Erm ... actually I think it IS Rocket Science !

That overused phrase "It's not Rocket Science" won't be used in THIS post today ... because it seriously IS Rocket Science. I swear I need a Degree, not in Horticulture, but in Nuclear Physics to follow the complex instructions for the seeds I have to plant.

Partner Allan (AKA The Exotic Gardener), features occasionally in my blog, usually it is his hands holding the hammer or wielding the axe in my photos, but he is a keen gardener too. He loves the sub tropical plants, the exotic, the unusual - the difficult to grow. Hence the name... no other reason ! To complicate matters further, he doesn't really do seeds or propagation of any kind, whereas it is my best bit of gardening. So, if he needs some seeds germinating, I am his go-to gardener !

Last week he blithely went through the specialist seed catalogue, ticking whatever took his fancy, egged on by me and my overworked propagator. Well, the order arrived a couple of days ago, and yesterday I took the packets out to the greenhouse to start sowing the seed. Then read the planting instructions, and came straight back inside! Every plant had it's own detailed sowing instructions, which is where the Degree in Nuclear Physics aka 'Rocket Science' would have come in handy !

I could have guessed I suppose, but Agaves don't just like seed compost, oh no, it has to be well drained and gritty ! And they don't like to go UNDER the compost like other self-respecting seeds, but prefer to lie on the top, because they need light to germinate. That was ok, I could meet the needs of those contrary boys.

Then it got even more difficult ...

Allium Christophii won't deign to germinate in the greenhouse, or the propagator, or the kitchen windowsill, but have to go in the FRIDGE for a month, then they need a long session in the propagator.

You would think the easy going, old banana would be accommodating, and just need a bit of warmth, but no ... different varieties have very different needs.

For 'high humidity' the best I can do is to put the pot in a sealed plastic bag in the propagator in the conservatory, which is light. I won't hold my breath ! 

Musa Accuminata is going to be the trickiest varmint of all. It will be like having a newborn baby again, I fear, judging from the amount of care and attention I will need to lavish on it, 24/7.

I thought 'jack in the Pulpit' was a wildflower and, as such, would be easy to germinate, but turns out that is not the case...

Now MY plants are not usually so demanding, and seeds like the Ricinus Communis (above) spring like Triffids from the soil, and continue to grow at a prodigious rate.

This year, for the first time, I am growing Ammi Majus ( Queen of Africa) , which are a bit like tall Gypsophila, and are relatives of 'Queen Anne's Laceflower'. They must take the prize for being the fastest seeds EVER to germinate - record time of 2 days. Now that is what I call an easy plant ! Watch and learn you Musas !

If I am successful with even a small percentage of the Exotic seeds I will be very proud as they are the most exacting ones I have ever tried , and I have sown shedloads of seeds over the last 35 years !

The catalogue we used is in no way responsible for the shock I feel ! Everything is coded for level of difficulty, so I could have chosen more wisely if I just wanted an easy life !

If I ever get to the stage of handing over the results of these sowings to the Exotic Gardener, then he will be forever in my debt ! And I will milk it ...

Making babies the Hellebore way ...

I played at creation today ! I helped my Hellebores to get it on and do their thang ! I have read about how to create your very own, unique Hellebore, but never had a go. I am aware that the majority of the flowers are beginning to fade, and time is running out, so I got out in the Spring SUNSHINE  and got creative ! I took the tools of the trade out with me - a ribbon and a biro ! This is my first attempt, and I had very rudimentary instructions from a friend. I am sure there are lots of you out there who have lots of knowledge and experience to pass on !

First I selected a good looking flower, one that I felt was worthy to use as a parent of my brand new strain. I love the spotty ones, so chose a pale speckled flower to be 'dad', in the prime of its life, with very luxurious stamens, hopefully loaded with pollen.

Then I chose 'mum', a darker purple with cream stamens. I rubbed the biro to create static, then brushed it into and across the stamens, hopefully taking lots of pollen with me. Then I transferred the pollen to the stigma of the 'mum; plant by wiping the pen (and pollen!) around the stigma. I did this three times, just to increase my chances of success. Just for the record, the pen in the photo is 'posed' nowhere NEAR the stigma, which is central!

To identify 'mum', I tied a ribbon around her neck, so she is very visible. The next job was to carefully remove the stamens from the flower, to stop self- fertilisation. The advice I had was to cover the flower with a light cloth, like cheesecloth, to stop any bees getting to it - but there ain't no bees in this cold !

 I will keep checking to see the progress of the ripening, fertilised seed, and I will harvest it when it is ripe. I will make sure I do it on a dry day, just before the seed is ready for dispersal. Next job is to sow the seed in May/ June when it is fresh, and is surface sown and not covered. Then, all I have to do is keep watered and wait for my new and unique little seedlings.