in article , Barry & Iris McCanna at
wrote on 23/12/02 1:17 pm:


"Steve" wrote in message
...
Yes Merry Christmas to all in URG!

I've just opened my first "Christmas Present" - the Chiltern Seed
catalogue
arrived this morning.

As they say in the catalogue "grow something new from seed", this
year I
grew Cuphea (got 15 good plants from the seeds and they were in
flower for
many months with one still preserving in the greenhouse). They will
definitely be on the list for 2003.

I've got a lot of reading before deciding what will be the new seed
I try
next year.

What will you be growing new next year?

Best Wishes
Steve


Yes mine arrived too. As to new seeds, apart all my choices to the
RHS, HPS and AGS, I'm going to try growing Romneya Coulterii from seed
for the first time. Although this is known to be difficult to
germinate, I found on Google that it likes germinating in smoke and
gives a tip to burn conifer leaves and then mix the ash with seed
compost. Apparently it will then germinate. We shall see!

As you describe, Ray gathers pine needles and puts them in an old tin lid,
or something of that sort. Then he sets fire to it, then he plants the
seeds! He also plants the seeds in a foil lined compost tray, puts pine
needles on top, sets fire to them and waters the ashes in. Both methods
work and both are equally hit and miss! It's really not easy to germinate at
all.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk