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?
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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