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Tropicallvr
06-23-2008, 02:47 PM
Has anyone had any luck germinating musa seeds in a truly tropical climate? They seem like they need the temp fluctuation, but is it possible in the summer, or even in the winter? And what species have worked for you?
Thanks

Tropicallvr
07-05-2008, 02:04 PM
Update, have sprouted 8 Ensete superbums(14 days), and one Ensete glaucum(15 days), and one Musa initerans(in about 10 days!) near Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Now waiting on a few others to pop their heads up.

Dean W.
07-06-2008, 12:19 PM
Kyle, did you do anything special with the seeds? I have some that I'm working on now.

Tropicallvr
07-12-2008, 02:54 PM
Kyle, did you do anything special with the seeds? I have some that I'm working on now.
I basically just did the regular 3 day soak, and have the seeds in a one gallon community pot outside that gets morning light until noon. I did do one thing that is kinda freaky and I'm a little bit embarassed admitting it, a friend told me that in some new age book she read it talked all about plants life force, ect. She knew I was into germinating seeds and told me about a part in the book where it said that if you hold the seeds in your mouth while thinking about why you want the plants to grow then they will grow better. I did it with Musa initerans and forgot all about it until they sprouted after 10 days. I'm not sure if that's why, but I really wanted them to sprout, so I thought what the heck, and they set the record for me, so I may try it again sometime. (It's weird I know)

Update, now 4 Musa initerans(of 10), and about 15 Ensete superbum, one Ensete glaucum, and 3 Musa violescens. M.initerans is now my record holder for the fastest sprouter of any banana in 10 days.

Dean W.
07-12-2008, 04:25 PM
She knew I was into germinating seeds and told me about a part in the book where it said that if you hold the seeds in your mouth while thinking about why you want the plants to grow then they will grow better. I did it with Musa initerans and forgot all about it until they sprouted after 10 days. I'm not sure if that's why, but I really wanted them to sprout, so I thought what the heck, and they set the record for me, so I may try it again sometime. (It's weird I know)

Update, now 4 Musa initerans(of 10), and about 15 Ensete superbum, one Ensete glaucum, and 3 Musa violescens. M.initerans is now my record holder for the fastest sprouter of any banana in 10 days.


Lol!!!:ha: Hey, it worked! Congrats on your seeds germinating! I noticed today that my Snow Bananas are germinating. I have them in a community pot. They were outside in full sun untill some flowers (Marigolds) fell ontop of them providing shade. Seemed to have worked.

Chironex
07-12-2008, 11:23 PM
There might be something to that idea of putting them in your mouth. Think about the enzymes and acids in your mouth, and the mouths of monkeys. Hmmmm, I will definitely give it a try. How long were they in your mouth? One never knows what might trigger some of the tough-to-germinate-bananas.

Dean W.
07-13-2008, 09:26 AM
Scot, just make sure you wash them off well first! LOL!!!:ha::ha::ha:

damaclese
07-13-2008, 10:09 AM
uck but if it works id try it lol as Scot stated allot of seed only germinate after going throw the digestive track of a particular animal IE a symbiotic relationship so maybe the saliva has a beneficial affect but as previously discussed many Musa and Ensete seeds lack embryonic structures so no mater what you do they simply can not germinate
its grate to hear that some one is having such good success with thire seed congrats!

Tog Tan
02-25-2009, 06:45 AM
Has anyone had any luck germinating musa seeds in a truly tropical climate? They seem like they need the temp fluctuation, but is it possible in the summer, or even in the winter? And what species have worked for you?
Thanks

Well I was looking at this old thread by Kyle and there was no answer to his original question. Look at the pix below and you will see the small 'naner sprouts on the right side of the pot.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15853><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15853&size=1 border=0></a>

Now here's the story; it's an unintentional thing which I did actually. I had a bunch of ripen M-a-s-malaccensis fruits in the car porch and a tree shrew came around and ate some of the fruits and littered the floor with seeds. I had wanted to throw the sds away but then I thought why not chuck them into a pot and see what happens. I just threw them onto the soil and did not sow them as I would with soil on top. Then I forgot about it. Some 3 wks later I noticed a couple of green shoots in the same pot and then only I realised that the sds have sprouted.

The pot is in the open in the garden and during that time it was raining quite regularly and if it didn't, I watered the whole area as usual. The day time temp is around 90F+ and night about 80F. So no magic here.

The thing I noticed is that the sprouts come up more robust than those I have germinated in the clear deli boxes. Probably the sun light helped them alot.

Go figure....:ha:

Raules
02-25-2009, 08:53 PM
At you very favorable climate Tog, that do not throw, all grows

lorax
02-25-2009, 09:25 PM
See, and I've had the same experience as Tog with Heliconia and Canna seeds here in Ecuador. They seem to do better for me if they pass through a tapir or a guanta, then just get thrown on top of some soil out in the elements.

Tog Tan
02-26-2009, 12:47 AM
See, and I've had the same experience as Tog with Heliconia and Canna seeds here in Ecuador. They seem to do better for me if they pass through a tapir or a guanta, then just get thrown on top of some soil out in the elements.

Oi Sweetie, tapir, I know, we have the black and white one here and it taste like beef. So whatsa guanta? Huh?

lorax
02-26-2009, 12:58 AM
Guanta are large, tasty rodents with what I'd describe as layered flesh. A bit smaller than a capybara, but significantly larger than a big rat. They're related to Agouti.

Tapir are excellent eating as well - but having met young ones, I am now hesitant to eat them, they're such nice, friendly critters.

Chironex
02-26-2009, 06:27 PM
Guanta are large, tasty rodents with what I'd describe as layered flesh. A bit smaller than a capybara, but significantly larger than a big rat. They're related to Agouti.

I lead such a sheltered life. The only wild animals I have heard of around here are mountain lions and javalina (peccaries). And I hope that I don't run into either one! Yikes!

island cassie
02-26-2009, 07:45 PM
My son came out from England recently and brought me 1 ensete seed (of unknown type) that he had bought at vast expense from a specialist shop. (I hope he is too busy to read this). So after reading this thread I might move it out into the sun a little more. The seed had been treated in some way so not a candidate for the saliva treatment, but I would really like it to grow against all odds.

Bob
02-26-2009, 07:55 PM
Tog and lorax, Haven't had dinner yet and now I'm thinking of Tapir, Guanta, Agouti( all backstrap and tenderloin) , fried plaintain, hot pepper slightly thickened beef stock over noodles might just.................pizza will have to do...........ugh.

lorax
02-26-2009, 08:18 PM
Nah, to do Guanta properly it needs to be basted in garlic butter and slow-roasted on a spit or rotisserie over a bed of charcoal. The meat is incredibly rich, and tastes best when the fat layers have sort of been melted through the muscle layers.

Tog Tan
02-27-2009, 04:50 AM
Tog and lorax, Haven't had dinner yet and now I'm thinking of Tapir, Guanta, Agouti( all backstrap and tenderloin) , fried plaintain, hot pepper slightly thickened beef stock over noodles might just.................pizza will have to do...........ugh.

Bob, about 11yrs ago, I arranged for the last big gourmet dinner of game meat for a bunch of business friends who were really into it. We had civet cat, python, monitor lizard, mouse deer, barking deer, soft shell turtle, bear's paws and other exotic stuff. Since all the meat were illegally acquired we had to arrange for a restaurant which was willing to cook and serve it. We paid quite a bomb and had a super sumptuous meal in a VIP room. After that we didn't meet for a long time. And when we did, we found out that all those who were at that dinner had a horrible run of bad luck, the baddest, one can imagine. It was only later I learnt about the superstition of eating game will bring about bad luck! So, no one ever got interested again. Hahaha:ha::ha:

Chironex
02-27-2009, 12:13 PM
Nah, to do Guanta properly it needs to be basted in garlic butter and slow-roasted on a spit or rotisserie over a bed of charcoal. The meat is incredibly rich, and tastes best when the fat layers have sort of been melted through the muscle layers.

What wine would you pair with it Beth? :ha:

Chironex
02-27-2009, 12:15 PM
Bob, about 11yrs ago, I arranged for the last big gourmet dinner of game meat for a bunch of business friends who were really into it. We had civet cat, python, monitor lizard, mouse deer, barking deer, soft shell turtle, bear's paws and other exotic stuff. Since all the meat were illegally acquired we had to arrange for a restaurant which was willing to cook and serve it. We paid quite a bomb and had a super sumptuous meal in a VIP room. After that we didn't meet for a long time. And when we did, we found out that all those who were at that dinner had a horrible run of bad luck, the baddest, one can imagine. It was only later I learnt about the superstition of eating game will bring about bad luck! So, no one ever got interested again. Hahaha:ha::ha:

Was this meal before your lizard deals went bad?

lorax
02-27-2009, 12:31 PM
What wine would you pair with it Beth? :ha:

Depends on the accompaniment.

Over stewed potatoes with rice and hot peppers, a robust red like a Chilean Shiraz is suitable, or if you're into having ice cubes in the drink, an Argentinian Malbec.

On a bed of greens with corn on the cob, one of the German white wines, a Reisling or a Qualitassvein.

Tog Tan
02-27-2009, 12:44 PM
Was this meal before your lizard deals went bad?

Good point Scot, never thought of it. Yes!.... and then came the bad $15 million Serpentarium deal for tourism....sheesh....:waving:

Chironex
02-27-2009, 12:47 PM
Depends on the accompaniment.

Over stewed potatoes with rice and hot peppers, a robust red like a Chilean Shiraz is suitable, or if you're into having ice cubes in the drink, an Argentinian Malbec.

On a bed of greens with corn on the cob, one of the German white wines, a Reisling or a Qualitassvein.

Ice cubes in my wine?.....Never! May I also suggest a Chilean Carmenere? Often overlooked but delicious. It is one of my favorite reds along with a heavily smoked Pinot Noir such as the heady juice from Sine Qua Non. Love your Riesling pairing with spicy food.
For something refreshing, a chilled Gewurztaminer gets my vote.

lorax
02-27-2009, 01:00 PM
See, and I never really warmed to Malbec until I moved here. The ice-cubes thing turned me right off it until I realized I could simply treat it like a white - chill before opening and don't let it breathe a whole lot.

I've never been a fan of Pinot Noir - there's this volcanic taste in the recent Chilean ones that puts me off. The Carmenere is over $80 a bottle here, which puts it out of my reach for most meals. I like the Shiraz because I can use about half the bottle over the meat, then drink the rest.

If I were sauteeing the guanta, I'd have to go with the Riesling in the sauce along with aji peppers and achiote, and the final pairing would be a Bolivian Cabernet - I'm not sure that this one makes it to your market, but it's an excellent wine.

Of course, if we're talking about tapir (danta) then the field changes. I am particularly fond of cubes of tenderloin flambeed in peach aguardiente with peanuts. For that, a fuller-bodied red is a must - it's about the only time I'll consider Pinot Noir, and even then I'll go with an Argentine rather than a Chilean bottle.

lorax
02-27-2009, 01:02 PM
OMG, we've totally hijacked TropicalLuvr's thread. I feel awful!

Tog Tan
02-27-2009, 01:06 PM
OMG, we've totally hijacked TropicalLuvr's thread. I feel awful!

I was about to say that but I don't think Kyle will take legal action against us or try to kill us, rite Kyle? :ha:

Chironex
02-27-2009, 01:19 PM
Oops! I don't know if it would be advisable for us to continue this. Perhaps we should tapir it off....but I guanta keep it going.
Hey, agouti idea, let's start a new thread. :ha::ha::ha:
Then those whose threads were hijacked can do the same unto us.