"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 13:52:35 +0100, Druss wrote:

I've had a good trawl through dejanews and found only one or two
references
to Mandrake, mostly from me strangely enough !

However I do have one question for anyone who may have successfully
germinated Mandragora seeds;

Were there any special conditions, any special routines, or any special
soils helpful in getting the seeds to germinate.

I have acquired 10 seeds in total from the one fruit my mandrake
produced
and I'd like to make the most of them. I believe it grows mainly in the
South Eastern corner of Europe but am even unsure what weather
conditions
they have, will it need chilling, will it need soaking ??? etc

Any help very gratefully appreciated.

There are exactly two gardeners who grow mandragora, you and me.
That's it.

If I were in your shoes, I'd simply plant the seeds in a pot
filled with reasonably open potting mix. Use a pot that is deeper
than normal for seeds to give growing room for the long taproot.
Cover the seeds with about 1/4" of soil or fine gravel; water
well; and park the thing in a coldframe. (The coldframe serves
more to keep excessive winter wet at bay than anything else.)

Expect some germination next spring, and with delayed germination
of sluggish seeds in later seasons.

Miller in the first edition of his Gardener's Dictionary (1731)
says that the seed should be fresh. You have been warned.

I would plant out the seedlings at the beginning of their second
season of growth, a year after germination. Surround the crown of
the root with fine gravel to keep water away, but even then, be
prepared for the plants to take several years to establish.

The crowns are prone to rotting off and it seems like they have
to rot, callus over, and re-grow several times before they settle
down and faithfully grow well. But once established, they are
steady performers -- not things of beauty, but something well
worth having if one likes unusual and curious plants.

My current mandrake planting is under the eaves of a large
deodar, which gives them some protection from overhead moisture,
but they much prefer a sunny site.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Does seem to be a very limited number of people growing Mandrake, but then
as you say it's not the prettiest plant in the world, and its not the most
useful either. The seeds I have are very fresh, as in i dug them out of the
seed pod myself only a couple of days ago. I guess I can try a few in
different pots and different soils. I'll need to protect them from the
slugs, who for some reaason seems to have no problem eating the leaves.

Interesting note about the ortting off and forming a callus. I assume it's
the european mandrka eyou are growing and not the strange American Mandrake
plant which appears to be somewhat different ?

Cheers
Duncan