Hey Kathleen - Congrats on your Mtn Laurel sprouts!Wow 3 gallons of seeds -
that's a lot!

Interestingly, I recently sprouted 5 seeds that I scrounged from some
bushes..

I read online a method for sprouting these very hard-shelled seeds - but
added my own twist, which I believe speeded up the process alot.
After shucking the seeds from the outside 'peanut' shell, the online method
suggested soaking the seeds overnight, placing them inside a folded wet
paper towel, then sealing all inside a plastic baggie to await germination.
(I added the water after everything was in the bag.)
If I recall correctly, this method I read about did not have 100%
germination.

Since I know that hard seeds should be scarified or knicked before soaking,
(ie: for morning glory I use nail clippers), I thought I should do something
similar to the Mtn Laurel seeds. As a test (since nail clippers were out of
the question), I used a small round metal file to hand-bore an indentation
into the softer 'eye' of one seed . It took a while, and I was sort of
careful - trying not to bore right through to the inside. But the seed was
so hard, I needn't have been too worried because it took a couple minutes of
boring just to make a shallow hole.

Not surprisingly, this seed was the first to absorb water, expand to double
size, and germinate - taking about 7 days. All of the other seeds were still
small and hard, having not absorbed much water, so I did the same thing to
them. Sure enough, about a week later, all had sprouted and are now merrily
growing in little pots on my patio.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that little tidbit

Teri in Cedar Park.


"Kathleen" wrote in message
...
Someone from here harvested seeds from her mountain laurel and gave me
about
3 gallon size baggies full! I planted half of them and gave half to my
brother, and I have a handful of mountain laurel growing!!

Thanks again!
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

Ps. My ligustrum looks wonderful too. I am about to get some cages so I
can plant it in the ground! Whooohooooo!
--
This year, or this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed
to practise ourselves the kind of behaviour we expect from other people.
~ C.S.Lewis