Bought some Sabal sp. Tamaulipas on eBay from the palm hunter. They arrived today so I swung by Home Depot and purchased 2 bags of manure and 1 bag of pine bark mulch. My soil has been amended with enough limestone to get it to 6.5-7 PH and I have verified it in multiple spots. I’m in zone 8a/b and It’s a hard red clay that turns into brick in the summertime. I tilled the manure in, put my (giant) seed on top and mulched over it by maybe 2”. It may be a little late in the season but I can always re-use the planting site if it happens to die this winter. 

Those certainly are big sabal seeds. I hope they sprout quickly for you.

Guess I’ve got to ask why the lime? Did you read somewhere that S. Tamaulipas likes a certain PH? Mine seem to do just fine in the ~6 PH I generally have. I don’t think it’s too late at to direct sow minors, they will have zero issue in your climate, even young. 

31 minutes ago, RJ said:

Guess I’ve got to ask why the lime? Did you read somewhere that S. Tamaulipas likes a certain PH? Mine seem to do just fine in the ~6 PH I generally have. I don’t think it’s too late at to direct sow minors, they will have zero issue in your climate, even young. 

It's not just for the palms-- it's mainly for the grass and to add calcium and magnesium for palms (and mine was 5 something before I limed)

In case you or others want a young Sabal Tamaulipas, I just picked up a couple from a reputable nurseryman in the Raleigh area. They are small and very root bound in the 1/2 gallon pots. The Sabal Tamaulipas are mail order only from them.

https://www.garden-treasures.com/products/sabal-tamaulipas?_pos=1&_sid=dea7d2cb8&_ss=r

5 minutes ago, MattInRaleigh said:

In case you or others want a young Sabal Tamaulipas, I just picked up a couple from a reputable nurseryman in the Raleigh area. They are small and very root bound in the 1/2 gallon pots. The Sabal Tamaulipas are mail order only from them.

https://www.garden-treasures.com/products/sabal-tamaulipas?_pos=1&_sid=dea7d2cb8&_ss=r

Good idea - 2-3 year head start!!

Here's mine at 18 months old. Leaflets are noticeably larger than any of the other Sabal sp I have grown. The larger seeds are pointed out in the second photo. (1 gal. pot)

 

13 hours ago, Allen said:

Good idea - 2-3 year head start!!

According to the website 8 year head start 🙄

On 6/24/2024 at 10:54 PM, Enar said:

It's not just for the palms-- it's mainly for the grass and to add calcium and magnesium for palms (and mine was 5 something before I limed)

These should be started in pots so you shouldn't need to adjust pH. Seeds don't require fertilizer. If the solid is heavy, you can purchase some additives for it.

Tamulipas have been interesting for me as I have about 75 of them growing out now in their third year.  They were from the start (germination) MUCH faster, and MUCH larger than any other Sabal we grow.... once they get to their 3-5th leaf, they slow down tremendously. .. when they go into the ground, they will limp along until they split leaf and then they start moving MUCH quicker... 

Ours will start putting on some serious size this year.  Not sure why they languish initially, but it is something I have noticed from just Tamulipas.

About one month germination time in ziplock bag and heat for this species. Here is a germinated sabal Tamaulipas next to a fishtail palm seed that also sprouted. 

Follow up picture. It has emerged from the ground!

Nice! It's always exciting to see that first leaf push up.

Nice to see my babies sprouting!  Good job!

Here is the same Sabal Tamaulipas 1 year later. I did indeed fertilize every weekend this year starting in May, and this is what I use: