Solanum pyracanthum

• Sow about 3 mm deep
• Germinates best at about 20°C
• Comes up in 14–28 days
• Prick out about 3 weeks after sowing
• Pot on about 8 weeks after sowing
• Seed can be slow and uneven to germinate, so sow a few extra and don't discard trays too soon; bottom heat greatly improves and speeds up germination.

You'll need: A heated propagator or warm windowsill (18-21°C), seed trays or small pots, free-draining seed compost, and patience since this tender perennial needs an early, warm start to flower the same year.

1. Fill small pots or modular trays with moist, free-draining seed compost.
2. Sow seed thinly on the surface and cover with a fine 2-3mm layer of vermiculite or compost.
3. Place in a heated propagator or on a warm windowsill at 18-21°C; germination is slow and erratic so be patient.
4. Keep compost evenly moist but never waterlogged, and ensure good light once seedlings emerge.
5. Prick out seedlings into individual pots once they have their first true leaves, handling carefully to avoid the developing spines.
6. Grow on in warmth and bright light, potting on as roots fill the pot, before hardening off for planting out after the last frost.

How long

Germination is slow, usually two to three weeks, with seedlings taking several months to reach a good size.

It's worked when

Small seedlings with rounded cotyledons appear, followed by true leaves that soon show the characteristic purple veining.

Then

Pot on into richer compost as plants grow, keep frost-free over winter if raised early, and harden off before planting out or standing containers outside once night temperatures stay above about 10°C.

You'll need: Sharp secateurs or a knife, thick gloves to protect against the spines, small pots, free-draining cuttings compost, and ideally a propagator or clear bag to maintain humidity.

1. Wearing gloves, select healthy, non-flowering shoot tips about 8-10cm long from the current season's soft growth.
2. Trim just below a leaf node and remove the lower leaves, taking care of the spines on the stem and leaf surfaces.
3. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone if available, then insert into pots of free-draining, gritty cuttings compost.
4. Cover with a clear plastic bag or propagator lid to keep humidity high, and place somewhere warm with bright, indirect light.
5. Keep compost just moist and check regularly for rot, removing any fallen leaves promptly.
6. Once new growth appears, usually after three to four weeks, gradually acclimatise the cutting by opening the cover for longer periods.

How long

Cuttings typically root within three to four weeks in warm conditions.

It's worked when

Gentle resistance when tugged lightly indicates roots have formed, and fresh new leaf growth at the tip confirms rooting.

Then

Pot rooted cuttings on into individual pots, grow on in a warm, bright spot, and overwinter young plants indoors or in a heated greenhouse at a minimum of 10°C before hardening off in late spring.