Breaking new ground for juniper - Plantlife

Appendix 1Step-by-step guide to seed processingEquipment / materials: food processor, several bowls, spoon or egg-whisk,kitchen sieve, tea strainer, paper towels. You will also need access to coldrunning water and, if storing seed afterwards, use of a domestic fridge.1. Sort through berries one container ata time, discarding any green, brown orwrinkled ones.2. Mash blue-black berries to release the seed.Small numbers of berries can be processedby rubbing off the pulp by hand using afine-gauze sieve but this can be messyand time consuming. Instead, use a foodprocessor or electric mincer with a mediummincing screen (5mm holes) – anythingfiner will destroy the seed.3 Put the result into a large bowl and fill withcold water. Stir the mixture with a whisk orspoon to release trapped air, then allow tosettle. This can be done in stages if largenumbers of berries are being processed.4. Seed that floats is empty and should beskimmed off and discarded (a tea strainer isideal for this purpose). Conversely seed thathas sunk to the bottom is mainly viable,and can be sieved off afterwards.5. Flush the good seed under cold runningwater until clean.6. Allow to drain before tipping onto absorbentkitchen towelling.7. Leave at room temperature until dry(do not oven-dry).8. Estimate the number of seed by volume.One level teaspoon (5ml) = about 200seeds. Alternatively, 100 seeds weighsapproximately 1gram.9. Keep seed in a household fridge.Appendix 2Propagation protocol forJuniperus communis subsp. hemisphaericaJuniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica is a dwarfevergreen dioecious shrub. For finished 5L pot plant.PropagulesStage 1 (unrooted cuttings)Cutting material taken from Gew Graze in early Februaryand/or October from one year old semi-ripewood tipcuttings or semi ripewood cuttings with ripe heel,6-9cm in length resulted in over 80% rooting success.Cuttings taken at the end of February had a higherrooting success. The bottom leaves of cuttings shouldbe carefully removed with a sharp propagation knifebefore the base of cutting is dipped for five seconds inSynergol 10000ppm IBA. Diluted 1:5.6 giving a 1500ppmIBA and placed into modules compost mixture 25%to 75% grit (higher percentage of grit is a necessityfor high percentage rooting as Juniper dislikes beingwaterlogged.) Cuttings were watered in and placed on agravel based mist bed in a Venlo glasshouse with bottomheat of 20°C, on electronic leaf activated keeping theleaves just moist. It is crucial at all times not to letthe cuttings dry out as this will significantly reducepercentage rooting success. Do not propagate in directsunlight as can cause scorching. Growing temperatures:Nights: 8-10 ° C Days: Max 16°C. Cuttings taken inFeb take up to three months to root. Cuttings taken inOctober take up to six months to root.Stage 2Once rooted, wean off cuttings for two weeks by reducingmist bursts followed by removal from mist bed andpot on into 9 cm square pots (during potting on ensurethat root disturbance is kept to a minimum.) Place onmypexed floor in glasshouse with growing temperaturesof minimum 8-10 °C and maximum 20°C.Stage 3Pot on 9 cm to 2L pot (during potting on ensure thatroot disturbance is kept to a minimum.). Remain inglasshouse on floor in Venlo glasshouse with growingtemperatures of minimum 8-10 °C and maximum 20°C.When outside temperatures reach above 5°C placeoutside on hard standing. Ensure the plants remainoutside and fleece if temperatures go below -2°C.Stage 4Pot on 2L into 5L pots (during potting on ensure that rootdisturbance is kept to a minimum.). Place outside onhard standing with shade. Keep the plants outside above-2°C and fleece if temperatures go below this.Potting Media80% Vapogrow seed and modular compost, 10% Perlitestandard and 10% sterilised Loam.FertilizationNo fertilisation required in stage 1. In stages 1-4 use1 gram per litre of Osmocote, 12-14 months 15-9-11+2Mgo + TE in growing media. Supplement with a liquidfeed with half strength Peters Excel, 15:5:15 Mgo + TE0.3g/l on a fortnightly basis.TemperatureJuniper will survive temperatures of -5°C. Attemperatures below -2°C ensure that plants areprotected by fleece.LightEnsure cuttings and plants are shaded and away fromdirect sunlight. Junipers grow well under glass andwhen large enough can be moved outside with up to 20percent shading in the UK.IrrigationIt is crucial at all times not to let the plants dry out asthis will significantly reduce percentage survival success.The media requires to be free draining as the roots do notlike to be waterlogged.SpacingThroughout all stages space so that the plants do notoverlap.Crop Schedule (Last week in February)Rooting stage: Up to 90 days (3 months)Weaning: Up to 14 days (2 weeks)Stage 2- Stage 3: Up to 364 days (12 months)Stage 3 – Stage 4: Up to 364 days (12 months)Stage 4 – Transplantation: Up to 90 days (5 months)Total Time: Up to 980 days (33 months)Crop Schedule (October)Rooting stage: Up to 180 days (6 months)Weaning: Up to 14 days (2 weeks)Stage 2- Stage 3: Up to 240 days (8 months)Stage 3 – Stage 4: Up to 364 days (12 months)Stage 4 – Transplantation: Up to 90 days (5 months)Total Time: Up to 980 days (33 months)36 AppendicesPreparation for TransplantationSlightly reduce irrigation of plants over a five monthperiod to prepare for planting out. Ensure that the plantsare checked with regards to pests, diseases and virusesand that these are treated before the transplantationprocess occurs.Pests and diseasesKeep vigilant at all times with regards to monitoring forPests, Diseases and Viruses. Plants have been attackedby Totrix moth.Breaking new ground for lowland juniper 37