How to Plant Osmanthus Seeds? Detailed Planting Methods and Techniques

Osmanthus is one of China's traditional top ten famous flowers, an excellent garden tree that combines greening, beautification and fragrance, with both ornamental and practical value. So, how do you plant osmanthus seeds?

1. Seed collection

In May-June, rub the collected seeds to remove the outer seed coat, wash them clean, and remove the ones that are not plump. Mix them with damp sand and store them in damp sand, keeping them moist and protecting them from mice. In winter, pay attention to keeping them warm; just keep them from freezing. The best time to sow osmanthus seeds is from February to early April of the following year. Sow and raise seedlings only when the seeds crack open and show white.

2. Germination promotion

To make the seeds germinate quickly and evenly, soak the disinfected seeds in warm water at about 50°C~52°C for 4 hours, then take them out and cover them with a damp cloth or straw, placing them under a temperature of 18~24°C to promote germination.

3. Seedbed preparation

The most suitable soil is a slightly acidic sandy loam with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, and good drainage. Osmanthus seeds are generally sown in drills. Make furrows on the seedbed with a width of 12 cm and a depth of 3 cm; sow 1 germinated seed every 6~8 cm in the furrow. When sowing, place the seed hilum sideways to avoid bending the radicle and young stem, which would affect seedling growth. After sowing, cover with 1-2CM of soil and cover with a small amount of straw or a shade net for shading. After the seeds sprout and emerge from the soil, uncover the straw appropriately on cloudy days or in the evening. Keep the seedbed moist, reduce water evaporation, and prevent weed growth. In the high-temperature summer season, build a shed for shade in time.

4. Transplanting

One-year-old sown osmanthus seedlings are 20~30 cm tall and can be transplanted in early spring of the following year. One month after the seedlings emerge, they enter a period of vigorous growth. Apply 1 diluted application of decomposed barnyard manure liquid or nitrogen fertilizer each month. As the seedlings grow, the fertilization concentration can be appropriately increased. After autumn begins, stop topdressing to prevent excessive growth of the seedlings and damage from freezing.

In addition, osmanthus trees are prone to brown spot disease and damping-off disease, and during the seedling stage they are also susceptible to aphid damage, so prevention and control should be carried out early.