Articles Written By Members and Associates

SOWING SEED is easy but will it germinate?

At the September 2001 meeting of Bournemouth and Poole Fuchsia Society I took home some seed of “Lechlade Gorgon”. The next morning I squashed the berries onto a double thickness of paper kitchen roll. I removed the excess pulp as I went along. I allowed it to dry out for twenty-four hours. The next day 14.09.01 I filled two half seed trays with seed sowing compost, then I cut the paper in half and laid each half on the surface of the compost. I then covered the seed with sopping wet vermiculite until the colour of the paper just disappeared. Doing this still allows enough light, and contains all the moisture needed for the seed to germinate. Both were covered with a plastic dome and placed on a purposely manufactured heat pad. The germination was evident on the 25.09.01. just eleven days. Not all fuchsia seed germinates that quickly. The next step is to maintain a constant temperature and give them good light, but out of direct sunlight. As soon as they grow their first pair of true leaves they will need to be pricked out. I have hundreds of little seedlings and none will be Lechlade Gorgon. They will all be new hybrids, which will be probably of poor quality and consigned to the compost heap. If you want another plant of Lechlade Gorgon take cuttings. When the seedlings have grown into small plants and it is possible, take a cutting .This will normally flower before the plant you took it from. Remember to give it the same code as the mother plant in case it turns out to be a good one. I have grown hundreds from seed that I have gathered and grown for fun and I have only kept five that I thought were worthwhile. Li Kai Lin, Val’s Pink Ice both hanging basket types and available at nurseries, and three others, Bramsdene, Bramsdene Girl and Pride of Bramsdene. Of the latter three Pride of Bramsdene is hardy, flowers early and keeps flowering. It’s bloom is similar in size and shape as Display but is a darker red in sepals and corolla. Have fun in being a seed gatherer and sower.

DJL (Member)