fast germination of South African bulb seeds
Diane Whitehead (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