White Manuka Seed Germination

[Ananke]

I bought some White Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) seed from Ebay. Don't ask why, I hadn't even opened my wine yet.

Anyway, I sowed some seed weeks ago and nothing came up, i've just read that statistically only one seed in 100 will germinate and they are notoriously fickle.

Have any of you experience with this plant?

[Madasafish]

It will die in Glasgow winters if you do get some to germinate...

[Ananke]

I was planning on growing it in a container and moving it inside over the winter (i've a cheek using the word planning)

[Olorin2001]

Well it's two overcoats warmer down here in Southampton, but I can tell you it doesn't like being in soaking wet ground over the winter, the spare plants were left in pots exposed to the elements and drying winds, watered when it rained, they survived, the leaves turned brown but they still alive. Having the planned hedge is a non starter due to waterlogged ground, but it makes such nice tea that I will find somewhere suitable for them. From 500 seeds I got 69 healthy plants minus the 30 planted out as hedging that died, now in 4 litre pots and two foot high. Germination was eratic and over a six month period a few sprouted each week.

[Ananke]

Thanks for that Olorin, If I have any seed left, I might just give them another try.

[dandalady]

just bought a manuka from scotland -does it need acid compost??