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The Secretary's Diary
January & February 2004
Alan Harris (NBS Secretary 2002 - 2013) |
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The start of a new season. |
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29th. February 2004.
These
are my earliest started small tubers and it highlights how they
start at different speeds. They were all planted together, but
whilst some have moved ahead others are barely showing. Amazing how
they end up all the same by mid summer.
The over-wintered cuttings have really grown on well and I've now
potted them on into 4" pots. They have also been stopped and so I
hope to get another crop of cuttings when they shoot again. They are
growing in Westland Multipurpose which I find has a good open texture.
Most of the remaining seedlings have now been pricked out.
The earlier ones have made progress, but they are not as short and sturdy
as I would like. I think I will have to use a double fluorescent
tube for next year. Still with the longer days they will be OK.
I turn the lights off at the end March as day length is enough without my
help. |
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8th. February 2004.
The
seedlings are now at the stage where the furthest forward are ready to
be picked out. I use Westland Multipurpose (not the one with JI) and
find this just right in texture. I moisten the compost first to save
compacting the surface. The pricking out is done with the little
pointed stick which I've used for many years and it saves damaging the
roots when they are moved.
The small
cutting tubers were started in the other propagator a couple of weeks
ago and one or two are just showing. I use the 24 cell tray inserts
for these as the odd one always rots and the trays stop this spreading to
the others. It is important not to cover the propagator as the
condensation causes rotting on the new growth.
The tubers
of the pendula varieties will be started next week and to get them
pipping nicely I place them upside down on the warm dry sand in the heated
bench. I find that this always makes the pipping faster and I use
the same trick when starting the other adult tubers in a months time. |
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22nd. January 2004.
The seed
has germinated and the seedlings are growing well. The temperature was
reduced to about 65ºF for one week and now the covers are removed during
the day. I make sure the seed is not sown too thickly, the seedlings
then have plenty of room to grow and don't need pricking out until the
first true leaf is about ¼ inch across.
This is the
set-up after dark, with the covers in place because the night
temperature in the greenhouse is only about 45ºF and I don't want them to
get chilled. In the background the over-wintering cuttings are doing
really well. You don't need to spend a fortune on lighting, the
cuttings are quite happy under a 30W strip light. |
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11th. January 2004. - Seeds away.
The seed
from my own crosses is sown early in January using small trays with lids.
The trays and lids are washed and sterilised, I use Physan but no doubt
bleach would do. A soil thermometer is very useful to ensure that
the temperature of the compost is between 70º and 80º F. I moisten the
compost several days before and then pass through a fine sieve.
The trays are then immersed to ensure the compost is fully charged
with water.
The propagator I use is thermostatically controlled and I set it initially
to 75º F. The trays are then warmed and checked before the seed is
sown. It is best to check and adjust the temp if necessary after 24
hours to make sure it is ok. The light is controlled by timer to be
on for 15 hours from 6am til 9pm. Under these conditions I expect
germination in 7 days or so. The light is cool and so is placed
right on top of the lids. |
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OTHER PAGES BY ALAN HARRIS
The Secretary's Diary
Cut-blooms
The Secretary's
page on growing for exhibition.
The
Secretary's Page |
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