Forby Seedlings.

[Julie]

I have sown 18 seeds, with varying mother, father, time since emerging from pod, soaking time, number of seeds in pod, seed gathering method (popping in sun, radiator, picking the seed out by hand, pod plucked off or left until stalk dies).

After 48 hours since the sowing, there are 5 sprouts out of 18.

Of course there are too few plants to draw any conclusions, but I have noted the following:

1. The sprouts have all been soaked for over 18 hours. Some as yet unsprouted have also been soaked for longer, but those sprouted have all had a good soak.

2. All those sprouted are from pods popped in the sun or by radiator; there are unsprouted that have been popped, but all those picked open by hand from pods fallen from the plant (the stalk died when they have not been plucked or popped in the sun) have not sprouted (although they may yet do so).

3. Sprouts are from either 2 or 3 seed-containing pods.

Tentative conclusions - viability is not lessened by a seed not developing in a full pod of three seeds. Soaking for 18 hours or longer ensures fast germination. Two seeds were noted to have split before planting, and these two have sprouted.

Further sproutings will give info on whether you really do need to pop them in the sun/warmth to get them to go. I wonder why that is so.. and how the seed knows if it's been popped or not?

It seems not to matter whether seeds are from pods popped on or off the plant, nor whether popped by sunlight or by radiator.

And of course no post about forby seedlings is complete without a piccy.

See it's little "hat" of sand, which looks brighter than the rest.

[attachment 3853 forbysprout12-5-07.jpg]

Note to self - next time put them all point down.

[Cactus Kid]

Very interesting topic, it certainly gives plenty of food for thought. Don't forget to let us know how the rest of your babies get on:D

[Julie]

Thanks, CK.

The sprout has got taller and still has it's hat of sand grains. Some more are now tall enough that the sand on their heads is seperate from the sand around.

I have three more disturbances in the soil today. The three which came from a pod that didn't pop in the cool weather, then the plant gave up on it and the stalk yellowed and the pod fell off, and I picked out the seeds by hand. I have heard that you need to let the pods pop, either in a warm place or in the sun on the plant, in order for seeds to work.

So I can confidently say that's twaddle.

I have also noticed that the root comes from the pointed end, and so forby seeds should be planted point down. The seeds are tricky to handle. When dry they are like those sticky weed pods. They stick to anything.. their bag, eachother, the pod debris, your hand, etc. When soaked they are so slippery that I considered it a success to get them into their holes any way up. Next time I'll try to get them point down.

I also have some excess seed so if there is anyone who would like to try some forbies, please send me a PM.

[Maria J]

Very cute! I wonder how long the 'hat' will stay on for!!

[Julie]

The tallest one still has it's hat, and it has some friends to keep it company.

Between seed and lollipop, they go through the match stage!

[attachment 3872 babies14-5-07.jpg]

[Julie]

Maria, that hats are falling!

[attachment 3922 forbs217-5-07.jpg]

[Julie]

Also interesting is the seed case.. it has two layers.

See the brown case on the floor here by the stalk (in two halves), it has a pale green coloured inner sheath, you can see the hole where the stalk came out of before the case was forced off.

[attachment 3923 forb-shell117-5-07.jpg]

[George Y]

Hi Julie,

Does this make me a Grandfather?

John Young.

[Julie]

Hi John,

Yep, all but about 4 are from your Little Y. All the tall ones so far are Y's. I hope they take after his shape and markings. I have one other male who had quite deep ribs and is probably a Heinz, so I haven't tickled him much. A couple of others are Mama's seed which she came with (hence the name) and so the dad is unknown.

If you would like some seeds (I have plenty of spares), or a seedling in a year or so's time, please let me know.

[Maria J]

They're looking good Julie! It will be interesting to see how they change from 'stalks' to 'blobs'!!