Hi 

I would like to know if the seeds on this H. Belmoreana are enough mature to collect and plant ? Even if green I think its the maximun size of the fruit. 

Or It is better to wait few weeks until they change color ??

Thanks.

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 20178 yr by dwimss

I would wait until the epicarp (surface) has changed color.  Two years ago I visited a commercial Howea nursery in Australia.  The owner told me that he obtains the best germination when the epicarp is just yellow, rather than waiting for the seed to become the dull, reddish-brown color.

11 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

I would wait until the epicarp (surface) has changed color.  Two years ago I visited a commercial Howea nursery in Australia.  The owner told me that he obtains the best germination when the epicarp is just yellow, rather than waiting for the seed to become the dull, reddish-brown color.

Thanks : ) I will wait few weeks or months till it turns to yellow.

Did he keep the yellow epicarp or seeds should be cleaned and remove the epicarp for best germination rates ?

Is the baggie seed germination method is good for howea's ?

The Australian grower did not remove the 'husk' , (epicarp and mesocarp).  He used a shallow, Styrofoam box with a large plastic bag.  The bag goes inside the box, filled with a moist germination mix (50% peat & 50% perlite).  The seeds are covered by about 2 cm of the mix and the top of the bag tied shut.  No bottom heat.  After germination the top of the bag is opened and the seedlings grow two leaves before the plants are separated for individual pots.

  I have tried this exact method, and have had NO germination after 14 months! 

  I don't like the baggie method because the plants get all tangled and twisted.  I prefer the pot method, so that the tiny plants can properly orient the 'root & shoot'.

These have been SUPER slow and sporadic for me. I've gotten some beautiful seeds that are just ripe, as Darold described, from a tree in Balboa park. What's interesting is that seeds sewed in Summer and Winter of the same year are just now germinating. And I would say I've had at most 50% germination rate. I sew the seeds in community pots outdoors in the shade, completely burying the entire seed (including husk) under soil. Again, super slow, but worth the wait.

Darold's right on with his info. I've had zero luck with seeds from the same batch using the baggie method. Good luck!

WHEN THEY GROW, THEY'RE MEDIUM BUT KEEP SHADED UNLESS YOU'RE RIGHT AT THE BEACH

CAPS STUCK