Sabal minor Harddier varieties

[Alchris]

The first of my Sabal minor seeds popped after 40 days. I am hoping that the rest start germinating, especially the McCurtains.

Allen

[Knnn]

Did you use any heat with these? ( going to try germinating some this season)



Steve

[Alchris]

I scarrified them by scraping the seed coat off of a section and soaked them for 3 days. Then I put them in moist vermiculite in a sealed plastic container. I used bottom heat with an insulated cover so that the temperature was at 85 F for 4weeks. Then I took off the insulated cover so that the temperature dropped to about 78 F for the next almost 2 weeks. The temperature will remain at 78 F for now.

I had bathed the seed in 'tap' hot water, which is about 130-140 F, twice to control fungus. This method worked well last year but not this year. I separated the seed into 4 containers, 2 for McCurtain and 2 for NE Texas, and had fungus/mold problems with 3 of the containers twice resulting in rebathing each time. The popped seed was a part of the no fungus container.

Next time I am going to use an fungicide instead of hot water.

I had started at 85 F because I was trying to germinate some banana seed at the same time and understood that the bananas needed the higher temps. I have since figured that the cold hardy bananas do not need it as hot as that and reduced the temp.

Is there any particular variety of Sabal minor that you are going to be germinating?

Allen

[Knnn]

Allen -Thanks for all the info Hope to source seed from some of the more northern ranges.
Still learning about the different variants... Hope to eventually be able to try some here in sheltered spots.


Steve

[Kansas]

I have had some McCurtains in medium for almost 2 months. Nothing. I have them in damp soil and on heat. What else can I do????

[Alchris]

Last year I germinated Sabal minor and Sabal minor v louisiana. If I remember right, it took over 2 months to germinate them and some of them didn't germinate until 4 months. I had originally put last years batch next to the a heater vent for about the first month before buying the heating pad.

I'm guessing that you should watch for fungus/mold on the seeds; make sure that the medium remains moist as it will dry out even sealed in a baggie or plastic container; keep bottom heat at about 25 C/ 78 F; place them where they will get some heat from the sun for a part of the day while keeping them covered from direct light; and try to only check them once a week. I check my seeds more than once a week and they don't pop any faster.

Good luck.

Allen

[Kansas]

Yep, thats about what I do (no sunlight heat). I keep them on top of my CATV box for bottom heat. So it sounds like I just need more patience.

[turtile]

My McCurtains have had excellent germination so far (lost a lot of them due to the bottom heat - dry at the bottom) I fixed the problem by filling the container underneath the seedling flat with water.

I placed the seed in a mix of sulfur fungicide and water for 3 days at 85F. They were then placed in moist but not wet Pro-Mix HP (Peat/Perlite/Vermiculite w/ nutrients) in a flat w/ cover and bottom heat. I sprayed the top of the soil with Neem Oil. After two weeks, I added more water to the mix. They have averaged to pop out of the ground at around 4-5 weeks. The sulfur and Neem prevented any fungus or mold problems.

Sabal Minor germinates best when temperature is at least 85F a couple hours of the day.

[Alchris]

Hey Kansas;

Any luck yet? None of my McCurtains have popped as yet.

I have had 2 more NE Texas variety seeds pop.

Allen

[Wes North Van]

I have numerous ones germinating right now. These seeds came from Laaz. I believe they took only 4 weeks.