Banana_Bill

Hey Randy,

I received my seeds today. Thanks for being so generous. I start trying to germinated them tomorrow. I am still trying to decide which methods I am going to try. This thread was a great idea.

Bill

BGreen

I just read AllenF's posts. I am wondering if water temps over 100F killed the seed embryo. In the article from American Journal of Botany article link it said temps over 38C killed the embryo or highly reduced the germination rate.

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Take care,

BGreen

magicgreen

I got my seeds I got my SEEDS!!!!! I havent done anything yet. Iam absorbing info abt them. Cuz trust me, Iam a newbie to nanna growing, and dont want to fail! But for my 1st experiment,i'll trust my gardeners instinct and put 10 seeds between approx. 5 paper towels, folded, and soaked with water. These will be put in a baggie in my warm bathroom. Oh yea, thanks ALL of you for the great seed starting info . Gotta go and blanket up my nanna seeds. I'll report back soon. Everyone Have a great day! MagicGreen...................................

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

D_&_T

here is another thread I seen that could useful!

Musa velutina questions..

Dan

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magicgreen

Thanks d&t for the info. My 2nd experiment will be........putting 3 seeds in regular miracle grow potting soil with a lil' play sand mixed in. I'll then moisten the soil and put the pot in a lrg baggie , in a dry area of the house. My 3rd experiment is to again wet paper towels, put in 10 seeds, into a baggie; but this one will be put outside for 2 days, maybe 3. Somewhere I read about the seeds needing some lower temps. So here in z6 its still abt 70degs daytime, and nites abt 40degs. So all day they'll be in the sun, and at nite theyll get the chill factor! I love this site. Magicgreen

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

Randy4ut

Just got this post from a gentleman I sent some seeds to him last year. Thought you might like to see how long some of his seeds took to germinate...

"I planted 24 of the seeds that Randy sent me last year in a 24 cell seed starter tray. 6 of them germinated, some of them not until August of this year. I'll get some pics posted one of these days Randy. My largest has been moved 3 times and also suffered some sort of bug damage, but I'll get pics posted as soon as I take some."
BTW...This guy lives in Pittsburgh, PA

And yet another reply from a good friend of mine in SC...
Randy...MY Musa Velutina Seeds Sprouted!!! (from LAST year!!)
Posted by Sean in York,SC on 10/18/2007, 8:32 pm


I couldn't believe it.... They took their sweet old time, but they came up in the last week or so.... all at once... very strange... I must have sown them nearly a year ago..I had really written them off..shows what I know. Did you already run out of this years seed?

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Randy4ut

BGREEN's post on "cleaning seeds", thread:

On my end,

I started to soak all my seeds in the neat little baggy they arrived in on Monday night. When I cam home Tues I found the bag had tipped on it's side and drained out all the water.

Split the seeds 50/50 and nicked (scarified) group #1 and let group #2 alone.
Soaked the seeds for 48hrs

Location #1 (an old terrarium) Temp is raised during the day from overhead lamp to 80f-82F and cools to 67f-70f at night. Light is on 14hrs per day. Placed 50% (25 seeds) from group #1 and #2 on a moist paper towels folded over and placed in same ziplock bag. So they have the same temps and humidity.

Location #2 (garage seed station) Temps raised 10F over ambient temperature by seed germination mat. 12hrs on/ 12hrs off
Temps range mid 80's during the day and low 60's at night.
Seeds are place on moist perlite in plastic tubs.
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Take care,

BGreen

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southlatropical

Tomorrow the forcast is a daytime high of 85* and a low of 55* at night. What temp is too cold for the seeds to germinate? And is 30* too much of a swing in temp? I have mine outside in a clear plastic container with the lid on. It gets hit by direct sun about 2 hours a day.

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wamstick

Hey Randy--you got amy more of them Velutina Seeds? Would sure like to try my hands of them.

AllenF

After a rough summer, I have been up to my A** in alligators trying to catchup with the yard. I missed the earlier comments as I was neglecting this site but Randy emailed me. He is sending me more seed from this years crop so that I can try again.

Thanks again Randy

Allen

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You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

Dean W.

Randy,

I recieved the seeds today! I'll do my best to keep other informed here to my progress. This is the first time I've attempted to grow bananas from seed so the results should be interesting.

Dean

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Dean

Dean W.

Oh and you also did a great job cleaning them.

Dean

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Dean

Dean W.

Okay! I started the experiment.
1.) 20 soaked 48 hrs in a seaweed water soultion then w/ in a clear container w/ moistened vermiculite (at a south window).

2.) 20 are in moistened perlite w/in a clear container (at a south window seal).

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Dean

D_&_T

heres how we planted seeds

1. 15 in a 1 gallon baggy with wet towels no soaking
2. 40 soaked 24 hours plant 18 in organic potting soil, 18 in moisture controlled potting mix all placed in a bag,
last 4 planted in same soils left in to room air
3. 40 soaked 36 hours planted same as #2
4. 40 soaked 48 hours planted same as #2

tomorrow leave lamp on over them to raise temp during day, off over night

Dan & Tara

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Randy4ut

The gentleman living in Pittsburgh that tried some seeds from last year finally showed me a pic on one of my babies, he got to germinate and I thought I would post it and show it off. Wish I had cigars for everyone!!! LOL

http://members3.boardhost.com/HardyP...193099978.html

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Bch Grl

You guys are all so cute..being so careful and loving to your seeds!

I had so many, I couldn't give them away to all my friends! (Before I found this group) So, I just mushed up the little nanners and threw them on the ground under the mom plant, under the shade of a Pygmy Date Palm. Water them when I remember, and "Tadah!" there are little babies all over the place!

But then it got really hot and dry and lost almost all.
Potted up the remainder (4) and now they are safe till next spring!

Margie

microfarmer

I got mine too...Thank you!

Now to set up the germination chamber.

Old aquarium (Iguanarium)...check
florescent light...check
heating pad...still stuck to the aquarium...check
timer...check
sixpac containers...check
growing media...

honey, I gotta go to Home Depot...again...

yes, I need more potting mix...

Keep y'all posted...

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My new hero...

Randy4ut

Hey Dean,
Tell me I sent you more than 40 seeds!!! If that is all I sent you and you would like more, let me know because I thought I send everyone interested at least 100...
Randy

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shopgirl2

I am new and anxious to learn more about growing bananas, etc.

About the banana seeds offered for experiement, are they edible?

Do you have to have special equipment, etc?

Are they Non-edible nanas?

thanks.

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Orinoco by the sunlight.

shopgirl2

what kind banana tree is the "velutina"?

Are they edible? Please forgive the thousand questions, but as you can tell, I am quite ignorant.

Best regards

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Orinoco by the sunlight.