Soil Mixture

[SoftBankHawks]

I have a bunch a japanese orange seeds from my father-in-law and want to grow one of his orange trees in the UK. I have i) rotted horse poo ii)seeds iii)an abundance of clay soil and iv) access to whatever else I will need.
Can somebody please advice me on the best way to go about propogating these little seeds. Thanks.

 

[trees4ever]

SoftBankHawks,
Growing any citrus from seed is difficult as they are prone to phytophthora root diseases. Most citrus are propagated by grafting or taken from cuttings as this is faster and more reliable.
But if you want to try:
1) Put all the seeds, nicely spaced, in a pot of free-draining, mildly acidic soil-less mix ( 3 parts peat, 1 part fine bark, 1 part perlite)
Then cover seeds with soil-less mix and a 5 mm layer of small gravel. (This keeps the surface of the pot from growing moss or liverworts.)
2) Water and keep in warm sheltered area. Seeds should sprout in 6-8 weeks. Some citrus produce seeds with multiple embryos, some are asexually derived, some are clones of the parents.
3) So weed out the weak AND overly vigorous seedlings.
5) As seedlings get bigger transplant to larger pots with a soil mix (2 parts soil, 1 part peat, 1 part sand)
4) If any plant survives the root rot -
AND if you have enormous patience they should produce flowers in 7 years!!!

-Diane-

 

[SoftBankHawks]

Thank you!

 

[trees4ever]

SoftBankHawks,
I'm glad to share the information.
Maybe your father-in-law can send you a cutting - it would be faster.
If you go through with the citrus seed planting keep us updated.
In 7 years TBuzz will still be here I'm sure!

-Diane-