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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: Froglegs on January 31, 2007, 00:42:53

Title: Mistletoe
Post by: Froglegs on January 31, 2007, 00:42:53

A friend give some mistletoe berry's today thought id have a go at growing them on a apple tree that's growing  in my garden  ???..... any tips?. :)

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: Amazin on January 31, 2007, 01:34:26

Try this site:

http://www.mistletoe.org.uk

Good luck!

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: kenkew on January 31, 2007, 12:29:07

I've tried squashing them onto apple and oak.........nowt!
Good luck.

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 31, 2007, 23:00:29

I do to, annually, have done for 5 years.....nowt.  :'(

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: Froglegs on February 01, 2007, 08:59:42

A bit slow to get going then :o ;D

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: dgillings on February 01, 2007, 09:59:44

In my experience it is a hard thing to get started. Make a small nick in the bark - so that you can flap it over - and squash the berry into this. Then cover it with a material bandage - something natural like cotton. Even then you only have a 30% chance of it starting off. It's a wonder it makes it in the wild! :)

Do about 5 and you should see something eventually.

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: Mrs Ava on February 01, 2007, 22:53:19

I believe when it passes through the gut of a bird it germinates quite happily.  :-\

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: dgillings on February 02, 2007, 10:12:40

Perhaps catch a sparrow, force feed it mistletoe berries and then squeeze it on a branch ;)

DON'T DO THIS! :)

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: Mrs Ava on February 02, 2007, 18:58:41

Oh, you spoil all of the fun!  ;D ;) ;D

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: supersprout on February 02, 2007, 19:10:21

There was a feature on mistletoe growing on GQT a few weeks ago - Bob F said it could take four years to germinate. Makes you wonder in what way that's survival of the fittest ???

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 02, 2007, 20:23:16

Some plants do. They'll germinate slowly, over several years, so eventuially one hits the right conditions to thrive. Mostly it's long-lived plants that aren't reliant on producing a new generation every year.

Title: Re: Mistletoe
Post by: vee on February 03, 2007, 22:37:50

I remember my Grandad trying every year to get misletoe to grow on an old Bramley, but he never managed to get it to grow.
I have heard that hanging a branch of mistletoe in a tree so that the birds can eat the berries might work better as the seeds will have passed through them.