How to sow blackberry lily seeds? A detailed guide to the latest methods
Blackberry lily is usually propagated by seeds and rhizomes. Rhizome propagation gives an earlier harvest and quicker results, but the propagation coefficient is low, and long-term planting can also lead to germplasm degradation. Although seed propagation has a long production cycle, it has a high propagation coefficient and does not cause germplasm degradation, so seed propagation is also commonly used in actual production. Let's take a look together below!
Collecting blackberry lily seeds
Usually in late September to early October, when the blackberry lily fruit husks turn yellow and are about to split open, cut them off together with the fruit stalks, place them in a ventilated indoor spot to dry, and then thresh them.
Germinating blackberry lily seeds
After harvesting, blackberry lily seeds must never be exposed to the sun, otherwise the hardness of the seed coat increases. Because they have after-ripening characteristics, physiological after-ripening can only be completed under low-temperature and moist conditions. Seeds sown in spring must undergo low-temperature treatment before they can germinate. For seeds harvested in autumn, mix them with 3 times their volume of wet sand, dig a pit outdoors and bury them in it. The size and depth of the pit depend on the amount of seed. Keep them moist and do not let them freeze. Dig them out the following spring and sow. Seeds sown in autumn must be soaked in warm water at 40-50°C for 24 hours, then dried in the shade before sowing.
Sowing blackberry lily seeds
For seed propagation of blackberry lily, both direct sowing and seedling transplanting can be used. The sowing time differs depending on open-field cultivation and plastic film mulching. Let's continue below to look at open-field direct sowing, open-field seedling raising, and warming seedling raising in small plastic arched sheds for blackberry lily seeds!
1. Open-field direct sowing: Spring sowing is done around Qingming, and autumn sowing is done in September to October. Generally, furrow sowing is used. On the prepared seedbed surface, open furrows and make holes at a spacing of 25 cm × 30 cm. The furrow depth is about 5 cm, and the furrow bottom should be level and loose. Apply farmyard manure in each hole, cover with about 2 cm of fine soil, then sow 5-6 pre-germinated seeds. After sowing, cover with soil and press firm, water appropriately, and cover with grass to retain moisture and warmth. The seeding rate is 2-3 kg per mu, and seedlings emerge about 20 days after sowing.
2. Open-field seedling raising: Spring sowing is done in March, and autumn sowing is done in September to October. Before sowing, first water the seedbed surface thoroughly. After the water seeps away, open furrows horizontally at a row spacing of 20 cm, with a depth of 6 cm and a sowing width of 10 cm. Then evenly sow the germinated seeds into the furrows, cover with fine soil mixed with farmyard manure to a thickness of 5 cm, or broadcast the previously prepared seeds into the seedbed and cover with 5-6 cm of fine fertilized soil. After sowing, press lightly, and cover with grass to retain moisture and warmth. The seeding rate is 8-10 kg per mu.
3. Warming seedling raising: Usually, to extend the growing period of blackberry lily in the year of sowing, small plastic arched sheds can be used for warming, allowing earlier sowing and earlier seedling emergence. For seedling raising with small plastic arched sheds, conventional methods can be used in early to mid-January. First sow the seeds stored mixed with sand that have split open into the seedbed and cover with a thin layer of soil, then spray warm water once in the morning and once in the evening each day. Seedlings can emerge in about 1 week. After emergence, strengthen fertilizer and water management, and by mid to late March they can be transplanted into the field.