Landrace: Nanda Devi

Its been a very busy week, shaping clouds, moving dirt, and juggling spring house repairs. Soils arrived from the rockery this week. Just after my last update, I had a few sprouts die off, a few from not letting their roots extend far enough before moving, a few from damp off where the stem rots as the first leaves unfold The Nanda Devi was just sitting there. No signs of life, but still tight little oysters, not oozing or peeking, or awake like other strains. The few germination experiences I have read about Nanda Devi suggest long waits, low rates and hot soil. So I moved the Nanda Devi seeds into a germination tray that I was using with little success to grow Bodhi trees that come from a similar climate. 60% silica play sand with 40% potting soil. My seed mat heats to 70F, so I added one inch of insulating rigid foam sheet under it, put the tray in the center, then snuggled all my soil filled containers around it for warmth. Soil temps start about 75F in the morning at lights on, and raise with tent closed, fans off, door zipper cracked at top, to about 78F peak. 16hr light cycle at 14inches which keeps it toasty too. After 3 days like this, the first Nanda Devi seed emerged. Today is day 6 since rework and 4 of 6 have sprouted. I often struggle when I insist on 'bucking convention'. I was foolish to think I should suggest how they should best sprout. Are there many paper towels in Tibet these days? Perhaps not.

No pics this week. Imagine sprouts that opened up their first true leaves, flat against their seed-leaves, then sat there. By the end of the week, another set of true leaves is emerging. Zero vertical growth seen. Roots were examined and all had at least 1-2 roots at the edge of the paper cup. two were wrapping around a bit with 4-5 roots, so I moved them into 6" pots and my growmix substrate. Next week will give me a clue as to whether they perk up with nutrient rich soil or want to grow more in the sandy nutrient starved stuff they are in to sprout.... Fingers crossed

OK, these are not for the faint of heart. Every sprout has displayed every challenge that comes from true Himalayan landrace seeds ( or 'so it has been said') I am carefully checking stems for signs of damp off where the main stem weakens. So far nothing too scary. Two of Four have had >6 visible roots when carefully removed from their paper cups. The other two had roots but just 1-2 showing, so they stay in the cups. I turned off the heat mat yesterday as we are past our rainy week and temps are rising. Not sure how hot to keep these when they show slow growth alongside plants that are already in 2.5qt pots. I had a few seeds last year that acted this way and rockwool cubes saved them, one being a DJ Short Temple Flo that I fell in love with. So...I will be patient! Update: 1Apr - a fifth seed (of 6 total) popped up almost 3wks after the rest! Doing well, there are now 5 Nanda Devi of 6 planted.

A 7th Nanda Devi seed was found peeking this morning from the original sand mix, left outside in the hot sun. ND#6 is doing well as a seedling in 6" pot. Nanda Devi 1-5 are at various stages, none really growing like others. They are all slow, spindly looking stragglers if I am being honest. This week's ND pic shows the best three which seem about to break out of their stunted phase. They have decent visible roots but nothing really branching or filling out...the roots are stringy singles. No hurry, so as long as they are alive, all is well.

14Apr: The Nanda Devi are gaining ground. I won't give up on these little ones and I nurture them alongside my Bodhi tree that is over 125 days old with just five leaves! ND#6 is perhaps another lesson with these...it sprouted late in the heat and came up in sandy wet-dry-wet-dry mix. It may out compete its siblings. I try to let them completely dry out before watering which has been a challenge in mixed outdoor weather where it rains. I put them in my 3x3 tent with fans off, zipped up with the SF1000 clone and got the temps abt 79F. They like this better than the 76F in the bigger tent. By mid May we should have AC weather in the 90F range, where they will thrive.

21Apr: Happy 420! Things are getting crowded in the tent as our last storm systems (for a while) move through. This week things were inside from 6am-9am; outside till 3pm; lights out at 10pm - except one rain day, and one too windy day. With the Nanda Devi genetics optimized for such a long Himalayan season, I shouldnt be surprised they are slow growers at first, showing no signs of sex yet. Sun they got 1tsp/gal grow; Wed they got 1tsp/gal CalMag. Lots of transplanting this week, and I added 2.5cuft of perlite to the mix based on the great observation by one of you watching - thanks! a few big girls in 5 gal containers will be outside full time next week so I included a last photo of everyone together. Today as far as chores, I gave everyone their first real 'haircut' - trimming larger leaves that were 'light blockers' and nipping off the very lowest mini-branches that only serve to encourage insects. Last pic includes my trim work, and includes the 3 boys I have in isolation, which were topped.

19May: Of the Nanda Devi plants, #3 stands out with larger leaves, lusher growth and no signs of wilt when well/over watered. She is my breeder for sure. two other girls are a bit leggy, and very symmetrical branching patterns, though they show color where #3 does not. I have identified a possible male for breeding, but not yet confirmed. The ND have been the slowest to sex which is great, giving them time to get big first.