Germination
of Ensete Ventricosum
Unfortunately
the
germination of Ensete Ventricosum seeds is not an exact science.
There are many theories floating around as to what is the
best
technique. I believe the freshness of the seeds is
more important than other factors. Using the
same technique year after year I have had germination rates varying
from as low as 10% to as high as 85%. 3 to 5 germinating
out of a packet of ten should satisfy most requirements.
Unless you have a
vast garden and an enormous greenhouse.
As the germination of Ensete Ventricosum is somewhat erratic, you can not depend upon plants germinating this year for your current garden plan. Growing Abyssinian bananas in succession and knowing what you have in stock makes planning your garden easier.
The young plants can be either kept in pots for the first season or
used as part of the general display. Even plants in their
first
year can make reasonably impressive growth, given the right level of
pampering. Planting them in the garden also reduces the
amount of
pots that need watering and as a result reduce your stress
levels
when on holiday.
Seed catalogues usually come out just before Christmas. Order your seeds from catalogues or on-line. Start the process as soon as your seeds arrive.
The process.
Next you can either place the pots directly into a heated propagator or
you can seal each pot in a clear plastic bag (freezer bag.).
These can either be placed in a heated propagator or the
warmest place
in your house. Plastic bags have the advantage of preventing
the compost from drying out. If you place your pots directly
in
the propagator, pour enough liquid to keep the propagator base moist at
all times.
Be patient.
The first seed may germinate in as little as a week or as long a quite a few. Don't check your seeds every day, just keep a check on the moisture level in the propagator. Warm and wet is the key.
Eventually you will be greeted by a shoot. Now is the time to move the plant into a well lit spot. South facing windows are a little intense and can cause the pots to dry out too quickly.
In the greenhouse place your newly germinated plants in plastic trays. Water from below i.e. pour water into the tray and allow the pot to soak it up. If the prevailing weather conditions are poor with cloudy days and low temperatures, water sparingly. Especially in winter.
Use warm water, it is enough of a shock being germinated in a British winter without, on top of all that, being doused with icy water.
Juvenile foliage of Ensete Ventricosum
The young plants will grow and the danger of frost will pass.
It is time for them to come out of the greenhouse and feel
the
sweet, sweet rain on their leaves for the first time.
If you decide to incorporate them into the general display, plant them as usual in a well prepared hole using plenty of home made compost and composted manure. Allow them to enjoy the summer. As winter draws near, you will need to rescue them from a certain and unpleasant fate.
Dig the young plants up. Trim back some of the longer roots so they will fit into a modest sized pot. Fill in any spaces with some form of multi-purpose compost. Do not think that you will be doing the plant any favours by sticking it in a large pot. For some reason they object to this and become quite un co-operative the following spring. Over winter, keep the plants on the dry side but do not let them dry out completely. They are not cacti.
If you elect to leave the plants growing over summer in pots, again do not put them into too large a pot. Pot them up as and when necessary during the growing season but again keep the pot on the modest size. Move the plants inside the greenhouse before the first frost. Maintain the same watering regime as outlined above.
Occasionally the following spring, you will have a strike on your hands. The weather may be perfect. Sunny days and mild night time temperatures, but your plants refuse to grow. Newly germinated Ensete Ventricosum and other plants are racing ahead but not your one year olds. Even gentle bottom heat from a heated mat will not coax them out of their slumber.
This calls for drastic action. Lift the stubborn plant by its stem. Remove the pot with a gentle tap on the rim from a trowel. Pull off most of the compost (do this over a bucket) and pull away any black or brown roots. Leave any nice white healthy looking roots. Re-pot the plant in the same pot. Let the plant rest and soon it will be on its way.
A germination experiment
| The main objective when growing Ensete Ventricosum from seed is to provided yourself with a constant supply of decent sized plants. Most greenhouses are not tall enough to accommodate very large plants. When it's time to say goodbye to your second season ensete's, you will have a few one year olds to replace them with the following year and so on. |  |
Ensete Ventricosum
seeds
As the germination of Ensete Ventricosum is somewhat erratic, you can not depend upon plants germinating this year for your current garden plan. Growing Abyssinian bananas in succession and knowing what you have in stock makes planning your garden easier.
Seed catalogues usually come out just before Christmas. Order your seeds from catalogues or on-line. Start the process as soon as your seeds arrive.
The process.
|
 Ensete ventricosum seeds in soak |
Be patient.
The first seed may germinate in as little as a week or as long a quite a few. Don't check your seeds every day, just keep a check on the moisture level in the propagator. Warm and wet is the key.
Eventually you will be greeted by a shoot. Now is the time to move the plant into a well lit spot. South facing windows are a little intense and can cause the pots to dry out too quickly.
In the greenhouse place your newly germinated plants in plastic trays. Water from below i.e. pour water into the tray and allow the pot to soak it up. If the prevailing weather conditions are poor with cloudy days and low temperatures, water sparingly. Especially in winter.
Use warm water, it is enough of a shock being germinated in a British winter without, on top of all that, being doused with icy water.
Juvenile foliage of Ensete Ventricosum
If you decide to incorporate them into the general display, plant them as usual in a well prepared hole using plenty of home made compost and composted manure. Allow them to enjoy the summer. As winter draws near, you will need to rescue them from a certain and unpleasant fate.
Dig the young plants up. Trim back some of the longer roots so they will fit into a modest sized pot. Fill in any spaces with some form of multi-purpose compost. Do not think that you will be doing the plant any favours by sticking it in a large pot. For some reason they object to this and become quite un co-operative the following spring. Over winter, keep the plants on the dry side but do not let them dry out completely. They are not cacti.
If you elect to leave the plants growing over summer in pots, again do not put them into too large a pot. Pot them up as and when necessary during the growing season but again keep the pot on the modest size. Move the plants inside the greenhouse before the first frost. Maintain the same watering regime as outlined above.
Occasionally the following spring, you will have a strike on your hands. The weather may be perfect. Sunny days and mild night time temperatures, but your plants refuse to grow. Newly germinated Ensete Ventricosum and other plants are racing ahead but not your one year olds. Even gentle bottom heat from a heated mat will not coax them out of their slumber.
This calls for drastic action. Lift the stubborn plant by its stem. Remove the pot with a gentle tap on the rim from a trowel. Pull off most of the compost (do this over a bucket) and pull away any black or brown roots. Leave any nice white healthy looking roots. Re-pot the plant in the same pot. Let the plant rest and soon it will be on its way.
A germination experiment