Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

After trying all the standard methods, I saw a youtube video recommending just putting seeds in a pot outside in the sun. I bought a new batch of 100 seeds (musa velutina) from rarexoticseeds. No soaking, nicking, heat mats or paper towels. I just stuck them in cheap potting soil outside about half an inch deep. It's been quite rainy so I haven't watered it any. Now at about three months, I was honestly losing hope. I've got many sprouting now and looking really good! Time to start getting them in their own pots.

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

Congrats on the seeds. I saw one with mature fruit and tons of babies below it in a small public garden in Wilmington, N.C. They also grow them at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, N.C. where they fruit and so I guess make seed.

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

Those look great. I ordered some seeds on ebay and just got them today but they are all floating. As far as i read they should sink ��

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

Don't waste your time on them. Fresh seeds are like stones.

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

the next time you buy seeds on e-bay click on new listings, you might get fresh seeds by watching when they posted.

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

I did the same with the place I bought seeds from. They were out for a while and I bought them the day they were back in stock hoping they were fresh.

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

Agree. Freshness is a major key
:woohoonaner:

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

That's unfortunate but you should never receive seeds that float because it's so simple for the seller to check that prior to packaging and shipping.

Many hobbyist believe freshness is important and to a small degree it is. The reason there's a little truth in that is because seed germination rates don't improve over time but at the same time they don't decrease very much either when kept in proper conditions. I harvest a lot of seeds and the easiest way to explain why some seeds, harvested on the same day from the same fruit, float is that they were underdeveloped and are either empty or partially empty but the freshness is exactly the same as the fully developed seeds in that fruit.

Were the seeds you purchased on ebay for variegated bananas?

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

Yeah they were, wanted to give growing from seeds a shot.

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

Thanks for the reply. :08:

I just checked ebay and there were a few listings and none of them were inexpensive.

Which listing did you buy from?

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19580785944...mis&media=COPY

Prob about 30 seeds in the package, had to try to satisfy the itch :ha:

Re: Great germination on pink banana seeds with zero effort.
 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1432132...ibextid=Zxz2cZ

Was going to grab from her but she sold out.