Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Seed Germination
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Tom Dupont
Posted on: May 10, 2004

I purchased some bilberry seeds last year and I have not been able to get them to germinate. They have been stratified in the fridge for at least 9 months or more. Do you have any advice to offer. Would gibberellic acid help?

Fresh Vaccinium myrtillus seed, or seed dry-stored for 6 months, germinates best when planted by pushing them onto the surface of an acid medium (such as peat-moss and silica sand), watered, drained and covered with clean plastic and then set into a bright window. If sun strikes the surface, open the plastic a bit to make sure the seed flat does not cook! The seeds should germinate in 2 to 8 weeks. Treatment with gibberellic acid-3, reduces the need for light during germination of FRESH seed. If the seed must be stored longer than 6 months, it should be stratified for 3 months, ie stored damp and very cool such as in the fridge. If they are stored dry and warm they will be dead after a year.

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