Sourcing/Buying Seeds - Need quite a bit :)

[apeek22]

Hello everyone - I've been lurking for a while and finally decided to post. 

I will be starting a palm tree farm/nursery in the Tampa Bay area in Florida.  I almost have land secured for both germinating(local to me) + then acreage for when they are larger(~1 hr drive).  For context - my career and previous businesses I've owned are all computer based, mostly focusing around marketing/advertising/internet...I've been "longing" lol - for something "in the real world" and finally settled on this as it seems like it will fit life quite well...in terms of a new business, place to put $$$ besides IRA, Savings, etc.. 

Anyways - long story short, it appears that seeds and germinating is my bottleneck. Getting nerdy in excel and "crop planning" and using estimated germination rates.. my conclusion is... I need ALOT of seeds. 

I'd post in the WTB forum, but thought I'd start here on if anyone could could guide me on what you have done to source seeds in bulk quantities?

I am looking to grow the "normal" palms(listed below) + venture into the more exciting/rare palms (not listed)

• Dypsis lutescens (Areca)
• Wodyetia bifurcata (foxtail)
• Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (bottle palm/spindle)
• Adonidia merrillii (Christmas palm)
• Caryota mitis (fisthtail)
• Arenga engleri (Arenga)
• Ptychosperma elegans (Alexander)
• Ravenala madagascariensis (Travelers)
• Bismarckia nobilis (silver bismarck)
• Roystonea regia (royal palm)
• Phoenix canariensis (canary island)

[Silas_Sancona]

22 minutes ago, apeek22 said:

Hello everyone - I've been lurking for a while and finally decided to post. 

I will be starting a palm tree farm/nursery in the Tampa Bay area in Florida.  I almost have land secured for both germinating(local to me) + then acreage for when they are larger(~1 hr drive).  For context - my career and previous businesses I've owned are all computer based, mostly focusing around marketing/advertising/internet...I've been "longing" lol - for something "in the real world" and finally settled on this as it seems like it will fit life quite well...in terms of a new business, place to put $$$ besides IRA, Savings, etc.. 

Anyways - long story short, it appears that seeds and germinating is my bottleneck. Getting nerdy in excel and "crop planning" and using estimated germination rates.. my conclusion is... I need ALOT of seeds. 

I'd post in the WTB forum, but thought I'd start here on if anyone could could guide me on what you have done to source seeds in bulk quantities?

I am looking to grow the "normal" palms(listed below) + venture into the more exciting/rare palms (not listed)

• Dypsis lutescens (Areca)
• Wodyetia bifurcata (foxtail)
• Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (bottle palm/spindle)
• Adonidia merrillii (Christmas palm)
• Caryota mitis (fisthtail)
• Arenga engleri (Arenga)
• Ptychosperma elegans (Alexander)
• Ravenala madagascariensis (Travelers)
• Bismarckia nobilis (silver bismarck)
• Roystonea regia (royal palm)
• Phoenix canariensis (canary island)

apeek22, Welcome to the forum,

Many great members there in the Tampa Bay Area/ rest of FL. who will have plenty of information to guide you in the right direction for seed. Aside from purchasing, you can also check out places like Kopsick Palm Arboretum's collection, over in St. Pete. Always seed of something to collect year round. Could easily collect a bucket full of seed from below both the Bismarckia and Foxtails there.

 

[Beespalms]

Learning how to germinate seeds and growing them from seedling to juvenile trees is a time consuming process.  A lot of trial and error.  

if I has one piece of advice I would suggest buying small seedlings or liners to start of the palms you wish to grow for the first few years.  That will give you time for trail and error with seed sprouting.  
 

rareplamseeds is a good place to start for sourcing seeds.  Plant finder is a published book of plant vendors in Florida.  That can also be a good reference to get plants and seeds.  Most farmers are not going to share with you there seed sources.  Driving around and finding mature trees in public spaces is a good way to source seeds.

[96720]

I agree with buying seedlings Flouibunda palms is a great place for great seedlings although shipping gets expensive. There is a part on palm talk of things for sale check that out I have seen a lot of seeds on there for sale. Good luck