Scarifying seeds?

HoaNui · 02-25-2012, 11:17 AM

Can anyone tell me if it's of any benefit scarifying the seeds prior to soaking them? I also received some seeds with salt petre and was given the instruction to soak them for several hours in this solution prior to cooling and warming the seeds. Any thought on using salt petre too?

Thank you in advance.

jmoore · 02-25-2012, 01:31 PM

I have never tried potassium nitrate (salt petre) so couldn't comment, but I do use magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) and this has worked well for me. I am currently experimenting on different concentrations of magnesium sulphate

I don't scarify seeds I think it's the quick way to ruining your precious seeds and it's not necessary. Water will penetrate naturally if you soak them for long enough.

These links may help:
Musa Cheesemanii
Germination guide

HoaNui · 02-25-2012, 02:16 PM

Thank you for that, it's very useful.

raggedyredhead · 02-25-2012, 04:24 PM

Hi, I scarify and soak on a heating mat for four to five days. I use coarse sandpaper and
& find it's such a hard coated seed that I do very little even with sandpaper. I've gotten
only four out of 16 to germinate this way.
Raggedy

HoaNui · 02-25-2012, 04:43 PM

I've had similar 'success' with other seeds. I'm not entirely convinced that scarifying works that well. It may be worth a try though.

Olafhenny · 02-25-2012, 10:21 PM

I believe different seeds may well behave differently. It is therefore prudent to have enough seeds at hand
so you can try different methods concurrently. I had received seeds for three different species of palm
trees with barely enough time to get them into the soil (pots) before I left for a two months trip. I scarified
and briefly soaked them (not enough IMOEO).

I will return in just under 3 weeks and am very curious about what happened with them. I did not want to
loose more than two months germination/growing time. But just in case it is a miss I still have more seeds
in reserve.

sunfish · 02-25-2012, 11:46 PM

I don't believe Scarifying seed is necessary

jmoore · 02-26-2012, 02:43 AM

And let that be a lesson for everyone!

eric27 · 02-26-2012, 02:30 PM

This is my experience. Some seeds beneift and some don't. If you don't chip canna seeds you will wait much longer, if you even get any germinaton. I have found Ensete seeds seemed to respond well to having been roughed up with sand paper. Musa on the other hand had no response to nicking etc.

Ultimatley the best thinsg for germination are freshness and heat.

Jim can you tell me more about your use of epsom salts with seeds?

sunfish · 02-26-2012, 02:32 PM

I have germinated canna seed in 7 days no clipping

sunfish · 02-26-2012, 04:10 PM

I follow the phase of the moon when sowing seed,works for me.

Planting by the Moon

oakshadows · 02-26-2012, 07:31 PM

Tony you must have a "lunar" green thumb. The seedling look great. Thanks

02-25-2012, 11:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
HoaNui Location: Gardenstown Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 77 BananaBucks : 37,421 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 72 Times Was Thanked 53 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Scarifying seeds? Can anyone tell me if it's of any benefit scarifying the seeds prior to soaking them? I also received some seeds with salt petre and was given the instruction to soak them for several hours in this solution prior to cooling and warming the seeds. Any thought on using salt petre too? Thank you in advance. __________________ Weather Forecast \|http://www.ardgrain.com/gardenstown-webcam

02-25-2012, 01:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
jmoore jmoore 's Photo Gallery Location: Lowestoft, UK Zone: 8a Name: James Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 766 BananaBucks : 118,858 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 192 Times Was Thanked 799 Times in 373 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 71 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? I have never tried potassium nitrate (salt petre) so couldn't comment, but I do use magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) and this has worked well for me. I am currently experimenting on different concentrations of magnesium sulphate I don't scarify seeds I think it's the quick way to ruining your precious seeds and it's not necessary. Water will penetrate naturally if you soak them for long enough. These links may help: Musa Cheesemanii Germination guide Last edited by jmoore : 02-25-2012 at 01:57 PM.

02-25-2012, 02:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
HoaNui Location: Gardenstown Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 77 BananaBucks : 37,421 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 72 Times Was Thanked 53 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? Thank you for that, it's very useful. __________________ Weather Forecast \|http://www.ardgrain.com/gardenstown-webcam

02-25-2012, 04:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
raggedyredhead raggedyredhead's Photo Gallery Location: Woodbridge NJ Find me on the map! Zone: zone7 Name: raggedy Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 256 BananaBucks : 38,222 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 27 Times Was Thanked 129 Times in 74 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 29 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? Hi, I scarify and soak on a heating mat for four to five days. I use coarse sandpaper and & find it's such a hard coated seed that I do very little even with sandpaper. I've gotten only four out of 16 to germinate this way. Raggedy

02-25-2012, 04:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
HoaNui Location: Gardenstown Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 77 BananaBucks : 37,421 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 72 Times Was Thanked 53 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? I've had similar 'success' with other seeds. I'm not entirely convinced that scarifying works that well. It may be worth a try though. __________________ Weather Forecast \|http://www.ardgrain.com/gardenstown-webcam

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02-25-2012, 10:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 245,937 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? I believe different seeds may well behave differently. It is therefore prudent to have enough seeds at hand so you can try different methods concurrently. I had received seeds for three different species of palm trees with barely enough time to get them into the soil (pots) before I left for a two months trip. I scarified and briefly soaked them (not enough IMOEO). I will return in just under 3 weeks and am very curious about what happened with them. I did not want to loose more than two months germination/growing time. But just in case it is a miss I still have more seeds in reserve. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

02-25-2012, 11:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 945,323 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? I don't believe Scarifying seed is necessary

02-26-2012, 02:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
jmoore jmoore 's Photo Gallery Location: Lowestoft, UK Zone: 8a Name: James Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 766 BananaBucks : 118,858 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 192 Times Was Thanked 799 Times in 373 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 71 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? And let that be a lesson for everyone!

02-26-2012, 02:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
eric27 eric27's Photo Gallery Location: Milwaukee, WI Zone: 5b Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 248 BananaBucks : 79,272 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 253 Times in 105 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? This is my experience. Some seeds beneift and some don't. If you don't chip canna seeds you will wait much longer, if you even get any germinaton. I have found Ensete seeds seemed to respond well to having been roughed up with sand paper. Musa on the other hand had no response to nicking etc. Ultimatley the best thinsg for germination are freshness and heat. Jim can you tell me more about your use of epsom salts with seeds?

02-26-2012, 02:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 945,323 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? I have germinated canna seed in 7 days no clipping

02-26-2012, 04:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 945,323 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? I follow the phase of the moon when sowing seed,works for me. Planting by the Moon Last edited by sunfish : 02-26-2012 at 04:12 PM.

02-26-2012, 07:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
oakshadows oakshadows's Photo Gallery Location: Dunnellon, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Noah Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,064 BananaBucks : 37,961 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,207 Times Was Thanked 847 Times in 514 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 437 Times	Re: Scarifying seeds? Tony you must have a "lunar" green thumb. The seedling look great. Thanks __________________ "What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

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