| Archive for countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org ........................ smallholding, crafts and country life ................................................... IN IRELAND ....................................................... |
| wayland |
MedlarsI have tried and failed a couple of times to germinate Medlar seeds. Any good ideas out there ?
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| chook |
Not sure but perhaps they need to be stratified? (layer with damp sand in a jam jar and leave in fridge until spring, then sow - this imitates the cold, damp winter dormancy in the soil).
Or the shortcut: buy a couple from Future Forests http://futureforests.net/frames.htm. I got 2 here (variety 'Nottingham') and they are rather big already and fruit nicely. They are also very beautiful when in flower and the fruit, mixed with apple, makes a lovely jelly (as in clear fruit spread). chook |
| MrsL |
I bought a tree; never tried growing from seed, might give it a go next year. |
| wayland |
Hi Chook and Mrs L. I did leave the seeds over winter last year to stratify with no success. I have got some more seed to try again. I may well have to buy a tree MrsL as I would like one of these old curiosities, but would prefer to get one from the seed of an old near dead tree locally. Keeping it going so to speak. |
| blowin |
I thought they took forever to produce fruit . I am obviously wrong yet again . What age of tree did you buy , Chook , and how long before they started to crop ? Cheers . |
| chook |
Hi blowin,
I bought mine in 1999 and I think I got the first crop worth harvesting 3 or 4 years ago so it did not take long. They were quite small, maybe 2-3 feet tall if I remember correctly. This is one of them in 2001. 
chook |