Gathering Seeds

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:53 am

Going to Fort Lauderdale and SOuth Beach Miami for our annual 5-day MLK weekend trip. Am considering looking for seeds while down there. I have never really been successful in collecting and germinating palm seeds. ANy advice? Anyone esp. know what seeds are easiest to collect and then germinate? Thanks all.

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:33 am

this is stating the obvious, but when I collect seeds, I look up at the tree and see if there are any seeds hanging, if not, I move on to another tree. If there are seeds hanging I then focus my attention on the looking around the base of the tree for seeds and seedlings. take several small baggies with you and make notes of the type of palm you get seeds from. I then place the seeds in a wet paper towel and transport home where I plant 'em up and hope for the best.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:45 am

Good tips Kent.

Take a photo of the tree/seeds too to help with ID later on as they all pop.

Pros and cons:

Seed picked from tree:
Pros: Fresh, ripe, usually don't contain bugs.
Cons: seed may not be mature and may take longer to germinate in some cases.

Seed picked from ground:
Pros: germination period may be shortened because the hard seed coat has already begun to soften.
Cons: bugs may inhibit germination viability

Make a note of the temperature/humidity when you collect the seeds, that's what you'll have to duplicate to make them germinate at home.

then place the seeds in a wet paper towel

A sure giveaway that you're a seed collecting tourist is the wet pockets (from the wet paper towel) in your walking shorts.

Mike, I'd collect everything I could get my hands on, but that's just me

Have fun down there...lots of pics please.
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:55 am

....And,as our buddy Bill in Mass does,wear a pair of cargo pants with multiple massive pockets!

Not that he ever lifts them,just in case there is a give away or something.....

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:23 pm

hardyjim wrote:....And,as our buddy Bill in Mass does,wear a pair of cargo pants with multiple massive pockets!

Not that he ever lifts them,just in case there is a give away or something.....

I will indeed be in my tees and capris as we say here in Jersey!! They are great for carrying beer too!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:26 pm

oppalm wrote:this is stating the obvious, but when I collect seeds, I look up at the tree and see if there are any seeds hanging, if not, I move on to another tree. If there are seeds hanging I then focus my attention on the looking around the base of the tree for seeds and seedlings. take several small baggies with you and make notes of the type of palm you get seeds from. I then place the seeds in a wet paper towel and transport home where I plant 'em up and hope for the best.

Thanks for the advice....I'll let ya know how it goes.....

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:27 pm

lucky1 wrote:Good tips Kent.

Take a photo of the tree/seeds too to help with ID later on as they all pop.

Pros and cons:

Seed picked from tree:
Pros: Fresh, ripe, usually don't contain bugs.
Cons: seed may not be mature and may take longer to germinate in some cases.

Seed picked from ground:
Pros: germination period may be shortened because the hard seed coat has already begun to soften.
Cons: bugs may inhibit germination viability

Make a note of the temperature/humidity when you collect the seeds, that's what you'll have to duplicate to make them germinate at home.

then place the seeds in a wet paper towel
A sure giveaway that you're a seed collecting tourist is the wet pockets (from the wet paper towel) in your walking shorts.

Mike, I'd collect everything I could get my hands on, but that's just me

Have fun down there...lots of pics please.
Barb

Thanks Barb! I'll be picking your brain after I get back for germination advice too...I've never been successful with growing palms from seed. I will as always do lotsa pics, I'll post on facebook and flickr.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:26 pm

I'll post on facebook and flickr.

And Palms North.

Everybody here will help you with palm seed germinating!

"tees and capris"

glad you didn't say THONG

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:14 am

lucky1 wrote:
I'll post on facebook and flickr.
And Palms North.

Everybody here will help you with palm seed germinating!

"tees and capris" glad you didn't say THONG

LOL i will here too...

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 2:04 pm

Good info everyone! I will be in Ft. Lauderdale Too! Thurs thru Sat then on a cruise to the Carribean (Bahamas, St Maarten, St. Thomas) then back to Ft. Lauderdale is it ok to collect seeds and bring them back?
Thanks Paul

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 4:17 pm

CTPalm wrote:Good info everyone! I will be in Ft. Lauderdale Too! Thurs thru Sat then on a cruise to the Carribean (Bahamas, St Maarten, St. Thomas) then back to Ft. Lauderdale is it ok to collect seeds and bring them back?
Thanks Paul

Have a great trip, Paul!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:29 pm

Hey that sounds like a great trip too Paul.

Have a good time guys!

And remember...John brought palm seeds back in his dirty laundry...
Likely not a border constabulary on the planet that'll volunteer to dig into that bag

Ooooh, remember to take pics of everything you collect...the palm tree above!

General rule:
If seeds are moist when collecting, try to keep them moist.
If they're dry when collecting (i.e. on the tree), they can stay dry until you get home.
But they should stay warm, i.e. not in the frozen luggage compartment at 35,000 feet

We'd love to see lots of pics when you get back...or post while you're down there!
Barb

Okanagan desert-palms · Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:14 pm

Mike look for seed pods hanging like Kent said. Also look for the seed covering to have changed color. Most but not all will be green when not ripe yet. The outer flesh covering will change to brown, red, black, beige when ripe depending on species. Enjoy your summer in the winter vacation. Have a cold one for me!

Barb LOL!

John

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:35 am

Okanagan desert-palms wrote:Mike look for seed pods hanging like Kent said. Also look for the seed covering to have changed color. Most but not all will be green when not ripe yet. The outer flesh covering will change to brown, red, black, beige when ripe depending on species. Enjoy your summer in the winter vacation. Have a cold one for me! Barb LOL!

John

Thanks John. I hear that when we leave on Thursday, the temps are supposed to drop to normal January temps for the rest of the month here in NJ...We'll see....Maybe I'll stay in Miami

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:40 pm

Thanks Mike you too!

Barb I will try to take lots of pics.

Hopefully I'll find something cool to bring back.

Paul