Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Randy,

I got more than 40 seeds I was just thinking of what else to do w/ them. ;) I'm going to go down and start some more.

Dean

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Okay!
3.) 40 in a baggie w/ Sphagnum Peat Moss at south facing window.
4.) 40 in community pot w/ filtered sunlight (regular potting soil).

Dean

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Hey Brother Randy!!--Got my seeds today. Many thanks old man. Got about 180 seeds. Well, sir i already set 50 of them a soaking in plain old warm water. Havent come up with a germination plan yet but over the week-end I will be picking up a bag of Miracle Gro potting soil and a bag of Peat Moss. Come Monday nite I will lay out my plan. I'll tell you this much, there will be no 12 hrs dis and 14 hrs dat and timer dis and timer dat. Once again I, thank you great friend.

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Shopgirl,
First of all, there is alot that still has not been determined with the velutina. Some believe there are two different varieties. I do not by any means know the answers and that is one of the reasons I thought this little experiment / trial would help us all learn a little more about it and have some fun while we were at it. As far as my velutina goes... I have had it for 3 summers now and got it as a one gallon plant from a local friend of mine. His do not get over 5' overall height. Mine fruited the first year and every year afterwards. The clump kept getting bigger each year. This summer I will be honest, I have cut up and given/sold more than I wish I had, but it still put out a huge harvest this year. Anyway, mine gets over 10' everyyear, so that is the big difference that alot of folks talk about. I do not do anything special to it. I did give it one application of triple 13 this spring and that is all. This was the first and only time I have every given any of my nanners any type of ferts. I do water the hoot out of them as well as my other plants.
The velutina does have a nice sweet taste to it, but the seeds make it not very enjoyable, to say the least. The seeds are quite large for the fruit which, on my clump, average about 3" long. I average about 100-110 seeds per, so I do not eat them....
Anyway, I thought I would post a pick of my clump from last year and some of the fruit...
Hope this answers your questions...

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

I got the seeds yesterday. Can't wait to get them growing.

Thanks Randy!

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Randy, I've recieved the seeds mate thanks a bunch!, hopefully the success rate will be good enough for me to spread the wealth throughout my neighboorhood and I will post my finding as we all proceed.

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Randy, the seeds made it!!! Thank you very much!

The Plan...

All -soaked for 24 hours.
-put into Dutch Treat starter mix

1/2 -heat mat varying temps
1/2 -top shelf plant/fish tank room

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

I moved all my seeds except the community pot to an aquarium. The aquarium has Christmas lights in it and maintains a temperature of about 80*F.

Dean

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Randy, the seeds arrived today, thank you very much, I wil forward some
seeds to our new member 'Puiu' in Romania, he has asked me so and I suppose this is okay with you.



Thanks


Ron

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Ron,
Glad to hear they made it. If you have enough to send on to Puiu, by all means go ahead. If I need to send some more to either of you, let me know and I will get them out as soon as you say the word...
Randy

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Randy's corner in the basement with the seeds I got from him.

12 Manihot Grahamii seeds and 30 Velutina seeds.

14 hours at about 80F
10 hours at about 60F

I still have about 50 Velutina seeds left.

Trying to germinate VELUTINA for the elevententh time
 

Randy--put 60 seeds to soak from wednesday nite last. Over the week end I bought 1 bag germinating mix--which is really just top soil,peat moss, and sand.
Today I separated them 60 seeds into four batches of 15 each.

One batch i put into small ziplock baggie with just moist paper towel (no soil). Put this baggie on my computer table under my reading lamp.

One batch i put in another ziplock with germinating mix--place this baggie outside for mother nature to play with

One batch i put into small plastic container about the size of a ice cream container with germinating mix. Put this container under my reading lamp on the computer table.

Last batch i put into another plastic container and place in my bedroom which really should be at room temperature.

Will update y'all when something happens.

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

hi Randy.I found your post.My SIL(sister in law) is excited we will be growing seeds.after I treat she gets her share...she says she'll kill them...unless the iguana beats her to that. :2741:

where's beachgirl????you tossed your seeds on ground?what month did you do that?I'm thinking of wintersowing some.

The post has been nice read.even the techinical stuff that had me looking at temp on wall converting C to F

I'm looking forward to the experiment.I'm glad to hear they are not blendered this year...but wondered if was bananan daquri's :waving:

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

I started 50 seeds. I soaked
30 in plain tap water overnight and sowed in a seed starting medium;
10 were soaked in liquid smoke overnight and sowed in same medium;
10 were soaked in seaweed water overnight and sowed the same.

All were placed on a heating pad in the kitchen.

The next batch I will just sow and place in the greenhouse for the winter where, hopefully the temps do not drop below 55 F.

If even half of these sprout, I have plenty of little bananas to spread about the country.

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Okay, Bill, gotta ask... Why soak in liquid smoke? Never heard of this before and my curiosity got the best of me...

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Ah well - liquid smoke might work like the stuff they sell to help germinate seeds that normally need fire to start them off - like Cape feinbos and proteas in South Africa, some Australian trees and shrubs, and I believe the North American Redwood. Never thought of it myself but it might work.

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

You are right island cassie. While I researching banana seed germination, I came across a few sites that where selling smoke primer to enhance germination with hard to germinate seeds. My understanding is that the smoke simulates a forest fire and triggers the seeds to come out of dormancy. I am not sure whether it works. But Randy was so generous with the seeds, I have more than enough to conduct a few experiments. I will update with any success or failures.

Bill

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

Good luck with the experiment Bill - it will be very interesting to see if the liquid smoke makes a difference. From time to time we can get it here, and would be very useful for the stubborn critters!

Cassie

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

I have never heard of using liquid smoke before. Sounds very interesting, curious of what the results will be.

Dean

Re: OK>>>> Seeds are ready on the velutina!!!
 

I have about 50 sabal minor seeds for you.Picked them for you yesterday.Will mail to you this week.Arkansas pays a visit this week.You know what that means.:waving: