Bulbs: Time to do something with calas, 1 by wallaby1

wallaby1 wrote:
mimitho, if you were storing the seeds in an envelope or sending them to someone, cleaning is a good idea so they don't go mouldy.

I think by unbelmished they mean it is a good idea not to choose a seed head that looks like it has a disease.

Proper cleaning would be to put the seed in water and let the fruit around them soak. I did this with Z Pink Mist (aethiopica cross) seeds and put them in a mesh strainer, pouring water over them while I moved the seed about to wash off the debris with my fingers.

I put some of the seed in a propogator in early December when it was fresh, only a few grew then. Now would be a good time, and they would get some size before winter. The remaining seed I put in around early June, they all look to have germinated and are growing quickly. This is the time of year they seem to grow if you just place the whole seed head just under the suface, which is what I did with Z albomaculata, they over-wintered that way and grow when ready, then they can be transplanted. It saves all the storing and sowing! They over-winter easily in a cold greenhouse, mine went through -9C. I think the fruit acids have an effect on the seed germinating as well.

This pic of Z albomaculata you can see some I transplanted from two years ago around the edges of the pot, and some new ones this year form last year's seed at the front. the bigger ones really need a pot of their own now, I did put some in other pots originally and they are now growing proper spotty leaves.

I had some Z Mr Martin (aethiopica variety) seed germinate in early autumn last year in the parent pot where I left the seed, so I transplanted them to pots and many of them got through our very cold and long winter in a cold greenhouse.