Rock Cotoneaster: July 2023 planting and December 2023 update

Rock Cotoneaster: July 2023 planting and December 2023 update

by michaelruschena Posted on

Stage 1: Desire

At work I take a lunchtime walk, passing this tree each day.

In primary school, the schoolyard called these poison berry trees. Which seems odd in so many ways. First: we were wrong about the species name, even the informal name. Second: why were we talking about tree names? I assume it was boyish obsession with danger, as if we might just unknowingly eat this plant.
The leaves are small, which is good. But I really want to know what trunks look like.

Let’s see if I can grow me some.

Stage 2: Stratification

I waited until end of spring, and grabbed some for stratification. I’m not sure if this is actually needed, but I don’t think I lose anything.

July 2023.
A light spray on some kitchen paper.

Stage 3: Sowing

2 months later (i.e. August), let’s get them into some soil-like substance.

Errr… is black bad?
Perlite base, plus some compost.

Stage 4: Soil + Seed + Water + Sun + Time

November 2023. Is that the first signs of germination? Or invasion from other plants in the garden?
Rock Cotoneaster: July 2023 planting and December 2023 update
December 2023. These look different enough from the other things that invade my soil that I think this is the cotoneaster coming through. Yay!
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