In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Try:-
[url=http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Pinus+pinea]Pinus pinea[/url]
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In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have germinated seeds between layers of wet paper towels (don't add too much water as they could rot). This is easier in order to check the progress. Discard the ones that do not germinate as they may be rotten or dormant, as Marc says. Keep them in a warm place. Once they have germinated, carefully plant them individually in small containers filled with a good seed starter that you can find in nurseries. Be patient.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
All
Thanks for your quick responses to this!
Yes, I have followed the guidelines on the Plants for A Future Database and also use wet paper towels when stratifying. I didn't realise they stayed as small seedlings so long... Will apply all these ideas on the next batch! We can't get good seed starter type compost here in he Gulf so will have to persist with the bog standard compost from Carrefour...
Many thanks
I have succeeded in growing these from pine nuts, though using far less scientific methods than you Antinello; I just poked them in some compost, about 1 or 2 cm deep, and watered and waited. As you say, only a few ever germinate. They put up a long shoot fairly quickly, but then remain as small seedlings for a long time (2-3 years) before they establish a good root system and can be planted out.
Sunlight, heat and a sandy compost will probably help as would a bit of wood ash. In nature, they frequently remain dormant and germinate in response to a forest fire.