Palmetto seeds

[JohnAndSancho]

Ok, if you missed it I snagged a massive inflourecense from a palmetto and after letting it sit for a while I noticed it was infested with seed weevils. I read that I could put them in the freezer to kill the bugs off, then let them thaw at room temperature and then do the whole float test thing and keep the sinkers.

First off, is this accurate information? I've got maybe 2 pounds of seeds in the freezer in a super sealed tub wrapped with about half a roll of duct tape. 

Second, how much viability can I expect from the surviving seed? I'm not gonna cry if they all don't sprout, I've got tons and tons and tons of them. 

[Chester B]

On 12/3/2025 at 10:05 AM, JohnAndSancho said:

Ok, if you missed it I snagged a massive inflourecense from a palmetto and after letting it sit for a while I noticed it was infested with seed weevils. I read that I could put them in the freezer to kill the bugs off, then let them thaw at room temperature and then do the whole float test thing and keep the sinkers.

First off, is this accurate information? I've got maybe 2 pounds of seeds in the freezer in a super sealed tub wrapped with about half a roll of duct tape. 

Second, how much viability can I expect from the surviving seed? I'm not gonna cry if they all don't sprout, I've got tons and tons and tons of them. 

Yes this works.  Freeze the seed for at least two weeks.  After that I don't bother to inspect, I just do a few pots with about 50+ seeds each and stick outside.  Some will germinate pretty quickly, and a lot will pop the second year.

[JohnAndSancho]

8 hours ago, Chester B said:

Yes this works.  Freeze the seed for at least two weeks.  After that I don't bother to inspect, I just do a few pots with about 50+ seeds each and stick outside.  Some will germinate pretty quickly, and a lot will pop the second year.

It's funny but it's not, I'm so anal about my seeds and I spend time cleaning everything and soak them in water and peroxide, sometimes I hit them with copper fungicide, I put them in baggies on a mat and pamper them and don't get me wrong - I've grown some nice stuff but I've also grown a lot of compost - and some of y'all just literally throw them in a lot or a pile of leaves or just wherever they land, and grow monsters. 

[Chester B]

It all depends on the seed.  If it were like a Jubaea seed I would do more prework on it.  Sabals in this climate no need, and when you have a couple hundred seeds, you're not going to be needing all those seedlings anyway.  I treat Trachycarpus the same way.

[JohnAndSancho]

4 hours ago, Chester B said:

It all depends on the seed.  If it were like a Jubaea seed I would do more prework on it.  Sabals in this climate no need, and when you have a couple hundred seeds, you're not going to be needing all those seedlings anyway.  I treat Trachycarpus the same way.

Fair enough. And the demand just isn't there for plants until they're at least 3-5 gallon size, which for Sabals seems to be about 5 years or so. And my interest is shifting into faster growing stuff until they come out with anabolic steroids for palms, so ---- 

[Sabal King]

On 12/3/2025 at 10:05 AM, JohnAndSancho said:

Ok, if you missed it I snagged a massive inflourecense from a palmetto and after letting it sit for a while I noticed it was infested with seed weevils. I read that I could put them in the freezer to kill the bugs off, then let them thaw at room temperature and then do the whole float test thing and keep the sinkers.

First off, is this accurate information? I've got maybe 2 pounds of seeds in the freezer in a super sealed tub wrapped with about half a roll of duct tape. 

Second, how much viability can I expect from the surviving seed? I'm not gonna cry if they all don't sprout, I've got tons and tons and tons of them. 

careful freezing for too long as you very well will affect germination rate.  Weevils are easily to kill

- Take your seeds, strong bleach mixture, and soak your seeds.  Your first patch of them will day

- Purchase bifenthrin and mix that into a container (big glass jar) let it sit for 24-48 hours and watch more die.

- Wait another couple days, or a week, and do it again.  The ones that were waiting to hatch, will get hit on the second time around.  Refrigerating seeds is fine, but careful on freezing.

[JohnAndSancho]

On 12/5/2025 at 3:12 PM, Sabal King said:

careful freezing for too long as you very well will affect germination rate.  Weevils are easily to kill

- Take your seeds, strong bleach mixture, and soak your seeds.  Your first patch of them will day

- Purchase bifenthrin and mix that into a container (big glass jar) let it sit for 24-48 hours and watch more die.

- Wait another couple days, or a week, and do it again.  The ones that were waiting to hatch, will get hit on the second time around.  Refrigerating seeds is fine, but careful on freezing.

I'll give them another day or 2. I appreciate the knowledge though. 🌈✨

[Mazat]

11 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I'll give them another day or 2. I appreciate the knowledge though. 🌈✨

John, you're doing a great job. Everything you're doing in such a short time, plus Sancho, cooking, and everything else. You're a one-man show. I think it's wonderful.
It just had to be said.🤗

[JohnAndSancho]

On 12/9/2025 at 8:28 AM, Mazat said:

John, you're doing a great job. Everything you're doing in such a short time, plus Sancho, cooking, and everything else. You're a one-man show. I think it's wonderful.
It just had to be said.🤗

I appreciate that! I haven't done much cooking in a while, but now that it's cold enough I got the ingredients to make my pseudo Chicken Tortilla soup... I just have to find the willpower and the energy to do it before the avocados get funky. But thank you so much for that, I needed to hear that. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

@JohnAndSancho I had your kind of enthusiasm in my 30's. I'm still enthusiastic but it's been tempered by time, and the full throttle approach I had back then. I think everyone needs a shot at that experience, in what ever they choose.

[JohnAndSancho]

21 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

@JohnAndSancho I had your kind of enthusiasm in my 30's. I'm still enthusiastic but it's been tempered by time, and the full throttle approach I had back then. I think everyone needs a shot at that experience, in what ever they choose.

Well, I don't have much else going on between doctor visits and physical therapy sessions while they try to figure out what's wrong with me. Honestly I'll go hard for a few days and then not get out of bed for a few days..... Good times.