I have today recovered a fruit of my newly planted-4 mos- kousa dogwood, and would like to cultivate it indoors so that it might be planted come spring. Any recommendations, please. Thank you. Bruce T. Chodosh, MD
Seeds of cold winter climate plants require a cold and moist period to germinate. This serves to prevent them from coming up at the wrong time. You will have to separate the seeds from the fruit(s) and provide them with a "winter". Planting in a pot or flat of potting soil and placing in a cool yet protected environment, such as an unheated greenhouse or cold frame, works well, as long as rodents and birds are kept away. Otherwise, you can pack them in bags filled with a moist medium and place them in the refrigerator for a long enough period to satisfy their dormancy, then pot up and place in a warm, humid environment for germination. Do a web search for phrases like "dogwoods from seed", "dogwood propagation" and so on for details.
