Mistletoe joy!

[ChrisJB]

I'm very happy as today in the garden I noticed a small clump of mistletoe on our apple tree. About three years ago I had a spell of attaching seeds on the tree in the hope of growing mistletoe, but they all seemed to vanish, even though a few threw out their strange 'tentacles'. I knew success rate was very poor with mistletoe and gave it up as a bad job. Naturally I'm amazed and thrilled with my discovery, but wonder how I missed it up until now. The shoots are a good four or so inches long. but

Regards, Chris

[pammosley]

Brilliant Chris I know it`s supposed to be hard to grow, my parents had some growing on their apple tree for a few years.

[Kayleigh]

I would love some but my apple trees are young and too small yet to try but well done on your discovery..

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I would love some but my apple trees are young and too small yet to try but well done on your discovery..

I don't know the size of your apple trees Kayleigh, but I have seen a photo of mistletoe on a tiny apple tree in a pot.

Chris

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I don't know the size of your apple trees Kayleigh, but I have seen a photo of mistletoe on a tiny apple tree in a pot.

Chris

one is about 6ft tall and the other about 4ft..
I will get some mistletoe and give it a go you never know I might get lucky like you..

[Deb London]

Well done Chris!

I've tried to "plant" mistletoes on two separate occasions. In my garden, the apples are not particularly valuable, and the thrill of growing mistletoe is what's important.

I can get them to germinate easily, but the problem is that very few can maintain growth.

My first lot failed badly. I was really happy to source a local mistletoe last year, and thought I'd try again in late winter. I have two apples - a Bramley's Seedling and a tiny patio one of unknown origin. Neither tree is big, but the patio variety is a few years old but still tiny. Both trees received about 6 seeds. It is the patio apple that has the only surviving mistletoe. The parasite has lasted longer than any other I have seeded. I feel that if it makes it to the mists of autumn (which are any time soon, judging by the weather) then it stands a good chance of winning through. No idea though.

I watered both sets of seed. I feel, looking back, I should have saved rain water for this, not tap water.

It's grand to hear of a success. Gives me hope. Kayleigh - my advice is to "plant" as many as you can. Most will die anyway, even though the little green "two-legged spiders" will look promising at first.

[ChrisJB]

Yes, I know the tentacled spider scenario. I could usually get that far (well perhaps 50-50 of seeds) then they just seemed to drop off. We don't get mistletoe up here in Lancs (as far as I am aware but would love to be corrected), so I just used to buy it from the garden centre and then smear loads of the seeds on my apple tree.
Incidentally, I have found another tiny bit today on the tree (just a single two-pronged leaf). It is much smaller than my original finding so presumably is younger (I tried for about three years in a row with the last time about two or three years ago).
One question I have is; once it is leafing does it usually survive and grow? Having got this far I'd be a broken man if I lost them now.

Chris

[Deb London]

I have found two seedlings on the apple tree that seem to be surviving, so fingers crossed.

1.


2.

(Spot the bud)


(Close up)

[tameblackbirds]

I thought that if you squashed the berries onto the tree branches as a thrush would wipe his beak, could with luck start it growing. Tried again this year and hoping again. can i ask how you have germinated the seeds you have used??

[Deb London]

The seeds germinate easily - just wipe them on the branches and the little tentacles sprout in spring. Getting them to take hold seems to be a matter of luck and only a small percentage (less than 10 % in my experience) survive longer than a year. I think that's the difficult bit.