Germinating precious seeds

I was recently given a number of different and unusual Salvia seeds, which I have been trying to germinate. I was particularily concerned because I didn't have that many seeds, and some of them are so unusual that they are just not on sale anywhere. Most germinated well but three of them Salvia amarissima, S. patens - giant form, and S. scabra would not germinate, even after three attempts with each, in the normal way with compost in a propagator.

So I resorted to another method, which is well known to many but may be of interest to others who are unaware of it. I placed the seeds on damp kitchin roll and put them in resealable polythene bags. I used this method last year and found that putting damp paper into a small plastic bag was not easy, nor was getting it out afterwards.

But this time I used a saucer. On it I placed a piece of kitchen roll folded twice so that it sat inside the saucer. I dampened it with Cheshunt solution (to prevent rot) and placed the seeds on it. It was then easy to put the whole saucer in the bag and to remove it for inspection. The benefit of this method is that the seed has everything that it needs to germinate (heat, moisture, oxygen and light which Salvias need) but it doesn't have the variability of compost, which is not neccessary at this stage. Once a seed starts to germinate you need to remove it with a pair of tweezers and place it in a pot of compost and let it develop normally from there. From my experiments last year they will last for well over a month in a sealed bag, and grow leaves.

Because it is a very controlled environment, you would expect good germination rates from this method. And I am pleased to say that after about 10 days 7 out of my 8 Salvia amarissima seeds germinated, and all 4 S. patens - giant form germinated. I am still waiting for the S scabra - but I am hopeful. Its a technique that is useful if you have a small quantity of something that is very special.

 

Thanks Peter, some good ideas there.

 

Thanks Peter. You will realise that this is really interesting to anybody who, like me is into weirdo seeds. I've often used kitchen paper (or perlite is the traditional method) but never thought of the saucer thing. Have some funny palms to germinate. Must try it.

 

Very innovative Peter, I`ll have to remember that.

 

Funny palms John! enlighten us please.

 

You know the ones Strongy. They stand up and say 'A funny thing happened to me on my way to the arboretum'. :D

Actually 'unusual' would have been a better choice of word but I hadn't reckoned on someone analyzing my grammar so closely. (Or is that my Grandma?) :D

 

I never met your Grandma, I ain't THAT old! :D