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COLLECTION - STORAGE - PRETREATMENT - STRATIFICATION - SOWING - INDEX |
| SOWING Follow the species sowing times, if you are growing on a large scale then you will be sowing into seed beds. This has various problems, protecting from birds and small mammals, which may mean seed loss could be high and you could have uneven aged young trees that could increase your labour. If on the other hand you are growing only quantities than it is better to sow in to seed trays. This gives you better control over protection, space and even germination rates. Once the second set of leaves appear they can be transplanted out in to rootrainers for growing on. When sowing seeds the seed depth is usually determined by the seed size, the smaller the seed the nearer the surface of the seed tray or seed bed. Once your seeds have germinated they will need thinning out, this is done when they are large enough to handle when they have their second or true leaf. We use a method called rootrainers to grow our trees in, they require little space and make maintenance very simple. They are plastic cells which sit in plastic trays, they come in various sizes but the principle is much the same.
Each tray contains up to 10 books with 4 cells per book, each book is inserted into the tray and filled with a peat free compost. We have tried various types and found J Arther Bowers gave us the best results for growing on. Transplant seedlings in to individual cells and water in, a slow release fertilizer can be added to the compost prior to filling cells or use a liquid feed when watering. Stand the trays something to keep the base off the ground this will allow air to pass under the rootrainers and prune the roots stopping them becoming tangled. However in the winter stand the trays on the ground to reduce freezing. Watering is best done by dunking the trays as this allows the compost to absorb more water. Other aids you can use are water retaining gels, but make sure you wet it well before you fill the cells other wise it will expand and push your compost and seedlings out. |
