How to grow Baobab from seed???

Messages
99
Reaction score
33
I have a birthday gIft from myself that i ordered on amazon. some baobab seeds. how and when to start them are my questions.
 
Messages
193
Reaction score
133
Location
Ogden Utah, United States
USDA Zone
6a
I have.... Absolutely no idea... Id try germinating a few a time until you find a good method.

The paper towel in a ziplock trick is pretty reliable.

Please keep us updated though! I'm excited to see this unfold
 

DaveZ

Seedling
Messages
5
Reaction score
16
Location
SE Qld, Australia
What species of Baobab? When I germinated the Australian Baobab, Adansonia gregorii, I scratched the surface of the seed on one side with some fine sandpaper, then threw them into a mug of boiling water straight from the kettle. I left them there overnight then planted them the next day. I think I got about 80% germination from memory. I believe most Baobabs are similar.

Cheers,
Dave.
 
Messages
193
Reaction score
133
Location
Ogden Utah, United States
USDA Zone
6a
What species of Baobab? When I germinated the Australian Baobab, Adansonia gregorii, I scratched the surface of the seed on one side with some fine sandpaper, then threw them into a mug of boiling water straight from the kettle. I left them there overnight then planted them the next day. I think I got about 80% germination from memory. I believe most Baobabs are similar.

Cheers,
Dave.
Oh that's an interesting strategy! Might have to look into getting some baobab seeds to try it out, they have such fantastic trunks even if I decide to use them for a strangler fig it would be breathtaking me thinks 🤔
 

Kievnstavick

Shohin
Messages
418
Reaction score
891
Location
Kitsap County, Washington State, USA
USDA Zone
8b
Since they are a semi-arid tropical, you can start them whenever so long as you can provide their needs.

I would wait until mid to late spring when nightly tempatures are consistently warm if you don't have a proper indoor growing set-up for them.

I've documented the beginning of my Baobabs here. From collection, germination, and how they are growing (although I need to update the thread with their winter progress...)

As DaveZ mentioned, the best method that I have found was to expose the seed by manually removing the seed coating. I have found it easier to use my concave cutters to nick the coating rather then sanding as you can cook the seeds if you are not careful and have the chance of sanding your finger tips. I then soak them in warm to hot water. Tempature doesn't really matter now that the seed coating has been removed so long as it is not cold water. Once they have begun the germination process and have extended their radical, I'd gently remove some of the seed coating so that the seed doesn't get trapped in the seed coating. The coating should flake off in chunks and you really only need enough that the cotyledons have an escape vector once the begin expanding.

In nature, elephants eat the fruits and their stomach acid breaks down the seed coating enough that the seed shouldn't have a hard time sheding the coating.
 
Top Bottom