Bismark palm seeds

[CajunCindy]

When and how do I germinate these seeds?

[CajunCindy]

 seeds are green and some have fallen off tree. Just need to know what to do from here. 

[krisinmexico]

i await replies cindy. i have some bismarks that are making seed and also would like to know some good methods to get these guys off to a good start.

[Alan_Tampa]

If they are green they are not ready. How big are the fruit now?

[Jdiaz31089]

I usually just put them into deep pots in regular, commercial potting soil. They germinate within 2 months. 

[kinzyjr]

I think they turn a brownish-black when they are ready and end up a little smaller than a medjool date.  You might need to wait a little if they are still green.

[Missi]

Yes, mature seed will be dark brown/black and almost dry from the outside, certainly not green.

[ErikSJI]

This is about the time you would want to remove the seeds.

[Really full garden]

Ripe seed also has a sweet honey like odor when fully ripened.

[fiji jim]

I wait for them to fall. Many times the bats have chewed on them and often knock off unripe seed so I only collect black seeds and the skin is no longer fruity and many are dry and clean easily.

You do need a deep pot of about 1ft or 300mm.

[Palmaceae]

3 hours ago, ErikSJI said:

This is about the time you would want to remove the seeds.

I believe those palms are Latania's and not Bismarkia's. Seeds are similar though.

[Missi]

12 hours ago, Palmaceae said:

I believe those palms are Latania's and not Bismarkia's. Seeds are similar though.

The color of the ripe fruit is on point with bizzie ripe fruit though! 

[Walt]

I don't try to germinate them, they sprout by the 100s in my back yard. I must continue to mow the seedlings down until they run out of energy and die. I rake the seeds up and dump them on a mulch pile. 100s sprouted in the pile. I never thought that bismarkia palms would start naturalizing on my property, almost like queen palms do.

[sonoranfans]

I also have this issue walt, they fall off and germinate on the ground underneath the parent.  I guess they are well adapted to florida.

[krisinmexico]

this from youtube     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEBLk2xvciA   cheers

[krisinmexico]

this one seems better    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNS21nPnxKY

link to stuewe pots used in above video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNS21nPnxKY

Edited July 20, 2017 by krisinmexico

[PalmatierMeg]

Ripe seeds are black and the size of apricots. Bizzies are exceedingly root sensitive. Seeds put out very long radicles, so you will have to use very deep pots, one seed to a pot so you have less chance of root damage. If you want to plant them directly, carefully pick your spot because you won't be able to move easily them later. This palm gets very large and takes up a lot of room in a yard.

[Missi]

A little story for fun - I was goofing around one evening and took a spade when I went to visit my mom. Her rental community always has TONS of seedlings under their bizzies, so I took that spade and scratched away several inches of mulch to pluck up some seedlings (then ever-so nicely replaced the mulch ). I wasn't expecting them to survive the rude uprooting, but 1 of the 3 did! After a couple years in a pot, I transplanted it to my yard. It's doing GREAT despite being mowed over twice  Did the same with some Canary Island date palm seedlings I took from the same community...same: including them coming back from being mowed over a couple times! 

[Walt]

On 7/19/2017, 7:44:00, sonoranfans said:

I also have this issue walt, they fall off and germinate on the ground underneath the parent.  I guess they are well adapted to florida.

Yep, that's what they do. Most pop up by the 100s (no exageration) within the canopy area of the palm, but some are coming up maybe 50 feet away, probably carried off by a squirrel, or possibly blown there. In any event, I never thought I would loathe bismarckia seedlings coming up on my property. They are becoming a nuisance. When a wholesale drop of seeds happens, I try to rake them up and dispose of them, as they make one heck of a racket when I hit them with my mower blades, some becoming flying projectiles.

[MOlivera]

I agree with Palmacea, definitely latania lontaroides

[steve99]

On 19/07/2017, 05:11:31, Missi said:

Yes, mature seed will be dark brown/black and almost dry from the outside, certainly not green.

When mature seeds fall to the ground they are green, and they stay that colour for a few weeks.    After a while, the outside flesh goes dark brown/black, dries up and eventually falls off, but that usually take six months.   I threw away five 20 litre buckets full a few months back.   

Here's a few pics of my bizzy taken today with fresh and old seeds on the ground below.

 

 

[Missi]

On 7/22/2017, 2:50:38, steve99 said:

When mature seeds fall to the ground they are green, and they stay that colour for a few weeks.    After a while, the outside flesh goes dark brown/black, dries up and eventually falls off, but that usually take six months.   I threw away five 20 litre buckets full a few months back.   

Here's a few pics of my bizzy taken today with fresh and old seeds on the ground below.

 

 

Huh! Not the case with any bizzie fruit I've seen here in Florida. I see it mature to the black color THEN drop from the infructescences. 

[Fusca]

I've tried twice to germinate Bizzie seeds and no luck either time.  I made sure to collect seeds from trees where I saw seedlings growing to be more confident about the viability.  Do you need to wait until the green fruit turns black?  If so maybe that was my problem.  Or maybe I need to go visit Walt and get some seed from him!  I keep reading how easy they are to germinate but not for me!  I guess I'll just keep trying...

Jon

[Really full garden]

1 hour ago, Fusca said:

I've tried twice to germinate Bizzie seeds and no luck either time.  I made sure to collect seeds from trees where I saw seedlings growing to be more confident about the viability.  Do you need to wait until the green fruit turns black?  If so maybe that was my problem.  Or maybe I need to go visit Walt and get some seed from him!  I keep reading how easy they are to germinate but not for me!  I guess I'll just keep trying...

Jon

I think you are trying to germinate immature seeds. Ripe seed is dark brown almost black and has a distinct sweet honey like smell.