Mandrake and seed pods
Hi all,
Anyone out there an experienced Mandrake grower ? I have had on in a pot for several years now, every year, nice flowers, and plenty of leaves, until the slugs get in there at least, however this year, I recently noticed a very large green tomato like structure on the plant, it's attached tot he very centre via a very fine green stem. I was wondering whether anyone might know if this is a genuine mandrake seed pod, and if anyone knows anything about the lifecycle. I need to know whether to wait for it to dry and burst, or should I harvest and store it etc etc, basically whatever will end up with me being able to grow a whole oad more mandrakes would be great. Cheers Duncan |
Mandrake and seed pods
On Wed, 28 May 2003 14:02:22 +0100, Druss wrote:
Anyone out there an experienced Mandrake grower ? Yes. Surprise! I've been growing mandrake as a garden plant for about twenty years, having started with Mandragora officinarum ssp. haussknechtii seed from the RHS -- a form I wish I could get once again. I have had on in a pot for several years now, every year, nice flowers, and plenty of leaves, until the slugs get in there at least, however this year, I recently noticed a very large green tomato like structure on the plant, it's attached tot he very centre via a very fine green stem. I was wondering whether anyone might know if this is a genuine mandrake seed pod, and if anyone knows anything about the lifecycle. I need to know whether to wait for it to dry and burst, or should I harvest and store it etc etc, basically whatever will end up with me being able to grow a whole oad more mandrakes would be great. That is the fruit. In form like a smallish Italian tomato (a "Roma" tomato) -- slightly elongated, with a shallow furrow down one side. Seeds inside similar to tomato seeds, but much larger and fatter. The fruit will turn orange-ish when ripe, and have a pronounced cheesey-fruity scent to its flesh. Wear rubber gloves when removing the seeds: the scent of the flesh does not wash off completely, and is rather offensive in its ripe redolence. Sow the seeds when fresh if possible. Voila! -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
Mandrake and seed pods
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in
message ... On Wed, 28 May 2003 14:02:22 +0100, Druss wrote: Anyone out there an experienced Mandrake grower ? Yes. Surprise! I've been growing mandrake as a garden plant for about twenty years, having started with Mandragora officinarum ssp. haussknechtii seed from the RHS -- a form I wish I could get once again. I have had on in a pot for several years now, every year, nice flowers, and plenty of leaves, until the slugs get in there at least, however this year, I recently noticed a very large green tomato like structure on the plant, it's attached tot he very centre via a very fine green stem. I was wondering whether anyone might know if this is a genuine mandrake seed pod, and if anyone knows anything about the lifecycle. I need to know whether to wait for it to dry and burst, or should I harvest and store it etc etc, basically whatever will end up with me being able to grow a whole oad more mandrakes would be great. That is the fruit. In form like a smallish Italian tomato (a "Roma" tomato) -- slightly elongated, with a shallow furrow down one side. Seeds inside similar to tomato seeds, but much larger and fatter. The fruit will turn orange-ish when ripe, and have a pronounced cheesey-fruity scent to its flesh. Wear rubber gloves when removing the seeds: the scent of the flesh does not wash off completely, and is rather offensive in its ripe redolence. Sow the seeds when fresh if possible. Voila! -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Excellent, many thansk for the advice, I now await with baited breath the smelly orangish fruit, so I can get stuck in. Cheers Duncan |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:43 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter