Tropaeolum 2012

[Giles]

Curtis's Botanical Magazine Vol 29 (4) (December 2012) is again devoted to Tropaeolum.
This time: minus, majus ,smithii, peregrinum, argentinum.
Individual editions can be bought from Blackwell/Wiley.

[Jupiter]

Attention all Tropaeolum growers. I am seeking a donors of Trop. speciosum seed and accumulated wisdom regarding germination. I have tried multiple times to germinate T. speciosum and have never had a SINGLE germination... Very frustrating. This year I intend to try seed from some commercial sources as well as a couple from people's private collections, if possible. I'm going to do a range of pre-germination treatments, scarification, soaking in acid to mimic passage through a bird's digestive system, different planting times and various potting media. This is a last ditch attempt to get speciosum going. if anyone has any gems of wisdom to share with me or possibly a few seed, I'd be eternally grateful.

[bulborum]

They are sold out for the moment
but they sell most wild collected seeds

Roland

http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/PHP4181/drawitem.php?G_FG=0169&G_LANG=E&G_NF=&INCLUDESHOPLINK=YES

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Attention all Tropaeolum growers. I am seeking a donors of Trop. speciosum seed and accumulated wisdom regarding germination. I have tried multiple times to germinate T. speciosum and have never had a SINGLE germination... Very frustrating. This year I intend to try seed from some commercial sources as well as a couple from people's private collections, if possible. I'm going to do a range of pre-germination treatments, scarification, soaking in acid to mimic passage through a bird's digestive system, different planting times and various potting media. This is a last ditch attempt to get speciosum going. if anyone has any gems of wisdom to share with me or possibly a few seed, I'd be eternally grateful.

Tropaeolum seeds are often tricky to germinate. But this is not the case with Tr SPECIOSUM as long as you get a little patience. Seeds are best sown in Autumn or early winter in pots or in containers ( or directly where they are to germinate ). They must be exposed to cold and often take one year- or more- to germinate. the seedlings usually raise in January / February / March.
There are 3 species which have similar seeds ( Tr SPECIOSUM, Tr CILIATUM & Tr PENTAPHYLLUM ). They have been reclassified in a new group by John WATSON.
Jupiter: all you need is PATIENCE. 
JP

[Jupiter]

Thanks JP. I will try again and be sure not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Jupiter,
You can try these UK seed companies:
- CHILTERN SEEDS :www.chilternseeds.co.uk
- PLANT WORLD: www.plant-world-seeds.com
JP