Collection

Seed was collected from Alder growing along the stream at East Corn Park. The seed was dried at the side of an Aga where the seeds were not in direct heat. The seeds were separated from the cones by means of vigorous shaking in a plastic carrier bag and also by rolling the seeds between the thumb and first finger. They were then shaken in a fine nylon sieve to remove as much bebris as possible.

Storage

After researching the internet for instuctions on how to grow Alder from seed, the seed was stored in three different ways.

  1. Dry in a jar with a metal lid on a windowsill.

  2.On wet sand in a plastic container with a lid in the refrigerator for ten weeks

  3.In a jar with a metal lid,which cotained water. Stored in the refrigerator for 10 weeks.

Planting

The seed was planted in April 2008, in seed trays in which drainage was prevented by tapping black polythene on the underside, on soil -that had been passed through a fine riddle. It was then then covered with sharp sand that had been washed in a nylon sieve until the water ran clear . Two trays were planted with the dry seed, and a third tray was divided into two areas half planted with seed stored on sand in the refrigerator and the other half with the seed stored in water in the refrigerator. The trays were covered with bubble wrap, and the soil was kept very wet.

Germination

The seed that had been stored on the wet sand, in the refrigerator was the first to germinate, followed by the dry seed stored in the jar on the windowsill. Only one seed stored in the water has germinated. Approximately one cup of seed was collected and from this approximately 160 seedlings have grown

Anne Webb September 2008