Mandrakes, mandragora, aint no mountain high enough

[melbee]

I love mandragora of all types I have quite a few plants of Officinarum,  Autumnalis and Turcomanica and others of doubtful parentage .
I would be very interested in getting Mandragora caulescens and Mandragora  shebbearei seeds .I would of course be willing to pay hard cash, swap for other seeds in my collection , sing or sell family members into slavery .I will pay postage or come and collect, nowhere is to far .As Dianna Ross said "ain't no mountain high enough" 
regards
Mel 
 
 
 

[Paul T]

Mel,

Welcome.  I'm assuming that none of your family members are likely to be reading this forum then?    If they are, then you've just given them warning to start running.  Can't help you with the Mandrake, as I don't grow any of them at all.  Welcome to the forum from this part of Australia. 

[melbee]

Well no, they have all gone shopping but I am sure they wouldn't mind .When you are searching for seeds someone has to make sacrifices 
Thanks for the welcome Paul

Mel

[Maggi Young]

Welcome to the Forum, melbee! 
Do you live in the UK? ..... might make a difference to who might be able to swap seeds with you... we have Forum members around the world and some countries have very strict import laws. ( That's especially true for packaged family members!     )

[melbee]

I live in the UK just up the road from Cambridge .If I have to sell all of them into slavery for the mandragora seeds I will just use a large wooden box and mark it up as machine parts .They do it in films all the time .
Thanks for the welcome
Mel

[Maggi Young]

I live in the UK just up the road from Cambridge .If I have to sell all of them into slavery for the mandragora seeds I will just use a large wooden box and mark it up as machine parts .They do it in films all the time .
Thanks for the welcome
Mel

That's true!  Glad to see you have thought through your cunning plan 

[Maggi Young]

Out of interest, just had a look at the RHS plantfinder for Mandragora species.... not an overwhelming number of stockists......
Mandragora caulescens
Spinneywell Nursery,
Waterlane, Oakridge,
Bisley, Gloucestershire,
GL6 7PH
Wendy Asher
Telephone (01452) 770151 or 770092 / 07986 887158Email
wendy.spinneywell@virgin.net
Website
www.spinneywellplants.co.uk


Mandragora autumnalis
Bob Brown/Vicky Parkhouse
Address
Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 7EZ

United Kingdom
Telephone
Nursery: (01386) 833849 or Mail Order: (01386) 422829 / 07812 833849
Fax
nursery (01386) 49844
Email
info@cgf.net
Website
www.cgf.net


Mandragora officinarum suppliers

Arne Herbs
Bristol, BS40 8QW
www.arneherbs.co.uk


Beeches Nursery
 Saffron Walden, Essex,
CB10 2HB
www.beechesnursery.co.uk


Cally Gardens
Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire,
DG7 2DJ
www.callygardens.co.uk


Cotswold Garden Flowers
 Evesham, Worcestershire,
WR11 7EZ
www.cgf.net


Elsworth Herbs
Sidmouth, Devon,
EX10 8HS
email for catalogue:  john.twibell@btinternet.com


Green Garden Herbs
Carlton, North Yorkshire,
DN14 9PZ
www.greengardenherbs.co.uk


Poyntzfield Herb Nursery
Dingwall, Ross-shire,
IV7 8LX
www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk

[melbee]

Hi
thanks very much for the list I have started to go through it .I will let you know how I get on
Regards
Mel

[Lesley Cox]

I hadn't realized that Mandragora was such an enthralling genus. Interesting yes, and I'm delighted with the seeds of M. officinarum Rodger W sent to me (yes, we are allowed to have it), but selling famly into slavery? Seems extreme for a mandrake.

If R's seed germinates well and grows on, I may have to get more dogs.

[Rodger Whitlock]

If R's seed germinates well and grows on, I may have to get more dogs.

When I first got into mandrakes, well over 20 years ago, I started with seed from the RHS of Mandragora officinarum ssp. haussknechtii. At some point I went looking for information about starting mandrake from seed; no book I owned had any information, and in those long-ago days we didn't have the net and Google to help. Finally I found a note in Miller's Gardener's Dictionary, 1730 edition, that said it was important to sow fresh seed.

The seeds of M. officinarum are rather plump, and I suspect that they don't tolerate hard drying off.

Moral: if you get mandrake seed (and I've sent several ounces combined to the SRGC & AGS exchanges), sow it immediately, perhaps after a reviving soak. Then be patient.

I must add that when I've sown my own seed fresh from the fruit, I still get fairly low germination, 20-30%.

PS: If anyone is still growing ssp. haussknechtii, I'd love to get seed of it again. It's the Turkish form of M. officinarum.

[melbee]

I have most of the replies back from the enquiries at the nurseries supplied by Maggi young .No luck at the moment .

PS: If anyone is still growing ssp. haussknechtii, I'd love to get seed of it again. It's the Turkish form of M. officinarum.
[/quote]
This is quite interesting .I have just looked at a picture of M. haussknechtii to me this looks like a Spanish Autumn mandrake have you got a picture or a description of your  haussknechtii.I do have the turcomanica but it is a much bigger plant and darker flowers .There are a few problems with identification of mandragora .

Does anyone know if the seeds exchanges have Mandragora caulescens
Mel

[Maggi Young]

At a quick search, SRGC exchange has not had any Mandragoras for thre last two years .

[David Nicholson]

Mandragora officinarum was on the AGS Exchange last time.

[Diane Clement]

Mandragora officinarum was on the AGS Exchange last time.  

Mandragora officinarum has been on the AGS seed list every year for the last 8 years (which is as long as I have been working on it and have the figures).  Never in great quantities, but hopefully enough to satisfy demand.  My own plant was grown from AGS seed some years ago, and I have sent seed back in for the last few years.  This year my plant flowered well and produced more seed than usual.  

the following pictures show the plant in flower earlier this year, the fruits taken from the plant and cut open to dry, and the seed drying off.  

[melbee]

The pictures of the mandrake plant and fruits are very intersting .I am particularly intersted in the colour of the flowers and the size and texture of the leaf .Did the leaves stay crumpled up like that or did they flatten out .Also what was the actual colour of the flowers .They look more blue than green
Mel