Trees and shrubs from seed

Alan Toogood looks at propagating from seed, particularly trees and shrubs that can be raised under glass and in the open garden

- Alan Toogood

SO far in this series I have been discussing vegetative methods of propagation: let us now look at raising plants from seeds. Trees, shrubs, alpines, hardy perennials, bulbs, half-hardy annuals and perennials, greenhouse and house plants, hardy annuals, biennials and vegetables can all be easily increased by this method.

It is worth collecting seed of any true species plants in your garden because species come true to type from seed the offspring will resemble their parents in every respect. It is not usual for gardeners to save seed of highly bred plants-hybrids, varieties and strains as these do not come true to type from seed. With some plants, the offspring will be very different from their parents in habit or growth, shape of flower and so on, while others may, for instance, simply have differently coloured flowers. Many hardy and half-hardy annuals and perennials, biennials and vegetables are hybrids or strains with a very complex parentage and will not come true from home-saved seed.

It is not necessary to provide artificial heat to raise all seeds - many kinds are sown outdoors. The table (see page 43) gives an idea of the wide range of trees, shrubs and conifers that can be raised from seed. Many species set large crops of seed, so this is a cheap method of acquiring new plants. Often seedlings grow into sizable plants, but subjects such as rhododendrons may take three or four years to reach flowering size.

Collecting

Most seed from trees and shrubs is ready in late summer and autumn. Collect seed only when it is ripe, just before the plants start shedding it. You can tell when the seed of berrying and fruiting trees and shrubs is ready for harvesting because the berries or fruits turn red, pink, yellow or whatever the natural colour is.