I used to be an avid contributor to URG (uk rec. gardening) and a thread there could wind itself around the equator and then back some. Great stuff and more often than not the bits at the end were infinitely more interesting than those at the start. I've made some very good friends there, but sadly, that NG now gets hijacked by morons who delight in x-posting and doing their best to shock and upset the regulars. Nice to find a board that is as friendly and expansive as URG use to be.

 

Thanks, DaveP, and I think Ginkgo's a great subject in addition to Bauhinia!

I still feel sad we had to have our chopped down, and at a former royal residence, listed, just because the insurers didn't like it's location! :(

 

Pete, what exactly did you do to Strongy's seed (no rudeness intended) that yours is up already (ditto, ditto :eek: )?

Mine is not showing itself at all ... help! Please!

 

I soaked them for about 12hours, by which time thay had all swollen, then potted them singly in 3.5in pots. The pots are in the greenhouse, in a propagator set at 25C day and night, just going to take them out before they become leggy.
I think they'll germinate at lower temps but its nice to get off to a quick start.

 

Evening, Pete. I think I got my seeds the day after you and I soaked them and then planted them. Admittedly they are outside in a propagator, but our day temps have been 22-24C and night 18-20 lately. I think my temps are too cool. I suggested putting the propagator on the bread oven roof where I dry my tomatoes and t'other half said they would bake at 40C in there ... any thoughts ?????

Actually, none of my seeds in that propagator, have come up yet, all in individual pots! Most disappointing as I have such good success with seeds!

Less "tropical" things like mini convulvulus have sprouted in two days!

:confused: and always grateful for your advice!

 

40C sounds a bit much L of L you could actually boil the seed.
Patience is probably all it needs, but even for you temps are now dropping, so you really need to get them going soon I would think.

 

Perhaps the ones I sent you had baked in the sun in Turkey! seriously though they should have sprouted by now as they were mixed up.
If I see any in Crete I will send some more although you would probably have to wait till spring to sow them.
I am still waiting for the begonia grandis seed pods to ripen.

 

Thanks, guys! A bit difficult at the moment and I will have to turn this over to my brother-in-law in week when he and my sister come to look after things whilst we are doing our "turn around" at the IoW!

Strongy, don't think it's you're fault and didn't plant them all ... know about that ... a few at a time!

Maybe the timing is just off here at the moment with our "cooler" temps! :D

 

How long are you coming back to the Isle of Wigit for LoL?