Method: I scarified (with sandpaper) half the batch of seeds and left the other half unscarified.
I soaked both batches of seed in previously boiled tepid water. The water was made into a weak solution with about half a teaspoon of epsom salts to a pint. The soaking seeds were kept in glass jars and kept in a heated propagator set to 80f for seven days. The epsom salts/water solution was changed at least once a day, sometimes twice.
On the 30th of January the seeds were sown in a mixture of 2/3rds peat and 1/3rd vermiculite to a depth of about 1/2 an inch, with a layer of vermiculite sprinkled on top. The peat was sterilized in a microwave beforehand. The potting mix was dampened with a weak solution of copper sulphate to prevent damping off (mould) and placed back in the propagator set to a temp of 85f.
The first sprout (from scarified seed) poked its head above the compost today, the 19th of Feb, along with two rootlets from unscarified seeds, one of which is just visible in the second photo.
Result: 20 days from sowing to first germination.
In a day or two I'll put the propagator under a c.f. growlight until the weather warms up and the natural light levels improve.
This is the first time I've been successful at germinating any type of banana seed, so I'm very pleased, although I believe that the Ensete's are easier to germinate than Musa Sikkimensis, which I also have on the go at the moment.
I'll update this post with any further developments.
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Here's an update as of 23 Feb, 2013.
Two more Ventricosum seeds have now raised their heads above the potting mix. Five seedlings so far.
Below is an updated photo of the first seedling to germinate, now in its own pot.
This seedling (scarified) came up alongside the one above earlier today, so I re-potted it staight away.
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The germinated seeds (unscarified) that were just showing as rootlets on the 19th Feb (second photo) have now formed shoots and another one has arrived.
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Update
On the 6th March, two Ensete Glaucum seedlings came up. Time from sowing to germination was 35 days. One was scarified, the other wasn't. These were planted at the same time as the Ensete Ventricosum above and treated in exactly the same way.