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Sep 1, 2015 2:49 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
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Has anyone here grown a banana (Musa) from seed? Would love to know about how to grow banana from seed. Curious about knowing things like if they breed true to the parent, can you cross species, how long does it take for the corm to develop - stuff like that.
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Sep 18, 2015 11:16 AM CST
Name: Alice
Flat Rock, NC (Zone 7a)
Birds Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: North Carolina Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dog Lover
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Anne, my little pink bananas, Musa velutina, readily sprout from seeds. They are fast growers and bloom their second season. I can't speak to any other varieties as this is my only experience. Interestingly, I have been growing M. velutinas for years but the seeds never sprouted until the past two very cold winters. Makes no sense, I know.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
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Sep 18, 2015 11:58 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
Plant and/or Seed Trader Birds Cat Lover Greenhouse Tropicals Bulbs
Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Hibiscus Hybridizer Garden Sages Butterflies
Thanks Alice for the information! I've been wanting to buy banana seeds but wanted to know how involved it is. I've found growing plants from seeds is often times quicker than trying to find an actual plant.
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Sep 18, 2015 12:36 PM CST
Name: Alice
Flat Rock, NC (Zone 7a)
Birds Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: North Carolina Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dog Lover
Container Gardener Charter ATP Member Garden Photography Butterflies Tropicals Ponds
I have a mess of velutina seedlings, if you are interested in some just say the word. This one stays shorter than most, topping out around 6', including the leaves. Very easy to grow and very hardy, I first saw them in Charlotte.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
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Sep 18, 2015 1:15 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
Plant and/or Seed Trader Birds Cat Lover Greenhouse Tropicals Bulbs
Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Hibiscus Hybridizer Garden Sages Butterflies
That would be awesome! Do you still have my PO Box number or do I need to give it to you in a Tree Mail? Anything I can send you?
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
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Sep 18, 2015 7:03 PM CST
Name: Alice
Flat Rock, NC (Zone 7a)
Birds Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: North Carolina Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dog Lover
Container Gardener Charter ATP Member Garden Photography Butterflies Tropicals Ponds
Tree mail me your address.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
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Nov 12, 2015 5:00 PM CST
Name: charles
Anderson, S.C (Zone 8b)
ardesia said:Anne, my little pink bananas, Musa velutina, readily sprout from seeds. They are fast growers and bloom their second season. I can't speak to any other varieties as this is my only experience. Interestingly, I have been growing M. velutinas for years but the seeds never sprouted until the past two very cold winters. Makes no sense, I know.

@ardesia I know that some seeds have to have a cold period before they will germinate Japanese Maples for instance. I'm thinking that it is a survival thing with these bananas so if the cold kills the mother plant the seeds will survive
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Nov 13, 2015 11:33 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
Interesting. I have never ever heard of a tropical that required or even appreciated cold stratification.

Ardesia - does yours produce viable seed? I would gladly trade something I might have of interest for some M. velutina seed.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Nov 14, 2015 9:55 AM CST
Name: charles
Anderson, S.C (Zone 8b)
DavidLMO said:Interesting. I have never ever heard of a tropical that required or even appreciated cold


Kind of weird huh Confused
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Nov 14, 2015 11:07 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
Plant and/or Seed Trader Birds Cat Lover Greenhouse Tropicals Bulbs
Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Hibiscus Hybridizer Garden Sages Butterflies
It may not be the cold. A lot of seeds have germination inhibitors in the seed coat and it can take a lot of washing (rain) to reduce/dilute the inhibitor enough for it to sprout.

On another note .. Alice did I miss a tag when you sent me my awesome pink banana seedlings? A few days ago I noticed 'one' was setting flowers. It looks like a Squill maybe? Whatever it is, I love it!

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Nov 14, 2015 11:15 AM CST
Name: Alice
Flat Rock, NC (Zone 7a)
Birds Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: North Carolina Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dog Lover
Container Gardener Charter ATP Member Garden Photography Butterflies Tropicals Ponds
Ooops, maybe I forgot, I thought you would like it. Griffinia aracensis Smiling
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
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Nov 14, 2015 11:16 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
Plant and/or Seed Trader Birds Cat Lover Greenhouse Tropicals Bulbs
Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Hibiscus Hybridizer Garden Sages Butterflies
Ahh .. thanks! I do love it. Nice late fall surprise!
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
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