Best Banana seed source
 

Hi everyone,

I have now purchased two lots of Musa Sikkimensis 'Red Tiger' seeds from different sources on ebay but todate nothing has germinated.

I believe I am doing everything right as based on the expertise on this very good forum.

Where is the best place to get some seeds that would actually germinate here in UK?

Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Best Banana seed source
 

Welcome to the frustrating world of musa seed germination Carpy!

Few people find it easy to germinate them.

You should sow loads (100+), and wait a long time. You may get something at some point.

Re: Best Banana seed source
 

You could try Trebrown Nurseries in the UK. Phil usually has fresh seeds.

Out of about 150 seeds or so, I've managed to germinate one seed of M. sikkimensis, and then it died a week later. You could do everything right, and not get one seed to sprout! It's hit and miss with some of the species. Good luck.

Re: Best Banana seed source
 

Thanks for your advice chaps.

I will not give up yet, determined to get some sprouts! I only sowed 10 seeds, so I will see what happens over the next few months.

Thanks again.

Re: Best Banana seed source
 

from 200 sikkimensis seeds only 2 have germinated, better spend money on seedlings
Lod germination 2008 - germinated in one month !

agave montana 40 seeds - 40 germinate 5 euro
chaemerops humilis 50 seeds - around 40 germinated 2 euro
livistona species - all germinated 5 euro
nannhorops ritchiana - 100 seeds - 86 germinated 10 euro
eucalyptus species - hundreds of seeds about 80 % germination rate 6 euro
canna , hedychium and other gingers - 70 % germination rate 8 euro
total : 36 euro's for a lot of seeds that have germinated, i actually can make lot of profits of this one. very rare and endangered livistona species!

100 ensete seeds planted in march-2007 - nothing germinated 15 euro
velutina 100 seeds planted a 4 months ago - nothing germinated 6 euro ( still expect this to germinate with a good rate )
100 sikimensis seeds - planted 6 months ago- nothing germinated 13 euro
musella 100 seeds and initerans 100 seeds - is it possible to germinate ? 30 euro
100 sikkimensis seeds planted 3 months ago- 2 germinated 1 seedling died 13 euro.
total : 77 euro for 1 wimpy plant, for this money i could buy 50 seedling over the internet that are already treatened for diseases and pests

i still got the seeds but i have given up on nanner seeds, don't get me wrong i germinated hundreds of other rare and very difficult to germinate species exotics , palms etc .,
i know how to germinate musa seeds and im doing everything right , but musa seeds cost money and the quality of most seeds are very poor.
they key in germinating all seeds is that the seeds are fresh and viable , most nanner seeds are stored in a inproper way or are stored too long, if you want fresh seeds you have to import straight out of the native habitat.
in my opinion you should leave the seeds of endangered or rare species to experts to germinate.

it's challenging to germinate but after a while i was getting frustrated because they take up space and time. Over two months i wil recieve thousands of other exotic seeds, i wil throw the musa seeds in the garden and mb something wil pop up the soil , i need the space.

carpy keep hope, but you have the to realize the chances of the seeds germinating is 1 %
i have try alot of methods including stratification, a friend of me soaks the seeds for two weeks that gave him good result.
im still trying/ experimenting to germinate seeds in water hopefully that wil work, it worked also for opuntia seeds!

Re: Best Banana seed source
 

Hi Lodewijkp,

Thanks for the info, it is a challenge alright!

I have also some Tree Fern spores on the go (Cyathea Medullaris & Cooperi), so we will see how they go as well.

As, I have stated in my other post I found two pups of my Sikki 'Red Tiger' the other day under the blanket which protects the roots, so I can always separate them later in the summer. Cheaper than seeds!

Re: Best Banana seed source
 

The thing is that you can get rare seeds of species that you can't find otherwise. In the case of common species it is better not to waste your money.
Then there are those species that seem to sprout better than others, and you actually end up with more plants than you want. Ensete ventricosum, Ensete glaucum, Musa balbisiana, Musa veluntina, Musa cheesmanii, Musa nagesium, Musa bhutan, and quite a few others, but these can be hit or miss at times. Honing your germination style down helps a bit, as well as plain luck.