Anyone who has ever eaten medlars raw straight from the tree or bush will inevitably have come across them. It's about the seeds they contain, which are usually not eaten because they are extremely hard. But what can be done with them instead?
What do these cores look like?
The cores or seeds contained in the medlar fruits are just as bizarre as the entire plant with its crown, its flowers and its fruits. The cores are strange things, one might think. They are brownish in color, flat, rounded to oval, hard and structured. Each core is unique.
How does sowing work?
The seeds can be sown either outdoors or in pots at home. A sheltered spot is ideal. For planting in open ground, it is advisable to use clay pots or other decomposing pots. These are filled with substrate and z. B. put in the garden.
The first steps
The seeds of the medlar must be exposed to a cold spell before they show themselves willing to germinate. They are best taken from the ripe and soft fruits in autumn. The flesh should be soft so that the seeds are not damaged when removed.
The detached cores are stratified over the winter. This means they are exposed to frost. This can be done outdoors during the winter or artificially, for example in the freezer compartment at home or in the deep freeze.
The further steps
In the spring, the seeds - if they were not sown outdoors - are soaked in water for about 24 hours. This speeds up the germination process. Then they can be placed 0.5 cm deep in potting soil. In the near future, the soil must be regularly moistened.
After breeding
After cultivation, the young plants should be given a suitable location. The medlar prefers to grow:
- in a moist and calcareous substrate
- in a protected place
- in a sunny and warm location
tips and tricks
Germinating the seeds can take up to two years with bad luck. Therefore, other propagation methods for the medlar are much more advisable.