Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign, Part VI

Achimenes SRG 'Limoncello'

 

Achimenes --- The beginning of the campaign, Part VI

 

            The production method for Achimenes must be perfected.

 

            Propagation is either by top cuttings or rhizomes or tissue culture.  Tip cuttings require hundreds of stock baskets.  Rhizomes are produced after a long Summer’s top growth.  Tissue culture protocols have not been worked out.

 

            All of these are very expensive and time consuming.  The breakthrough may be the technique of shelling rhizomes into scales.  Every scale has potential to grow into a plant.

 

But, if this works, large quantities can be produced the first year --- 2023.

 

            So far, I have not been able to determine all the reasons that Achimenes failed as a commercial crop the last time it was tried. Production costs to build up stock may have been the killer.

 

            We’ll see.