jmoore

akebono

I tried to fill out a survey, but it says it's closed. Looked at the .pdf, but I can't fill it out electronically.

akebono

The one in post #77 should work. Here is the url in plain text, mySurveyLab - Next Generation On-line Survey System . I closed the one on surveymonkey because it didn't let me have 11 questions.

-akebono

jmoore

That one doesn't work either

akebono

please try again. I changed some settings. Thanks!

akebono

All,

Attached as a PDF are my results for for the past 2 months. Best case 27% germination. Gee, I wonder how old my seeds are?

-akebono

Attached Images

germination.pdf (60.2 KB, 152 views)

jmoore

How long did you soak them for?

I've just received 100 sikkimensis and 100 daj giant from banana tree. Half are soaking, half are in the fridge for a week.

Also received 90 sikkimensis seeds from a different source - same treatment.

20+% is really good, I shouldn't be disappointed with that.

akebono

Only about 30 minutes total. Using 60 mL dry whatever (soil, pellets, ...) and 40 mL water assures that the seeds stay moist (if not wet). I was using the hot water soak to get rid of excess pulp clinging to the seeds.

Not sure what I'll try next - I only need one to survive planting! I don't have 16 friends that are 'nanners!

-akebono

Mark Hall

Just went to watch Erlands Video only to find it's been removed.

Not seen a post from him in a while either.

__________________
Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

51st state

It was a very good video, still, maybe he's re-doing that dreadful euro disco soundtrack :-))

__________________
a>

jmoore

I thought I'd share some of my successes and failures with banana seed germination I've had this summer.

I've tried to germinate the following:
Sikkimensis x 200
sikkimensis 'manipur' x 50
ornata x 50
itinerans x 20
darjeeling giant x 120 (100 bought from one source were dud) (20 purchased from a different source excellent germination)
formosana x 50

I used the same technique for all of them, with possibly one or two exceptions. This is the technique I used:
1. soak in boiled and cooled water for 6 days (changing water every day)
2. soak in 20ml/l nitrozyme solution for 24 hours
3. place seeds in vermiculite contained in a plastic food saver with lid (vermiculite was wetted and then drained)
4. place sealed container in a heated propagator at 32 degress for 12 hours then removed at night and left at room temperature (whatever that may be at the time) for a further 12 hours.

with all of the species mentioned above there has been sign of germination after 7 days (ie the micropylar plug lifting and the beginnings of a sprout showing)

6. once germination has started transfer to a well drained compost and keep at a constant temperature of 32 degrees until sprout shows, usually a further 2 weeks or so.

The one exception is that I kept my 50 formosana seeds in the fridge for 7 days before soaking and out of 50 I got close to 30 plants.

I can't say how fresh or not the seed was, but I will say that most seed suppliers indicate whether a seed batch is 'new'. These are the ones I went for when buying.

I hope this is of some use to someone somewhere.

varig8

I've germinated Musa seed many times. Since you may have gotten them from a seed catalog, or you do not know how fresh they are; and also they do take some time to sprout, I always score the seed whether fresh or not. This way , if they are viable, they sprout within a weeks time. Simply take a metal fingernail file, and file ONE tiny cut through the hard outer shell until you just barely see the white meat inside. Only enough to permit some moisture into the interior of the seed. Then soak overnight and pot them up right below the surface with the "bellybutton" top side up. Roots will develop around the outer 'ring' of the bellybutton, and the shoot will come from the center. Keep evenly moist but not soaking wet. Ive used many different soil mixes, doesnt seem to matter, its the amount of water that is crucial. Of course, you should provide warmth and bright light. Ive found this way very successful. If you think about it, nature has made it possible for these seed to germinate simply by being passed through an animals digestive track,(permiting easy germination from the acids in their stomachs to breakdown some of the hard shell), and then dropped to the ground and sprout themselves without any 'help' from man.

Anaxagoras

Hi varig8!

Your post is the best of this Thread because Your method is simple and hopeful. I will try this way... intently.

varig8

I should mention that if the seed is very old; when you break through the hard outer shell to the interior, if it is not viable, you will not see any 'white meat'-it will just be empty and full of dust! Ive also heard that some types of seed will sink if they are viable and float if not, but I dont think this holds true with all Musa seed.

soobak0313

It means that they don't need light to germinate, right?
Also, exactly how hot(Degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius, whatever) is 'too hot'?

__________________
Soobak0313
Location :
Cheongju city, North Chungcheong province, South Korea (Hardiness zone 8a)
Daejeon Metropolitan City, South Korea (Hardiness zone 7a)

bengtang

From what I see of bananas in the wild, I think they are meant to have their seeds dispersed by animals. The banana fruit is meant to be eaten by fruit bats, monkeys, birds, squirrels. The seeds would then go through the acid stomach, digestive enzymes, gut bacteria (all in the warm body of the animal), and then a few hours later, be deposited in a pile of dung. Maybe mimicking these conditions would help them germinate?

Maybe you can eat the seeds with a banana and then poop in your garden?

sunfish

Good idea.I'm sure someone will try it

sunfish

varig8

thai is so wrong..........

jmoore

Funny you should mention that, I've just ordered some animal rennet to try a very similar experiment. I'm not sure rennet has the correct enzymes, but I'm going to give it a go. I'll report back.

sunfish