BOOK REVIEWS

Seeds

Jekka McVicar
Distributed by Reed
$NZ49.95

IF you can grow it and you also want to sow it, then this is the book for you. It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive guide to propagating plants, from cacti and succulents to ferns, grasses, palms, and of course, all the annuals and perennials that grace our gardens.

Raising plants from seed is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling aspects of gardening. As a child I remember raising watermelon seeds in old egg cartons and being amazed at the sight of that first pair of tiny, fresh green leaves bursting through the soil a few days later. That magic never wears off - and of course, raising your own plants from seed also helps to keep down the costs of maintaining a garden.

Seeds is divided into plant categories, each one of which features dozens of plants listed in alphabetical order for easy reference.

Each listing is a recipe for success. For example, for honesty (Lunaria annua), you can sow the seeds fresh in late summer and allow them to germinate naturally or you can sow seed in autumn in soil-less seed mix, before placing in a cold frame outside.

As well as detailed instructions for each plant, there are plenty of tips for practical general seed raising, using techniques such as stratification and scarification. Storing, harvesting and lunar sowing also feature.

Plus it's beautiful - Seeds certainly wouldn't look out of place on your coffee table either!

Weekend Gardener, Issue 91, January 31-February 13, 2002, Page 30

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH