Beverly Erlebacher;813645 Wrote:
> In article Tim.Perry.32eaeca from gardenbanter.co.uk,
> Tim Perry Tim.Perry.32eaeca from gardenbanter.co.uk wrote:-
>>bae from cs.toronto.no-uce.edu;813239 Wrote: -
>> You could also try refrigerating some cuttings of the fall-blooming
> plant in hopes of forcing bloom at a time nearer that of the summer-
> blooming plant, or vice versa.
>> Sounds like an interesting and fun project. Good luck!-I had not
> thought of freezing cuttings, although the plants are
> supposed to be hardy down to -15 C. -
>> You'd be risking it in a deep freeze, which is supposed to be kept
> at about -18C.
>> If neither plant forms its flower buds before
> dormancy, it's probably not possible to get dormant cuttings to
> bloom.
>> My thought was to make cuttings of the winter-blooming plant well
> before bloom, refrigerate (not freeze) them, I had wondered if
> grafting onto a different rootstock might cause a shift in the
> blooming time,
>> I am unsure what species would provide good root stocks. [/i][/color]
>> Depending on the size of the plant, you may be able to manipulate
> bloom time by controlling day length. It's actually night length
> that plants are sensitive to. It's easiest for a small potted plant
> that you can move in and out of a dark container.
> -
>> I have discovered that the seed must be planted as soon as possible
> after extraction from the fruit, viability drops off very steeply in
> storage. -
>> Your potential hybrid may or may not be pollinated by its siblings or
> either or both parents. You might even get seedless fruit from some of
> these.
>> Have you tried growing medlars (Mespilus germanicus)? That's another
> little grown pome fruit that should be hardy in Britain.
>> Here in Toronto, where I move my fig and bay trees into the cellar for
> the winter, I can only appreciate your loquat experiments vicariously!
Thanks Beverley, I'll try to answer each point as best I can.
The Loquats bloom and set fruit in the autumn/winter, then go into
dormancy, so provided I catch them early enough I might delay
blooming.
I had not realized the freezer was so cold until my wife showed me the
gauge reads -20 C. That would kill the cuttings, so the fridge it is.
I should be able to manage the day/night length side quite easily.
I understand that each recipient flower will have to be emasculated,
and protected within a small muslin bag to prevent pollination from
other sources.
I don't expect too many seed to be viable, if indeed I get any seed at
all,
but I'll give it a try.
Clearly, this experiment will take some considerable length of time.
--
Tim Perry
