One of my Borassus flabellifer seeds (thanks, Kris) - regular, not Big Mama - germinated after just a couple weeks. I looked at it again yesterday and realized it had to go in the ground (no deep pot acrobatics for these babies). We picked an open spot (i.e., yanked up and transplanted a non-producing Persian lime tree), rototilled and prepared a fresh bed of earth and set this little tribble free. Kris says it won't show a spear for 6-8 months (next year's sweltering summer) so we covered it with a layer of mulch, then surrounded it with several stakes. It should have no trouble through the winter as the ground doesn't get close to freezing here.

Borassus flabellifer germinated seed - front view showing 1-1/2" radicle.

Side view

Top view

Closer view of radicle

Borassus flabellifer seed in final home

Dear Meg

Your welcome.And your contribution to our forum & to the palm world is far more than what i have done...And you are my inspiration.

Very happy to see life in those seeds... And thanks for the visuals !

And if you know little spanish here is a lovely web page on Borassus flabifier palm written by our forum friend Masuer.I think he has delt the topic very clearly and with lots of visuals too.Hope you and others make it a point to see it at least once and then proceed.

The Link !

Lots of love,

kris

That will be fun to watch coming up, Meg. I wish I could plant more trees out, but there's no room here. Well anyway, after just 9 days I have 6 seeds placed in 18" growing tubes, and 6 more will need to come out of the germination box tomorrow. Deep pot acrobatics all the way, for me.

Meg,

First let me say I know nothing about germinating Borrassus!

It is hard to tell from the pic,but do you have to radicale pointing UP instead of down toward the ground when you planted it out?

If not, or that is the way you do it with this species, please disregard this post.

Good luck with it!

Meg,

First let me say I know nothing about germinating Borrassus!

It is hard to tell from the pic,but do you have to radicale pointing UP instead of down toward the ground when you planted it out?

If not, or that is the way you do it with this species, please disregard this post.

Good luck with it!

Scott, actually the radicle was pointing sideways, probably because of the position of the seed in the baggie. That's one reason I wanted to get it in the ground, so the radicle will readjust. I placed it "flat" side down, but had a difficult time telling which side was flattest. I don't think that matters in the long run. The radicle will know. I have a feeling this will be one tough baby.

Congratulations Meg!! Thanks again for sending me some Borassus seeds!! Thanks to you Kris for being so kind and generous!!!! When mine germinate i'll do the same as you, i have alot of room here!!!

Thanks Meg and Kris!!!!

Mark

Nice, I just noticed today one of my 'big mama' B. flabellifer seeds germinated.

Very generous of Kris to send seed to so many people!

Keep us updated Meg and Mark!

Edited November 17, 200916 yr by FRITO

Congratulations Meg!! Thanks again for sending me some Borassus seeds!! Thanks to you Kris for being so kind and generous!!!! When mine germinate i'll do the same as you, i have alot of room here!!!

Thanks Meg and Kris!!!!

Mark

Dear Mark

Your welcome,and you all can thank me in only one way... i.e i just want to see some preety beautiful and healthy borassus.F palms in your gardens in 6 to 8 years time. Preferably some females & males in the very same area.So that you all get viable seeds from its fruits.And your regions become self sufficient with seeds production.

By the way in this happy moment i just want to add one thing that all your thanks & best wishes should actually reach this lovely friend of ours who is the one who gets all those borassus seeds from the wild.And that too free of cost ! And iam just a Transporter !

Here's a still of our 'PalmMan'

All the best to you all & hope to see lots of borassus palms in your lands..

Lots of love,

kris

Dear Forum members,

I, too, just received Borassus flabellifer seeds from Kris in Chennai (thank you so much, Kris). I am so excited to receive this package and tomorrow I am going to the beach to plant them.

Meg, if you have any pointers to give me I would appreciate it. All my best,

Peter