need help growing black thorn (prunus spinosa)?

Question

i ordered some black thorn seeds last year, they had to mailed to me from England. I put half of them in small pots with potting soil and used the miracle grow sticks to no avail.

I went and bought a kit to grow them in peatmoss(I think?) and that didnt work either. can anyone help me out?

Answer 1

Some plants will not germinate in Peat moss. Its too high in acids. There are many examples of that. Including the ordinary Marigolds which germinate in regular garden soil, untreated and scotch pine which germinate best in sterile sand. Petunias and many annuals germinate best planted in early spring in a covering of rotted wood. Every plant has its own little world it does best in.

I have germinated a similar seed using ordinary garden soil which I sterilized in a cooker and then put them in flats covering them about 1/4 inch and firming the soil around them. Soak them first about 3 days in warm water about 80degrees F. using bottom heat to keep the bottle warm .
For this you can use an ordinary food warmer tray and for sure a thermometer to determine soak temp.. Strain off the water with a screen strainer and plant immediately into the wetted soil

Then I take a ordinary flourescent white light and placed it within 1 inch of the seed bed. They germinated in about 12 to 18 days. I use this method to germinate seeds that are very difficult to germinate. Hostas germinate quite well with this method so do lillies.

I suggest you germinate only three or four seeds at a time until you arrive at the proper process for these seeds.