fast germination of South African bulb seeds

Diane Whitehead voltaire@islandnet.com
Fri, 15 Apr 2016 18:42:27 PDT
I've been sowing seeds of South African bulbs for several decades, from various society seed exchanges and South African collectors and seed companies.  The most recently-acquired seeds have surprised me with their quick germination.

I bought them last September at Ramskop Natuurtuin, a nature park in Clanwilliam.  Spring flowers were blooming, so these were seeds from the previous year.

I sowed them March 10, inside my house, and when I checked on March 22, they were all well-sprouted.

They are various Chasmanthe, Cyanella,  Gladiolus, Ixia, Lapeirousia, Sparaxis, and Watsonia.

I have sown many of these before, and except for the Watsonias, the others either took from a few months to a year to germinate, or sometimes did not germinate at all.

I wonder what has made the difference.


Diane Whitehead
Victoria, B.C., Canada
cool mediterranean climate
mild dry summers, mild rainy winters








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