General Chat

Hi everyone, we put a thread on a few months ago about growing trees from plum stones etc. Did anyone else try and plant anything. After three months in the fridge we have at least one stone showing signs of germination, but there is also alot of mold or fungal growth... Was wondering whether we should remove this stone and any other that doesn't seem rotten and plant separately. Don't know whether we should be planting in compost or using a mix of vermiculite and something as we did for the cold strat. Be interested to hear anyone elses experiences. Jon and Suzie.

Hi, go and have a look on the gardeners world web site they have a question and answer section, they might be able to help you out

good luck
julia x

Yes, I remember the thread..............our local garden centre are really helpful to us, have you got one you could visit for advice?

The local ones know the type of soil etc and give more specific advice.

xx

I planted some Kiwi pips in compost and after 2 months the plant is about 8 '' tall

Thanks for advice will check website

Hello Jonathan,

You do need to remove the mouldy looking stone, it probably has botrytis, a fungus which spreads quickly. You can try dipping it in a fungicide and planting separately.

As soon as any stone shows sign of gemination it can be sown in seed compost in individual pots. Ensure all work surfaces and pots are thoroughly clean before using to avoid any contamination from soil borne pests and diseases.

After sowing , thoroughly water, and place in a cold frame or, if in a glass house, in a closed propagation case or under a pane of glass.

Once seeds have successfully germinated you need to spray periodically with a fungicide to discourage damping off.

Good luck with your stones, please let us know how the 'do'

Tina x

Thanks Tina, we would never have thought that growing seeds would need to have been such a clean process as naturally they would grow in rotting fruit and animal waste...

So if the stones that are germinating look mouldy will the germinating seedling probably die?

Is the fungicide expensive and can you get it in small amounts?

This is still our first attempt so we're still learning, but were pleased with the root development, it'd be a shame if they perish.

Thanks again, we will post with any updates.

Hi Jonathan and Suzie,

You can get a fungicide spray or solution from any garden centre, we used Vitax here. It's not horrifically expensive - under £5.00 normally.

Damping off, blackening of the stems, will be disasterous so it will be a good idea to be prepared and treat before it comes to that..

You seeding will not necessarily die with the fungus as long as it's treated quickly. Keep it separate from the others though.

Good luck, look forward to hearing how you get on.

Tina x

Thanks, we will have a look for fungicide and have a good squint at the stones, hopefully it's the ones that haven't sprouted that are the grim ones.

Think the main seed seems to be sprouting a leaf??? Perhaps that's just wishful thinking.
Put some cherry stones in the fridge yesterday.

Progress!! Brilliant!

The first two leaves will be the cotyledons. They are part of the seed and will supply the seedling with a food supply until the first true leaves emerge. You need to ensure, at this point, that they have a light source, ideally 12 hours/day. (not possible this time of year, so a nice bright windowsill, glass house or coldframe.)

I really hope you have success, it's quite exciting!

Tina x

It's our baby at the moment, shame that most of the seeds didn't get to this point, but we are watching this one quite carefully. At the moment it is near the window in the kitchen. What is a coldframe, is that like a cloche?

We really appreciate your advice Tina, we'll try and get to a garden centre soon

It's a glass covered enclosed container for outside, ensuring maximum amount of light but hopefully reducing the effects of frost. A cloche is open at the sides.
Your seedling needs to be as close as possible to the light source or it will go 'leggy'. Plant hormones have a huge part to play at this stage and will go overboard pushing the plant to the light, this could be detrimental to the plant strength.

Keep me posted.

Tina x

Hi to update, first plant is about 2½ inches high now with a couple of leaves growing from between cotyledons. Second seed is showing signs of bursting through the compost, the rest are struggling to show any signs of life. The fungus is a major worry, we are hoping to find some fungicide later today if possible.

Is anybody else feeling inclined to try and grow something this way?

My wife got some fungicide today and had a chat with a lady at the garden centre today. She gave some advice and sold us a couple of extra things. It's complicated this fruit growing. Glad that we have a bit more of an idea what we're doing now.

second seedling now burst through. We've named them Trumplee and Relumpte, part of the family now...

Hello Jonathon,
I am so glad 'Trumplee and Relumpte' are doing well. Hopefully they will continue to go from strength to strength.

Tina x

thanks Tina, we appreciate that, Jon and Suzie

Update,
three stones germinated and are at different development stages, one is leafless, one has a good few leaves now and is standing several inches tall, the other is inbetween the two.

We have a fungicide, which we've used a couple of times (it says to use fortnightly), but the fungus is a real problem, it is all over the soil every few days, we keep stripping it off.

Has anyone else been growing anything?

Jon and Suzie