Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: chrissyboi on January 19, 2018, 12:40:07 PM

Title: Seeds that require smoke treatment to germinate
Post by: chrissyboi on January 19, 2018, 12:40:07 PM

Hi, I recently discovered some Australian Iridacea seeds in a tin of deal-with-them-later acquisitions and am now intrigued as to how to get them going. I've heard of liquid smoke but can't find it anywhere online. The species are Patersonia umbrosa var xanthina, and Diplarrena latifolia. I have about 20 of each so is it worth just sewing half as normal and crossing my fingers, or does anyone, perhaps Protea fans, know a source for liquid smoke (or have any other tips?) Much appreciated in advance! Chris

Title: Re: Seeds that require smoke treatment to germinate
Post by: Maggi Young on January 19, 2018, 12:50:42 PM

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1113.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1113.0)

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3060.msg119445#msg119445 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3060.msg119445#msg119445)

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9813.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9813.0)

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14778.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14778.0)

Here are some other forum threads which deal with the use of smoke and the product "Liquid Smoke" in seed germination.

Title: Re: Seeds that require smoke treatment to germinate
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on January 19, 2018, 04:40:44 PM

Chrissy, If you do a Google search for "Colgin liquid smoke Uk" you will find various places to buy some.

Paul

Title: Re: Seeds that require smoke treatment to germinate
Post by: Lesley Cox on January 19, 2018, 05:15:23 PM

I have no experience of smoke in germinating but have had both Patersonia glauca and the diplarrena germinate with regular "ordinary" sowing. I remember that the seed was reasonably fresh at the time, a few years ago now.

Title: Re: Seeds that require smoke treatment to germinate
Post by: GordonT on January 19, 2018, 10:26:35 PM

I can't find the post, but Robert posted a great demonstration of his simple method for smoke treating seed under an inverted plastic tote, with a pan of smoldering leaves/wood alongside. It may have been in his blog from 2015 or 2016.

Title: Re: Seeds that require smoke treatment to germinate
Post by: Diane Whitehead on January 20, 2018, 03:34:08 AM

Yes, I tried real smoke and caught the compost on fire.

So now I just use liquid smoke. People use it to flavour meat to taste like barbecue,
 and it is sold in grocery stores.