Tonka Bean (Dipteryx Odorata)
After waiting three years, searching across the internet, and speaking to many people from many different countries, I'm happy to say that I have gotten a hold of viable tonka beans from my Uncle who works on a ship near Trinidad.
This is the third time he has sent the beans, and the most I've gotten at once (just over 200 before sorting through for broken or fermented ones).
The first round ever, I had one turn green while it was in the soil, but rotted shortly thereafter and did not grow. I was determined to get them to grow, and I think this time I'm having more success! You can see in the second picture that the embryo has started extending into the soil. I'd imagine this means good things.
Many of the seeds begin to rot or crumble if you soak them ahead of planting, especially if you remove the seed coating like I've done here. I think maybe the coumarins in the coating seize bacterial and fungal growth in order to protect the seed during germination and seedling development.
I don't have much experience mailing things, but I know there has to be someone out there as excited as I am about these seeds. Does anyone have any experience whatsoever or want to give some a go? I am debating putting a small number up for sale online since literally nobody sells them. (TropiLab is a joke.)
Comments (30)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
8 years agoRelated Discussions
DH had a brilliant idea (he oozes them)
Comments (34)lemecdutex (Ron) has brought up what I was thinking all through my reading of this thread: For me, this is another nail in my coffin. My nose is extremely sensitive, and not in a good way. I love the scents of the Teas, but there are times (when I'm working in the Sacramento Cemetery Garden) when my nose actually hurts, and I get a headache - this is when things are at the height of bloom, and it comes mainly from the really strongly scented roses. I love being there and working with the roses, so I try to think of it as a price willingly paid, like sunburn, etc. But catalogs that have been scented can just pole-ax me, and the world lately has become so fragrance-happy that those of us that can't handle it (and there a LOT of us) are in a bad way, because it's EVERYWHERE. I think, though I'm not sure, that most perfumes are now made in laboratories out of chemicals, rather than in France, from flowers. And I also think that the scents on paper are made up, at least in part, of chemicals that have been formulated to approximate a particular real fragrance - and the chemicals are a big part of why some people have such an extreme reaction. I've also noticed, in reading on this forum, that people seem to actually "read" rose fragrances differently, according to their individual nose, or olfactory nerve perhaps. Some people smell a tea fragrance, others smell it but don't think it "tea-like". Some consider Teas to be virtually scentless. I read the Tea thing more often than references to the fragrances of other classes, but I think there is probably an individual reaction to those, also. Sherry, I hope your DH doesn't feel insulted by my negative input. I'm sure it seems like a wonderful idea to everyone who loves all those smells, and they are, after all, in the majority. And, anyway, this is all probably just a delightful and jolly discussion, just to run with. Because, actually, I think the cost of such a book/catalog would be prohibitive - that is, if they had to get a good match of all those different roses. Of course, THEN we could have one of those wonderful long threads with people disagreeing like mad about whether a page REALLY smelled like Duchesse de Brabant... Laura...See MoreWANTED: Wanted; tropical seeds;will trade for
Comments (0)Wanted seeds of Noni(Morinda citrifolia) Nutmeg Tree (Myristica F.), Clove Tree (Eugenia sp.),Murraya exotica/koeniggi?(Curry leaf),Tonka Bean(Dipteryx odorata)Cacao theobroma(Chocolate Tree), Canella,Drimys, Prickly Ash(Xanthoxylum sp.)& other fragrant/or medicinal plants. See trade list on My Page; if its not listed, ASK;I listed only bigger lots of seed. Here is a link that might be useful: GardenWrb...See MoreThings that will grow in Florida
Comments (35)As Thomas Jefferson once said, "look to your soil"! Our sandy soils need to have compost or other fertilizers worked in, and I suspect that even in pots, a good garden soil with compost might improve the overall yield. I have an earthbox, and would recommend it for tomatos and roses. Kohlrabi and bulb Fennel are two things I have success with (in the ground) that I did not notice have been mentioned. Mint, parsley, onions and greens, such as collards, mustards and kales, and yellow or purple pole or bush beans. Broccoli and cabbage do well. But none of it did anything at all for me, till I fixed up my Soil First. Also, I spray with liquid nutrients and organic pest controls, such as hot pepper wax, bt for worms, and pyola oil for general insects. Oh, and shield-all is a product that controls tomato diseases. It is not as hard as it sounds, since i mix it all up in a small spray bottle with plenty of water. I leave that in the garden, and whenever I am out there, it is easy to keep after the spraying. Gardens Alive! sells all the above stuff, and also Gardener's supply is another reliable company I can recommend from experience. The best advice was not to get discouraged! Each year seems to be different, and I never know what will grow and what will die. This never stops me from trying, and I always get Something from all my efforts here in North Miami, where it has been said that our Winter growing season is like a Northern Summer, so many Northern seeds do well here....See MoreSeeking rare(r) seeds. I have some nifty seeds for trade in return!
Comments (9)This website says pollen and stigma aren’t ready at the same time, and that another clone may also be needed. Canarina canariensis I store my seeds carefully (fridge, with dessicant) so my leftovers may still be viable. Here is my plant today, it is just starting to bloom. The flowers hang down so are a bit hard to appreciate. There are at least two plants in the large pot so it definitely needs dividing up when it is dormant. I tried putting another plant in the ground but it never came back. Those in the pot come back reliably....See More- 7 years ago
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Hey Tonka gang, I'm back! Plus, I have some great news.
Germination:I have figured out more or less how to germinate the seeds and why they were rotting for me so much. If the fruits are extremely fresh, the seeds can be taken out or left inside the husk, and they will germinate either way. Since any fruits you would get are likely not extremely fresh (considering harvest, cleaning, and shipping), I would leave them inside the husk for germination. Taking them outside of the husk when they are not fresh will absolutely encourage molding and subsequent loss of germplasm. Last year I was able to germinate 16/17 successfully by leaving them inside the husk and patiently waiting. They take months to pop up out of the soil and show leaves, so you really do need to be patient. Also, planting the seeds sideways, and half inside the soil, half outside, is the best method I have found. It allows aeration, but moisture retention, while also allowing the root to orient itself easily. If the soil dries out during this process, the seed may perish, so be sure to keep it moist, but not moldy.
Live Trees:I personally have two sapling trees that are 1 year old growing in 5 gallon pots, and the rest have been either donated or have been purchased. My trees have survived a few nights into the upper 40s F and showed zero cold damage. As long as they stay above 40 F and are mostly warm they will be totally fine.
There are two trees at the Naples Botanical Gardens, one in ground in the actual gardens, and one in their nursery. The one in ground is struggling and looks very unhealthy, but also has been outdoors for the entire winter. I hope it recovers.
There is one FIVE FOOT TALL TREE at the Fruit and Spice Park in Miami from seeds that I donated years ago. They are planting it in ground any day now. I visited it in their greenhouse this past week and I was brought to tears at how good of a job they did with it.
There are supposedly a few trees alive from seeds I donated in the greenhouse at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, but I cannot confirm nor do I know where they are located within the garden.
There is one sapling, one year old, in the ground at a public food forest. I don't want to release any more details because there have been theft issues in the past with trees in this particular food forest.
Now for the really good news...
I have 15 fresh seeds for purchase, available as of today. They are in their husks still, and although I cannot guarantee that they'll all germinate, my rate from this provider was incredible last round and I am confident the majority will germinate. Please email me at the address I placed in an above post if you are interested in buying a few. I recommend two at least, but considering their price ($30 each) I understand if you're only wanting to buy one. Remember, this took me almost 10 years to sort out logistically and gain experience! If you're serious about growing this plant, this is your opportunity.
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cinnamontreeOriginal Author