Posted by Austin, Little Rock
on 6/2/2008, 8:46 pm
70.232.64.68
Early last spring I started to germinate some T. princeps seeds purchased from Ruud. I have limited success only getting about 7 out of 20 to germinate. Last fall, I decided to put the remaining seeds in a pot and place it outside all winter long exposed to the elements near a south facing wall with semi-shade. They were kept moist with natural rainfall and occasional supplemental watering. This spring, I moved the pot away from the wall and placed it in part sun under my deck.
Today, I noticed 5 small sprouts peaking through the soil. If your princeps seeds have been slow to germinate, try placing them in the fridge for a few months in a moist soil mix and then take them out and expose them to warmer temperatures to recreate what I have done or just wait until this fall and try my method.
In addition, I did the same thing with 100 waggy seeds that I got from Jeff St. Gelias in Canada. All started germinating and sprouting last month and have one little leaf.
I have always been a believer that trachy seeds germinate best when exposed to winter temperatures. That's why I sow my T. fortunei seeds directly in the ground in early winter and let nature do the rest. After all, Mother Nature knows more than me! 
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