Need a little help with seed germination

*Dearly Depotted* · 01-21-2021, 08:14 PM

I am thinking about trying to grow some bananas from seed again. Now the first time I tried it, it didn’t work. I used salt peter in the water and soaked it for about 3 days. I then planted them in potting mix. I then put the containers right out on the deck in the summer sun. None of them ever grew.

So what is the trick to doing it right? Do I have to use a heat mat? Any advice?! Thanks so much in advance for any help!

Dalmatiansoap · 01-22-2021, 12:59 AM

Fresh seeds solves most problems. Normal potting mix, some heat and you can cover pots with transparent plastic bags to keep humidity.

*Dearly Depotted* · 01-23-2021, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalmatiansoap

Fresh seeds solves most problems. Normal potting mix, some heat and you can cover pots with transparent plastic bags to keep humidity.

Thank you so much for your help & reply! It’s good to know some information about how to get seeds to grow!

edwmax · 03-15-2021, 01:14 PM

Banana seeds are very difficult to germinate. .... I think ideally very fresh seeds that hasn't dried out would be the best for germination. .... Scarifying the seeds helps to get moisture into the seed for germination. Some seed types are impervious to water and gasses and requires some sort of action to break or remove the seed hull before germination can occur. ... Use the forum search for other threads about scarification of banana seeds by forum users for more info.

I suspect one of 2 things happen in the wild for banana seeds to germinate: 1) the banana drops to the ground and the seed germinates within the fruit before the seed hull ever drys. ...2) an animal eats the banana and the gastric fluids dissolves the seed hull. Then the seed germinates in the animal's dung before drying out. .... just my opinion ....

Backyard Banana Joe · 03-16-2021, 05:34 PM

Max... Or maybe the animal is eating the banana and biting the flesh off the seeds and scarifying the seeds as it eats? I dunno

*Dearly Depotted* · 03-17-2021, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

Banana seeds are very difficult to germinate. .... I think ideally very fresh seeds that hasn't dried out would be the best for germination. .... Scarifying the seeds helps to get moisture into the seed for germination. Some seed types are impervious to water and gasses and requires some sort of action to break or remove the seed hull before germination can occur. ... Use the forum search for other threads about scarification of banana seeds by forum users for more info.

I suspect one of 2 things happen in the wild for banana seeds to germinate: 1) the banana drops to the ground and the seed germinates within the fruit before the seed hull ever drys. ...2) an animal eats the banana and the gastric fluids dissolves the seed hull. Then the seed germinates in the animal's dung before drying out. .... just my opinion ....

Pretty interesting! So sounds like scarifying the seeds is the way to go! It’s something to think that a banana plant can grow from a seed! Not only that but that same seed has gone through an animal’s gastric system! Makes sense though! Yeah I’ll check out some other threads.... Thanks as always!

edwmax · 03-17-2021, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Dearly Depotted*

Pretty interesting! So sounds like scarifying the seeds is the way to go! It’s something to think that a banana plant can grow from a seed! Not only that but that same seed has gone through an animal’s gastric system! Makes sense though! Yeah I’ll check out some other threads.... Thanks as always!

Some can but not all varities. Most desert type bananas have an odd number of chromosomes which can not divide evely; and thus are sterile.

*Dearly Depotted* · 03-18-2021, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

Some can but not all varities. Most desert type bananas have an odd number of chromosomes which can not divide evely; and thus are sterile.

Yeah you’re right! If all varieties had seeds we wouldn’t be able to eat store bought bananas then! Even so it’s still pretty cool!

*Dearly Depotted* · 03-18-2021, 01:06 AM

I also have to add that I’ve got some 25 seeds in my propagator right now! So wish me luck! If I have success I’ll let ya’ll know!

01-21-2021, 08:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dearly Depotted Find me on the map! Zone: 6A Name: Mary Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 646 BananaBucks : 110,542 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 607 Times Was Thanked 442 Times in 301 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Need a little help with seed germination I am thinking about trying to grow some bananas from seed again. Now the first time I tried it, it didn’t work. I used salt peter in the water and soaked it for about 3 days. I then planted them in potting mix. I then put the containers right out on the deck in the summer sun. None of them ever grew. So what is the trick to doing it right? Do I have to use a heat mat? Any advice?! Thanks so much in advance for any help! __________________ It’s long been a dream of mine to be able to grow real bananas off my own plants! So, please wish me luck on my quest to fulfill that dream!

01-22-2021, 12:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,161 BananaBucks : 620,790 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,508 Times Was Thanked 8,384 Times in 3,032 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Need a little help with seed germination Fresh seeds solves most problems. Normal potting mix, some heat and you can cover pots with transparent plastic bags to keep humidity. __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib

03-15-2021, 01:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 91,989 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Need a little help with seed germination Banana seeds are very difficult to germinate. .... I think ideally very fresh seeds that hasn't dried out would be the best for germination. .... Scarifying the seeds helps to get moisture into the seed for germination. Some seed types are impervious to water and gasses and requires some sort of action to break or remove the seed hull before germination can occur. ... Use the forum search for other threads about scarification of banana seeds by forum users for more info. I suspect one of 2 things happen in the wild for banana seeds to germinate: 1) the banana drops to the ground and the seed germinates within the fruit before the seed hull ever drys. ...2) an animal eats the banana and the gastric fluids dissolves the seed hull. Then the seed germinates in the animal's dung before drying out. .... just my opinion .... __________________ Last edited by edwmax : 03-15-2021 at 01:28 PM.

03-16-2021, 05:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Backyard Banana Joe Location: Orlando FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 1,428 BananaBucks : 101,518 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,976 Times Was Thanked 1,984 Times in 935 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 184 Times	Re: Need a little help with seed germination Max... Or maybe the animal is eating the banana and biting the flesh off the seeds and scarifying the seeds as it eats? I dunno

03-18-2021, 01:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dearly Depotted Find me on the map! Zone: 6A Name: Mary Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 646 BananaBucks : 110,542 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 607 Times Was Thanked 442 Times in 301 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Need a little help with seed germination I also have to add that I’ve got some 25 seeds in my propagator right now! So wish me luck! If I have success I’ll let ya’ll know! __________________ It’s long been a dream of mine to be able to grow real bananas off my own plants! So, please wish me luck on my quest to fulfill that dream!

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