Seeds from Thailand
By Juliadawn
The husband of the lady in whose garden I work, has recently come back from Thailand. He was given some seeds in little labelled packets …. which I can't read! Can you help by telling me what they are and how and when to sow etc. As Thailand is quite cold it was thought they would grow in this country.
16 Feb, 2014
Answers
Left is Solanum mammosum as Steve has said, it is easy to germinate but needs heat to grow well and fruit, so inside till May/June an bring in by October. I would germinate in early March.
Right could be Xanthostemon chrysanthus - if so the actual seeds are inside those pods. It is a tropical plant.
16 Feb, 2014
Thank you both for your help. Sounds as though they will need to be germinated in a propagator? Can I sow the Xanthostemon chrysanthus as they are or do they need to be soaked or cracked open to get seeds out?
16 Feb, 2014
At home I propagate in the hot water cupboard as the heat from the tank and moisture form drying clothes helps germinate most seeds. You do soak the pod to release the seeds for Xanthostemon.
17 Feb, 2014
Thanks, I will try soaking the Xanthostemon to get the seeds out. I have looked it up and the picture is very similar but I find it only grows on the NE of Australia, so I am a little surprised that the seeds came from Thailand; I had thought that may be they were native plants.
17 Feb, 2014
Previous question
« why can't daffodils be propagated in many different colours like say.. tulips...
The one on the left is Nipple fruits (Solanum mammosum).This prickly shrub is grown as an ornamental as the fruits are toxic. It would be very difficult to grow these in the UK as Thailand is tropical and very hot and humid all year round. The average Bangkok temp around 32c (90f) all year.
16 Feb, 2014