"Green pod sowing": One can pick the berries after 5 months. The seeds will come out easily because
the fruit-wall is still firm. However, should you harvest the berries in July, it is better to put them in a basin
of water before you crush and wash them to separate the seeds from what remains of the pulp and
membranes. You will find this a much easier and cleaner operation. You must make sure that the inner
membrane of the fruit-wall surrounding the seed coat is also removed, otherwise the membrane will
become infected with bacteria or fungi.
Sterilising by washing with Sunlight dishwasher liquid (one teaspoon to one litre of water), followed by
rinsing with clean water is usually adequate. Wash your containers (plastic ice cream containers) with
Sunlight Liquid and rinse. Place a folded paper towel at the bottom, then moisten; place seeds on moist
towelling and close the lid firmly. It can now be placed in a propagator.
Note: Sunlight liquid dissolves cell walls of microbes and fungus spores.
You can make your own propagator as illustrated in figure 1.
Construct a wooden box, approximately 75 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm, with a close-fitting door. Construct a
slatted shelf under which you can place a hair dryer. This should be placed centred at the bottom of the
box. Place an aquarium thermostat (without the test-tube) right at the top of the box. More slatted shelves
on which one can place the seed containers can now be installed. Use an aquarium thermometer to
monitor the temperature. An average temperature of 25°C will give the best results. Do not be upset if the
thermometer reads 27°C. It usually switches off at that temperature and on again at 24°C. Use the setting
screw at the back of the thermometer to attain an optimally functioning system.
After about one month, the radicle should be - at an average - 2 cm long. Use a container (pot or bag) 15
cm in diameter and plant the seeds - about 25 to a container. Use a pencil-thick screwdriver to push holes
into the medium (sand) to receive only the radicle. Push down on the seed to let it sit firmly on the
medium and water with a spray can. These seedlings will need protection from rain until the first leaf is
about 4 cm long; otherwise they may be washed out. Should the seed be lifted up by a developing
taproot, make a new hole deep enough to receive the entire taproot, then water as indicated above.
Transplant into individual bags (after 10 months) at the beginning of spring the following year.
Note: Figure 2 may also be used in connection with the fact that the epicotyl indicates what
colour the
flower will be: red = orange or red, green = yellow, and light pink = pastel. Few people realise that the
receptive part is only on the inside ends of the trifid tip of the stigma. As pollen has a long life whilst on
the stigma, you will only need to pollinate it well once. To ensure that the pollination will be succesful, mix
6 teaspoons of sugar in one teacup and stir well. Dampen the stigma with this mixture. Wait 10 minutes
then pollinate. It works like a charm!
