GERMINATION,SOWING AND AFTER CARE INFORMATION FOR
LONDON PLANE (PLATANUS ACERIFOLIA)
Although London Plane seeds have no real dormancy they do have special requirements for germination, under the correct conditions very good results can be rapidly achieved.
First soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, drain them and mix with a little dry sand to separate them from each other to make sowing them a little easier. Prepare a seed tray ¾ filled with a good quality compost and firm if well with a short piece of wood to achieve a good even surface. These seeds must have light to enable successful germination to occur so they need to be sown on the compost surface, gently firmed, generously watered and left uncovered.
The seed tray then needs to be covered to retain enough humidity for the seeds to be able to germinate, this can be achieved simply by placing a sheet of glass over the tray -their should be a gap of at least 1 cm between the compost surface and the glass cover. Alternatively I made 5 short metal hoops to support transparent pallet wrapping film although a clear plastic bag would work equally well. This forms a tunnel over the seeds to retain the humidity. After a day or so at room temperature the water vapour begins to condense on the inside if the film/glass indicating 100% humidity inside and the correct conditions for the surface sown seed to germinate. Keep the sown seeds out of direct sunlight.
After approximately a week kept at room temperature signs of germination were evident. After another week or so covered by the film/glass sheet, the edges need to be lifted slightly to increase air circulation and start to prepare the seedlings for life under more normal conditions.
With good compost seedling development is quite rapid and developing seedlings can soon be re-potted individually remembering to keep them cool and moist and out of direct sunlight until they have become established.
Growth of between 8 to 30 cm or more is easily possible in the first growing season and after perhaps 2/3 years they are ready to be planted in their permanent position.
LONDON PLANE (PLATANUS ACERIFOLIA)
Although London Plane seeds have no real dormancy they do have special requirements for germination, under the correct conditions very good results can be rapidly achieved.
First soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, drain them and mix with a little dry sand to separate them from each other to make sowing them a little easier. Prepare a seed tray ¾ filled with a good quality compost and firm if well with a short piece of wood to achieve a good even surface. These seeds must have light to enable successful germination to occur so they need to be sown on the compost surface, gently firmed, generously watered and left uncovered.
The seed tray then needs to be covered to retain enough humidity for the seeds to be able to germinate, this can be achieved simply by placing a sheet of glass over the tray -their should be a gap of at least 1 cm between the compost surface and the glass cover. Alternatively I made 5 short metal hoops to support transparent pallet wrapping film although a clear plastic bag would work equally well. This forms a tunnel over the seeds to retain the humidity. After a day or so at room temperature the water vapour begins to condense on the inside if the film/glass indicating 100% humidity inside and the correct conditions for the surface sown seed to germinate. Keep the sown seeds out of direct sunlight.
After approximately a week kept at room temperature signs of germination were evident. After another week or so covered by the film/glass sheet, the edges need to be lifted slightly to increase air circulation and start to prepare the seedlings for life under more normal conditions.
With good compost seedling development is quite rapid and developing seedlings can soon be re-potted individually remembering to keep them cool and moist and out of direct sunlight until they have become established.
Growth of between 8 to 30 cm or more is easily possible in the first growing season and after perhaps 2/3 years they are ready to be planted in their permanent position.
