It all begins with a seed

[happypalms]

It all begins with a seed the best way to get palm seedlings cheap is to germinate them yourself firstly you need the seeds before you can do anything with various luck in the germinating department you just never know how many seeds will germinate obviously the fresher the better but even then different techniques are required for different seeds which is a learning curve as you go the propagating I do is from learning over the years either asking or listening to other growers advice reading but a lot of self learning.

[peachy]

I spent a fortune on seeds for a few years and found that either nearly all of them germinated from a batch or none at all. (mainly the latter) When people could still send us seeds,  I never had a batch fail from other people on Palmtalk or from good old Rosebud Farm. These days I don't have the space or patience for seeds so I have to rely on those more dedicated to reproduction than me.

Peachy

[TampaBayRay]

How deep are those foam boxes?

do you drill drain holes into them?

thhank you sir

[Harry’s Palms]

1 hour ago, peachy said:

I spent a fortune on seeds for a few years and found that either nearly all of them germinated from a batch or none at all. (mainly the latter) When people could still send us seeds,  I never had a batch fail from other people on Palmtalk or from good old Rosebud Farm. These days I don't have the space or patience for seeds so I have to rely on those more dedicated to reproduction than me.

Peachy

I agree . For me , it is exciting to see seeds and the thought of “free palms” but the reality is that it takes time and work. I will plant seeds in the garden and forget about them . If or when they pop up , it is great. I thought of buying a heating pad and doing batches of seed but I don’t really have the space. My work bench is important and needed for working on stuff that may need repair. I am glad some , like @happypalms , do though , it saves the rest of us a lot of energy. Most Saturdays and part of Sunday is spent in the garden maintaining what is already growing. Harry

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, TampaBayRay said:

How deep are those foam boxes?

do you drill drain holes into them?

thhank you sir

No holes but lined with plastic to prevent the roots growing into the styrofoam the depth varies for some box’s up to eight inches are the best for large seeds and small ones at least 4 inches depth they have lids as well that helps with germination or you can place them in a large plastic garbage bag.

[KrisKupsch]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

No holes but lined with plastic to prevent the roots growing into the styrofoam the depth varies for some box’s up to eight inches are the best for large seeds and small ones at least 4 inches depth they have lids as well that helps with germination or you can place them in a large plastic garbage bag.

Roots into the foam is ideal as they then don’t kink. Need holes for drainage !

[happypalms]

17 hours ago, peachy said:

I spent a fortune on seeds for a few years and found that either nearly all of them germinated from a batch or none at all. (mainly the latter) When people could still send us seeds,  I never had a batch fail from other people on Palmtalk or from good old Rosebud Farm. These days I don't have the space or patience for seeds so I have to rely on those more dedicated to reproduction than me.

Peachy

A fortune peachy I have spent my inheritance and more now iam going to mortgage the house next just to keep my addiction going for palm seeds seed# to me are fun and exciting.

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, KrisKupsch said:

Roots into the foam is ideal as they then don’t kink. Need holes for drainage !

I got into the no roots thing into the styrofoam for my joey palms it happened with a few and it was to traumatic for me and the palms to go through breaking them I don’t need drainage holes if iam just germinating them and transferring them.

[happypalms]

15 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I agree . For me , it is exciting to see seeds and the thought of “free palms” but the reality is that it takes time and work. I will plant seeds in the garden and forget about them . If or when they pop up , it is great. I thought of buying a heating pad and doing batches of seed but I don’t really have the space. My work bench is important and needed for working on stuff that may need repair. I am glad some , like @happypalms , do though , it saves the rest of us a lot of energy. Most Saturdays and part of Sunday is spent in the garden maintaining what is already growing. Harry

Seeds for me are good way to get palms that are otherwise not available as seedlings at the right price but definitely buying seedlings is a lot less heartbreaking when you spend a lot of money and time importing them only to get nothing germinated or even worse rats eat them after germinating them but I prefer seeds once germinated the price goes up plus waiting around for them to germinate gives me time to work out in the garden.

Richard