Newbie, germinating seeds...
 

Hi, I'm new here and have got to say was so excited to find this forum lol. I live in rainy Wales in the UK but would love to grow a banana tree. I have seeds of two varieties, velutina and acuminata. So far I have had no joy getting the seeds to germinate, I have soaked them in water for approx 3 days then planted and placed in a heated propagator, but nothing :( I am just currently soaking a seed of each again for another try, they have been in water for 4 days now, so any advice would be greatly appreciated, I would so love my banana babies to grow!

Re: Newbie, germinating seeds...
 

You need more patience. Unless your seed is very fresh, it could take weeks to months before they pop up...that's if the seeds are not old and stale.

Re: Newbie, germinating seeds...
 

Hi CJ21, I am also new to growing bananas from seed and also new to this forum. I planted my first batch of around 10 varieties (some 80 odd seeds) about 4/5 month ago. On receipt of the seeds, I put them in the fridge for about a week then soaked them in water for 3 days. Then I planted them up in cell trays with lids and proceded to alternate the day time and night time temperature. During the day I had them in a cupboard which houses my underfloor heating manifold and due to lack of space in the cupboard, I had others in cell trays on a heat mat on a table (keeping them very very moist at all times). During the night they were all put in an unheated greenhouse. I continued with this routine for about 6 weeks.......nothing popping their heads above soil at this point. The soil mix I used was 1/3 perlite 1/3 peat and 1/3 coir. As the days got warmer I put them all in the greenhouse which alternated the day and night temperatures without me having to physically move them. After about a week they started to shoot, albeit just 4 varieties. Two months ago I had 48 seedings, 2-4 inches high. As of today, no more have germinated and I now only have about 35 seedlings as I lost some. I think I was over watering and the stems just rotted. All my seedlings were give some shade in the greenhouse in a bid to emulate their natural habitat of growing under the parent plant and other plants. All are growing in 9cm pots of 50% peat and 50% perlit and I have reduced the shade a little as well as my overzealous watering. All seem to be doing fine and some are ready to pot on in bigger pots. I still have an awful lot of seeds that have not done anything but I am going to continue the same routine in the hope that the hot weather we are having here in the UK spurs them into action. So from what I gather, patients seems to be the key word here. Something I am not blessed with at times. Now the UK is in the middle of a heat wave, why don't you try them under glass outdoors. Good luck and happy growing.

Re: Newbie, germinating seeds...
 

Welcome to the Banana Express. :nanerwaveytrain:

You should post a thread in the New Members section where everyone can find you.