What are the sowing methods for the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)?
Southern magnolia, also known as lotus magnolia, foreign magnolia, and large-flowered magnolia, is an evergreen tree of the genus Magnolia in the family Magnoliaceae. Seeds are collected in autumn and sown immediately, or they can be stored in sand until the following spring for sowing. When sowing, it is best to sow densely. In the second year, the seedlings are transplanted in the nursery to continue growing, and after about 4 years of nursery cultivation they are ready to leave the nursery. For grafting, white magnolia (Magnolia denudata) or purple magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora) can be selected as the rootstock, generally using the branch grafting method in spring. Transplanting should be carried out in spring, and to improve the survival rate, the seedlings must be kept with a soil ball.
1. Harvesting and seed storage
The fruit of the southern magnolia matures in September—October. When mature, the fruit splits open, revealing the red aril. It must be harvested promptly when the fruit is slightly split and the aril has just turned red-yellow. After harvesting the fruit, place it in a shaded area to dry for 5—6 days to encourage splitting. Remove the seeds with the aril, soak them in clean water for 1—2 days, rub off the aril and remove the shriveled seeds. Alternatively, mix with plant ash and rub to remove the aril. Mix the clean white seeds with kerosene or zinc phosphide to prevent rodent damage.
2. Sowing
There are two sowing periods: sow immediately after harvest (autumn sowing) and spring sowing. The seedbed should be selected in fertile, loose sandy soil, deeply plowed with weeds and pests eliminated, and sufficient base fertilizer applied. After leveling the bed surface, open sowing furrows 5 cm deep, 5 cm wide, with a furrow spacing of about 20 cm. Sow in rows, distributing the seeds evenly in the furrows, then cover with soil and press down lightly.
3. Seedling management: When the seedlings have 2 to 3 true leaves, they can be transplanted with a soil ball. Because growth is slow during the seedling stage, frequent weeding and loosening of the soil are necessary. From May to July, apply top dressing 3 times, using fully decomposed dilute manure water.