Ensete Ventricosum seeds: an experiment
Just in case you have
ever wondered, the following experiment was
carried out...
Aim
To determine whether the germination rates of Ensete Ventricosum seeds
could be improved by chipping the seeds.
Aim
To determine whether the germination rates of Ensete Ventricosum seeds
could be improved by chipping the seeds.Assumptions
All the seeds used were of equal freshness.Method
Two packets (10 seeds per packet) of Ensete Ventricosum seeds were purchased from the same supplier. The seeds from one packet were chipped with nail clippers until the white of the seed was visible. The seeds of the second packet were left intact.
|
 Chipping the seed  The chipped seed |
The propagator was
checked periodically to ensure that there was a
constant layer of water in the base.
The soil surface temperature in the pots fluctuated between 20º and 25ºResults
First signs of life
The soil surface temperature in the pots fluctuated between 20º and 25º
Results
First signs of life
This picture shows
the first germinated seedling (third from the top, second one in) a few
days after germinating. A second one of the Ensete Ventricosum seeds
has also germinated at this point but is not that obvious (top row
second pot in). This picture was taken 21 days after the
initial chipping.
As each seed germinated it was removed from the propagator and placed in a brighter position.
After 27 days (including soak time) 5 seeds had germinated. In every case, the germinated seeds were the un-chipped seeds.
As each seed germinated it was removed from the propagator and placed in a brighter position.
After 27 days (including soak time) 5 seeds had germinated. In every case, the germinated seeds were the un-chipped seeds.
Ensete Ventricosum seedlings
After 31 days the
sixth un-chipped
Ensete ventricosum seed had germinated. Not one of the
chipped seeds had germinated within this time frame.
Conclusion
Don't bother.