Prunus mume seed treatment

Hi All,

Last night I came home to find en envelope with prunus mume seeds on the doorstep. Finally, after only 14 weeks, my order from china arrived

In any case.. The enclosed informationm said the seeds can be sown directly by 25 degrees and indicate a 95% germination within 2 weeks. That feels too wrong to be right. Soo.. Let's do this right. Anybody experienced in growing mume from seed? What I gather:

- Pre-soak by pouring hot water over the seeds and let them soak for 24+ hrs.
- Chill for 8-12 weeks
- plant out at room temperature, with the seeds showing so they receive light
- Germination between a week to several months later

Does this sound right? Any other advice?

Moving to "Questions."

76 persons saw this thread, and nobody has done this before? Is it that odd to want to grow some plants from seed?

I have done many bonsai from seed, just not prunus mume, so it is not for me to say, what to do.

Kind regards Yvonne

Hi Leatherback! The method you suggest is fine (IMHO) for any seeds that require stratification. I have a fridge compartment full of Acer seeds which I hope will germinate next month - or start to germinate, at least. Not so sure, however, about leaving them exposed to light when sowing. I usually cover seeds with a thin layer of Vermiculite, or similar.
Like Yvonne, I have never grown mume from seed - hence hesitation before responding. No doubt this will provoke a disagreement from some quarter! Good luck! Rick. (BTW, I am currently using your suggested method for Indigofera as well - not bonsai)

Thx Rick and Yvonne,

In general, this is the method I roughly follow for other seeds too -and have a tray of Common Laburnum seedlings to show it works.

Was just wondering whether maybe there is an alternative way for Mume that I do not know about.

In the outdoor fridge they go, till temps pick up later this month, afterwhich they go into the real fridge..

Just about any fruit tree seeds need to fresh, like just out of the fruit and into the ground fresh. As time goes on they become less and less viable, ordered over 30 seeds last year and nothing, treated the same way you read. Finally found they have to be fresh, now if you're selling seeds (and a jerk) this is not information one wants out. Typical method for propagation other than fresh seed would be difficult (from my understanding)to root cuttings. Not what I was hoping for either, but thus is life. -Jacob

My guess is that the seed needs stratification since it is a temperate species and the refrigerator treatment proposed should work, although I have not planted prunus mume. I generally plant similar seed outside in flats with a cover to keep critters out. Some years it takes 2 winters to get good germination.

Marty Weiser wrote:My guess is that the seed needs stratification since it is a temperate species and the refrigerator treatment proposed should work, although I have not planted prunus mume. I generally plant similar seed outside in flats with a cover to keep critters out. Some years it takes 2 winters to get good germination.

Lol,

I noticed that last week when transplanting 1 year olds into a growing bed.. The soil was full of Palmatum seeds that had not germinated last spring. So.. The whole tray was empties in a corner of the growing bed. Let's see what pops their heads.

The mumes have been soaked, and planted. Standing outside by 5C, with -3 expected later this week for a noght or two. Once double-digits become rule again for the day, I will move the flat into a fridge.

I don't remember where I read the instructions, but I have had some good results with Prunus mume by cracking the seeds with pliers to remove the seed coat, and planting just the kernels. I used collected seed from fruit which fell off the tree I think mid June. A few germinated later that summer, but most germinated the following spring after overwintering in my garage. I am in zone 7a, and the temperature does go below freezing in my garage.