Randy4ut

I have tried to add that to my signature. Could you email or pm me on how you did that. I want to add it to my posts...
Thanks young man,
Randy
BTW, my 6 year old daughter and I went over to the Greenway this evening a spread several hundred Sabal minor seeds down by the creek. Hopefully some will germinate and I will have some growing and naturalizing in several years... (Randy Palmseed) instead of Johnny Appleseed

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Taylor

Sweet, will PM ya.

AllenF

Taylor you are truly lucky. I have just thawed out from a week and a half deep freeze where the temperature got as low as -19*F. It is -5*F right now and is forecast to reach a wonderfully warm 18*F this afternoon.

I checked the seeds again this AM and nothing yet after 30 days.

Allen

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

dpren3275

Just reading this thread on experiments re veluntia seeds...I wonder if anyone has read about how the fruit (the pulpy stuff) of many plants often contain a chemical that act as a stimulator for germination. Makes me wonder what would happen if one kept the soil moist with a tea made from the banana fruit or banana peel?
Has anyone tried this? What were the results?

Last year I had 20 veluntia seeds in the greenhouse with temp fluctuating (60 & 85) and the few plants I got were planted in soil with a layer of banana pulp just below / around the seed.

AllenF

I tried using banana pulp as a 'non-sterile media' last year. The experiment was unsuccessful most likely because of heat damage to the seeds. I did seal the container to retain moisture and found that the banana pulp fermented.

I have some seed coming out of cool wet stratification Jan 5th and may try adding banana pulp to the non-sterile media.

Allen

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

bigdog

More frequently, the fruit on some plants can also act as an inhibitor to germination rather than a promoter. I haven't tried any experiments involving banana pulp though, nor have I read any scientific research on it. It would be neat to see a study on that.

microfarmer

I haven't planted yet either. Mine are getting natural Northern California cold stratification. I always called it overwintering with veggie seeds...s'posed to make 'em stronger.

I'll plant them all around Janurary 1st (depending on what the Almanac says) with all my veggie seeds for next year's gardens. I aim to plant out in the middle of March.

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My new hero...

Susie

Originally Posted by dpren3275
"I wonder if anyone has read about how the fruit (the pulpy stuff) of many plants often contain a chemical that act as a stimulator for germination."

Banana fruits produce a lot of ethylene gas (which is why people put a banana in a bag of other fruits to speed their ripening), and ethylene is known to stimulate germination in some types of seeds.

Randy4ut

Glad to see you posting, "Susie". I hope in the near future you can introduce yourself on this thread and get into some detail about what you are working on. Again, good to see you aboard!!!

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klemmthamm

OK I am happy to officially announce the sprouting of the seeds... I have 1 nice sprout that is about 2 inches tall now and several more that have "popped their caps" and are pushing their first signs of life!...

Unfortunately no pics for now as my phone line was ripped off of the house in the ice storm, and thus my DSL is out of service until tomorrow or wednesday.

Thank you Randy! you have got me addicted to germinating seeds and I have placed a couple of orders in different places for some sikki 'red flash', cheesmanii and some Trachycarpus Takil

-James-

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"No sir we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want." - Unknown officer

Randy4ut

Congrats!!!! BTW, don't blame me for any of your addictions!!! LOL I have my own to have to deal with, without feeling guilty for causing someone else to stumble... Hey, at least it is a non threatening addiction!!!! Keep us posted....

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klemmthamm

I don't blame you at all.... In fact, I appreciate it 'cause now I have found a cheaper way to obtain my tropical collection... yeah I may have to wait a bit longer to see any results but it is definately well worth the wait....

PM inbound to ya Randy.

-James-

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"No sir we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want." - Unknown officer

southlatropical

The seeds have sprouted. I soaked them for a few hours then planted in potting soil in a 'Glad' re-usable container with the lid on. These stayed outside until the night temp started going below 50F. I them brought them in and they sat on the kitchen counter until a couple weeks ago when I started putting them on a heating pad at night.

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AllenF

I am glad to see that others are having success.

I was about 30 days behind everyone in getting my seeds due to not paying enough attention to the forum and Canada Post.

I am hoping that mine will start sprouting at Xmas.

Allen

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

magicgreen

OK. iam trying the seeds again. The 1st ones planted,the peat pellets dried up when i wasnt looking! I started soaking 5 seeds in water on Dec16th. Gonna let them soak 5days. Then.....will put 2 seeds in peat pots in a baggie.The other 2 will go in a small pot inside another ziplock baggie. The medium i mixed is part miracle grow,playsand,vermiculite,peat,and a lil' milorganite. I mixed all that up real good. The last seed will go into a baggie with just the soil mixture. These will be in my bathroom{cuz its hot as blue blazes in there}All day they'll be in there, and before going to bed, i'll take them out ,and put them near a cool window till the morning. Hope this does it, because i want to post pictures and be proud of my triumph too!
I have 5 seeds in dirt in my unheated greenhouse to overwinter. I'll start watering them in apr or may, when the weather starts heating up. As another experiment....I'll put 3 seeds in the fridge tonight. I dont' know how long they should be in there. Guess I'll be reading all day today and tomorrow trying to find the answer,.......Unless somebody out there knows. Good luck to me. Magicgreen
Oh yea.......I didnt get rid of the seeds in those dried up pellets, they still may grow from what i read.

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

Randy4ut

Thanks for the update, Magicgreen. Please be sure to keep us posted as to your experiences with them... Best of luck to you...

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mskitty38583

keeping my fingers crossed, mg.

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WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

7abZoner

Thank you so much Randy!!!
Thanks to you I have at least 1 tiny banana plant. I checked last night expecting to see the same lifless dirt I have been looking at for the last 6 weeks and to my surprise there it was, a tiny sprig of green.

Sorry it took so long to post but I have been very busy and just haven't had time to post alot on the forums, and until this point I have had no results.

Here are the details on the germination setup.
The Germinator: Old cracked 20 gallon aquarium with a thermostaticaly controlled heat mat in it and a florescent lighted aquarium cover. The thermostat is plugged into a timer for control of the heating time.

For this batch I chose 12 seeds from the ones that you sent me.
Germination Medium: Ferry Morris Seed starting mix. Nuked it for 2 Mins cause it had mold on it when I opened the bag. BTW 2 minutes isn't enough, mold reappeared after a couple of weeks but not on the seeds!

Pregermination Method: Seeds soaked for two days, no water change

Germination Method: Using the ziploc container method and a germinator
I put the germinator into a day night cycle of 12 Hours of High Temp (90 - 95 deg) then 12 Hours of Low Temp (50 to 60 deg).

Date: Status:
11/1/2007 Placed 12 seed in a Ziploc container in medium.
11/7/2007 No changes yet, still tweeking the germinators temp
12/18/2007 First Sprout!!!

Days To First Germination: 48 Days



I just hope I can keep it alive until summer!

Hey I noticed in your earlier post that we both started our seeds on the same day November 1. I guess you won the race! LOL

Thanks again for your generosity.

I will post more as results come in.

Randy4ut

Thanks for the update, 7abZoner. You are more than welcome for the seeds. Please be sure to keep us updated to your experiences. I only tried 5 seeds and 3 are up and growing. Two of the three have one fully unfurled leaf and the other is getting ready to start. Like I said, as you have time, keep us informed....

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magicgreen

Congratulation 7abzoner. Magicgreen

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)