New Member Needs Help
 

Hello,

I recently joined your group so I can learn more about bananas, especially propagation by seed. I've been growing about 5 or 6 different kinds of bananas that are hardy here for about 5 years. I'm in Zone 7/8 in North Carolina. We used to be Zone 7, but now we're warming up to Zone 8.

I have a huge musa velutina that has loads of pink bananas. The peelings on all of the bananas in one clump have broken open. At what point do I harvest the seed? Then how do I treat them to get germination? I have purchased seeds before but had no success. I have read that the seed need to be fresh and now I definitely have fresh seed.

Ten days ago I removed the seeds from one banana that had split open, soaked them for 24 hours and then planted in a seed starting mix. Nothing has happened yet. After reading comments here, I'm considering using bottom heat during the day. They are indoors in plastic with a consistent temperature of around 75F.

Any advice about when to collect and how to start seeds will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Kaye-ccf

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome to the site! You've come to the right place to learn about bananas! Hope you enjoy your time here!

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome.. & good luck

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Thanks for the welcome. I hope you all can bear with me while I learn my way around here!

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome to the site. I don't have any first hand knowledge but I've read prior post and it takes awhile for them to germinate. Good Luck

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

It sounds like you are doing everything right. Separate the seeds from the pulp. I like to break up the banana and put it in a plastic baggy filled with water. I let it sit like that for a few days to ferment. This lets the seeds separate from the pulp more easily. Then, you can use a strainer to help even more. Let the seeds dry for a day and then sow them in a pot or use the baggy method of germination. Keep warm about 75-80 degrees. They may germinate within a month or many months (up to 6 or more!). You must have lots of patience with banana seeds.

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

welcome from California

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Thanks for the specific info, Austin! Maybe by next spring I'll have lots of baby pink bananas.
Kaye

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome aboard, Kaye-ccf :) ! Looks like you're well on ur way! Haven't tried growing from seed, myself, but if ya have any questions about using the forum, just ask.

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Thanks for the welcome, Eric! I'm starting more banana seeds today. Surely, some of them will sprout.

Kaye

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome to the org. This place is full of great info you can always do search and its not on here just ask!

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

I have some EV on the HP but they have only been on it for 10 days or so..

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Hey Abnshrek,

Is that Ensete ventricosum on the heating pad?

Kaye

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

You're welcome, Kaye. I wish you lots of luck germinating the seed. Check out my pics of velutina in my photo album.

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

WOW, Austin! You have some major banana clumps! I loved the photos in your albums. How do you ever dig them up? It took 3 of us to dig up 2 clumps last weekend and get them divided and potted. And they'd only been in the ground since spring. We didn't even attempt the velutina because it was massive, being in the ground for 2 years. That's one reason I want to get some seeds started.

Your palm tree is outstanding too! I planted one next to the velutina at the same time, but it's only about 4' tall now. I also put a eucalyptus in that area too, and it has spread out all over.

Kaye

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome Kaye!!
LOVE the Velutina!! :)
Look forward to seeing your pictures of them!!
Glad to have you with us!! :) ~Cheryl

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Welcome.
Banana seeds take a while to germinate, and like lots of heat while germinating. I would deifnately use the bottom heater because they will need a push to get them going. It might be a while before you see some sprouts, but by this time next year you should have some nice plants.

Good luck.

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Hi Palmtree,

Thanks for the note. I'm putting the ones I've sown on the heat today. I'm also trying to sprout a few with a seed sprouter. I've started other seeds, mainly lemons, this way. Has anyone tried that?

Re: New Member Needs Help
 

Hi, Kaye. I'm glad you enjoyed my photos. I leave my hardy bananas in the ground--basjoo, musella, velutina--but dig up the nonhardy edible ones--orinoco, raja puri, etc to save the trunks and try to get them to produce bananas for me.