Q.Propagating Heather Plants: How Do I Propagate Heather Plants
Just in case you wanted to update your article called “Propagating Heather Plants: How Do I Propagate Heather Plants” … This article states “Place the seeds on a tray and place them in a 250 degree F. (121 C.) oven for 30 seconds”. I have been looking through the literature and found that 120 C for 30s is on the very limit of beneficial effect. Therefore, your article is not wrong but it might be better to write something like “100 – 120 C for 20 – 25 seconds”. Whittaker, Edith, and C. H. Gimingham. 1962. The effects of fire on regeneration of Calluna ‘vulgaris (L) Hull. from seed J. Ecol. 50(3) :815-22. states that: “… The initial effect of treatment at higher than normal temperatures in the range 40-160 C is an increase both in the numbers germinating and in the germination rate. While at 40 C and 80 C this effect is maintained in treatments lasting up to 1 minute, at 120 C treatments exceeding 30 seconds show depression of germination, and this becomes pronounced at 160 C with treatments longer than 20 seconds.”

Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Thank you. I will pass this on to the writers and editors.