Palm seeds need to be started fresh as viability decreases over time. The outer coating needs to be peeled as it has germination inhibitors in it. Most varieties will usually start in peat, although soil can be used. Depending on the variety, they can take 6 months to germinate. I usually donÂt scarify mine unless they have hard seed coats. They can be planted densely and transplanted when young, but as they age they do not like their roots being disturbed. Here is more info: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP238

I've actually talked with some seed companies about this for a project I was working on, and they (at least the ones I talked to) don't go to much trouble to verify the purity of the species of the trees that their seeds come from. I got the impression that they left it mostly up to the people that actually collected and sold them the seed to identify and verify the source. The companies probably aren't going to tell you who they got the seed from, so basically (at least with most oaks) it's just one big roll of the dice.

Wait until the berries (fruits) on your fuchsia plant are well ripened. Remove from plant. Lay on a piece of kitchen towel and cut open (lengthwise). Scrape off as much as you can of the jelly-like substance. Fill small pots with soil less compost (peat based), Stand the pots in water until you can see that the top of the soil is wet. I personally do not water anymore until the seeds have germinated, only a light misting of water with a hand spray if the soil looks really dry. Place seeds on top of soil, cover with a minute amount of same soil less compost or wet vermiculite. Place in a well lit postion, away from direct sunlight, if you have a propagator at 60f. Another way is to use a small seed tray, same procedure as above, but cover tray with plastic, when seedlings appear only remove plastic for a couple of hours at a time to acclimatise seedlings. Germination is erratic, from a few days to several weeks. Hybrids or cultivars very seldom come true from seed, many variations of parent plant, some completely different. I have had little or no success with dried seed.

After the rose fades and the petals fall off, the base will swell. These are called hips or heps. They are the seedpods that have resulted from your rose flowers. When they turn orange (or red or yellow, etc), you pull the hips from the plant, and I just use a butter knife to split them open. Inside them you will find the seeds and also some hair-like fuzz. Remove the seeds, making sure that all the hip tissue is removed (It has a hormone in it that slows germination). What you'll need to do to grow your seeds. Rose seeds: They should be as fresh as possible. Containers: jars, plastic bags, etc. I use baby food jars. Sterile soil mix. Bake soil in a pan at 250 degrees for 30 minutes, or use peat which naturally resists bacteria. I use jiffy peat pellets or good potting soil. Some people even use moistened paper towels, or sand. Whatever works for you. Hydrogen peroxide. It prevents damp-off, a condition where your seedlings rot at the soil line. Water 1-cup measuring cup and tablespoon Seed starter soil mix - In a 1-cup measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Fill cup the rest of the way with water. This will be a 1:15 ratio. - Gradually add this mixture to your soil until it has the same moisture content as fresh-turned soil. If it's too wet it will rot the seeds. If it's too dry it will inhibit germination. If you get it too wet, you can either try squeezing it out or leaving it out overnight. Add the mixture to your jar and refrigerate. - Soak seeds in water/hydrogen peroxide solution for 6-12 hours. Place them in the chilled jar and return to refrigerator. - Wait three months. -It helps to vary the temperature a little during the last month in the fridge. Do NOT freeze! At the end of the three months, remove and find a warm spot (70-75 degrees) to place them in overnight. Check for germination of seeds, and then place back in the fridge overnight. Temps of 80 degrees will stop germination. - When looking for germination, you will see a single root-tip breaking through the seed. If you see lots of fuzzy little roots, it's mold (don't worry). There's a distinct difference. - If you need to add water to your planting mix, use the water-hydrogen peroxide mix. - Plant your germinated seedling. Make sure that it's covered by soil or the root will curl around the seed like a snail. Don't plant too deep, either; try for about 1/4 inch deep. - Water the seedling with the water-hydrogen peroxide mixture; don't over/under water. - You can lightly fertilize with a weak (about 25%) water-soluble fertilizer (like Miracle Gro) when they get their second leaves. - Repeat-blooming roses bloom after about 2 months. Once-blooming roses bloom after about two to three years. - If your rose seedlings wilt or die at the top, just below the first leaves, this may be due to an injury to the plant or because of a lack of humidity. If you think it's because of a lack of humidity, try to make a green house for it by using a pop bottle with the base cut off, but the top and sides left on, (used also for rooting cuttings). Open the top of the bottle to let air circulate a couple of days before removing the bottle. Replace bottle if plant begins to wilt. Milk bottles work too, so would even an aquarium, or whatever you can think of that will do the job.