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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: murahilin on February 10, 2012, 11:37:41 AM

Title: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: murahilin on February 10, 2012, 11:37:41 AM
Today I got 50 marula seeds. I think there are actually a few seeds in each "seed" so I may end up with more than 50 plants. I've read that the germination rate may be low if I do not prepare the seeds properly. This will be my marula seed germination log. Here (http://www.kew.org/science-research-data/kew-in-depth/difficult-seeds/species-profiles/sclerocarya-birrea/index.htm) are the instructions I found for germinating the seeds:
Quote
The seeds of this species may have Combinational Dormancy, due to their impermeable seed coats (physical dormancy) and potentially physiologically dormant embryos (based on other species in the same genus).

Locate the operculum by filing the endocarp, then use a hammer and steel scalpel to prise off the operculum and expose the seed. Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at 25 to 30ºC. Acid scarification with hydrochloric acid can also be used to break down the seed coat and improve germination.

If germination is low, overcome physiological dormancy with a dry after-ripening treatment immediately after harvest, at 25ºC for 18 months, before germinating the seeds on agar, germination paper or sand at their optimum temperature. This will allow post-harvest development to take place.

If anyone has any other tips or advice on germinating the seeds please let me know. I will add pics later.

Here is a link to the PDF of the marula monograph that nullzero sent me: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/Forestry/R7227sclerocarya_monograph.pdf (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/Forestry/R7227sclerocarya_monograph.pdf)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: nullzero on February 10, 2012, 12:17:27 PM
I have a PDF to share with you, it has detailed germination info and info about the Marula.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: murahilin on February 10, 2012, 12:22:48 PM
Cool. Can you post the link here or email it? Thanks.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: nullzero on February 10, 2012, 12:38:40 PM
Cool. Can you post the link here or email it? Thanks.

I need you to respond to my email (tropicalfruitforum forwards over to your email). It was obtained from a African website (had extremely long load time). I can email it to you once you respond in the email.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on February 10, 2012, 05:25:34 PM
I tried 3 times with marula seeds from F&S park and never had a single one germinate. First time i brought over 50+ seeds after a visit to Florida. Then Warren kindly sent me some in the mail. I tried sprouting them in plastic bags and in pots and they just all rotted.
We had a thread about this on the yahoo rarefruit newsgroup. Turns out they need a long dry dormancy period (at least 3 months) to sprout well. I think then they would sprout without removing the locules. If you want to sprout them right away you have to remove those "eye" openings on the seed capsules. Here is the thread:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit/message/82266 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit/message/82266)
Just thought gibberelic acid might also help to break dormancy, as in case of ilama seeds.
Oscar
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: cyclonenat on July 14, 2012, 01:21:14 AM
Hi everyone i recently was given some Marula seeds from someone in NZ and was wondering how to germinate them as they are very hard etc Is there any special way? Any info will be great thanks
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Joshua_TX on July 14, 2012, 01:42:00 AM
I received three seeds last August, soaked them in water for 48 hours, then planted them in deep pots with the top of the seed an inch or so below the soil and kept the soil moist.  If I remember correctly there is a part of the seed that stands out from the rest of the seed, this is where the root sprouts from so it should be planted downward.  All three sprouted and are doing fine.  They want to send down a long taproot so plan accordingly.  Once they get around a foot tall (30 cm.) they want lots of sun and grow quickly.  Good luck!
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: cyclonenat on July 14, 2012, 01:46:01 AM
will the age of the seeds influence germination? the person i got them off said they were a couple years old
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on July 14, 2012, 02:14:36 AM
will the age of the seeds influence germination? the person i got them off said they were a couple years old

Depends on how they were stored.?If kept cool and dry they should be ok. Marula has a dormancy period of i think about 6 months. That is why it's hard to sprout fresh seeds. The seeds have little "eyes" on them, if you poke those out carefully that will speed up germination. Soaking overnight is also a good idea.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Joshua_TX on July 14, 2012, 02:22:51 AM
They also germinate best with hot temperatures.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: carraig on July 14, 2012, 06:37:19 AM
We sell tons of these seeds and have seen the best results with Oscar's recommendation.  Poke the eyes out (or sand them with rough sand paper to allow moisture to penetrate better), and plant about 1 seed length under the soil with the eyes pointed up.  Place the seed tray in the sun or use heat under the seed tray to improve germination.  They like it hot.

Regards,
Carraig
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: siafu on July 14, 2012, 07:30:09 AM
 
 It has been awhile since I germinated marula seeds. But I did open the seed holes/opercula and got several
 plants from the same nut.

 Note that too much moisture during germination can easily rot marula seeds.

 After that, they are very vigorous with heat and water aplenty.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on July 14, 2012, 02:38:46 PM
Hi cyclonenat,

In few years time your marula will produce and you will eat to much of them marulas....this will happen to you in the near future ;D ;D ;D ;D

African Animals Getting Drunk From Ripe Marula Fruit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5E5TjkDvU0#ws)
Animals Are Beautiful People (1974)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on August 01, 2012, 06:25:52 PM
Hi Steven, that was a funny scene, but i hope you know was totally faked?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: luc on August 01, 2012, 08:42:37 PM
Seems like Marula is not a rare fruit anymore ! Male and female needed , I planted 3 together in the same planting hole , only one grew to be 4 - 5 meters now , the other 2 stayed really small .
Any idea how many years from seed to fruit ?

Oscar how did they fake the animal video ?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: jez251 on August 01, 2012, 09:44:45 PM
What a bummer!  I have one seedling growing and now I find out you need both male and female.

Guess that's what I get for not researching this more!

By the way, mine sported about a month after planting.


Jaime
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: murahilin on August 01, 2012, 11:11:04 PM
Today I finally planted the seeds I got on 2/11.

Jaime, did you do anything to the seed before planting?

I sanded off the top of the seeds before planting in hopes of speeding up germination.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: jez251 on August 01, 2012, 11:21:20 PM
Not really, but that may be the reason why I only have one seedling as opposed to many. I would definitely follow Oscar's advice as to cutting the eyes out of the seeds.

Jaime
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on August 02, 2012, 03:04:28 AM
Seems like Marula is not a rare fruit anymore ! Male and female needed , I planted 3 together in the same planting hole , only one grew to be 4 - 5 meters now , the other 2 stayed really small .
Any idea how many years from seed to fruit ?

Oscar how did they fake the animal video ?

From Wikipedia:
One scene depicts baboons, elephants, giraffes, warthogs and other animals eating rotten, fermented fruit of the Marula tree. The intoxicated animals then stagger around for comic effect. In the morning, we see one baboon wake up, disheveled, next to a warthog, and quietly exit the burrow, as not to wake her. Several experts[citation needed] have claimed that some scenes were likely staged; elephants would be too large, for example, and drink too much water (diluting the alcohol) to get intoxicated.

All the movies and shows that Jamie Uys did are very funny and classic. So i don't blame him for faking these scenes.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: ScottR on August 02, 2012, 07:07:06 PM
I got some seeds from South Africa in 2010, I kicked the seed coat and soaked in G.A3 overnight and planted. I think about 60% came up and I've given away some have two left and had one outside last year under shade cloth with frost cloth on top. That marula froze but came back from root. Other plant was in my Greenhouse over winter and was fine although its outside now and is just barely starting to leaf out!! I don't think there happy here.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on August 02, 2012, 07:12:35 PM
I got some seeds from South Africa in 2010, I kicked the seed coat and soaked in G.A3 overnight and planted. I think about 60% came up and I've given away some have two left and had one outside last year under shade cloth with frost cloth on top. That marula froze but came back from root. Other plant was in my Greenhouse over winter and was fine although its outside now and is just barely starting to leaf out!! I don't think there happy here.

Where is here?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: ScottR on August 02, 2012, 10:03:26 PM
Oscar, here is Arroyo Grande, Ca. actually I'm 2-miles as crow fly behind Oceano/Pismo Dunes.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on August 02, 2012, 10:50:09 PM
Oscar, here is Arroyo Grande, Ca. actually I'm 2-miles as crow fly behind Oceano/Pismo Dunes.

Scott, ok thanks. Why not add your location info to your profile, so when you post it's clearer?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: emegar on October 31, 2013, 08:12:53 PM
Three Marula related questions:

1. Is this a marula seedling? (I recently germinated a mango seed in an old cup of seed starting mix and this popped up alongside it. The cup was labeled marula, and I seem to recall getting some marula seeds from Nullzero at last year's Green Scene.)

(http://s16.postimg.cc/ly5o3l4gx/20131031_165358.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/ly5o3l4gx/)

2. Has anyone here actually tasted marula, and feel they can recommend this fruit?

3. It's anyone willing to exchange (or sell) scions sometime down the road? I've only got the one plant, and I know that marulas are dioecious. I'd rather graft than grow out more seedlings.

Thanks
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: fruitlovers on October 31, 2013, 09:44:51 PM
Yes that looks like marula. I tasted fruits at F&S park. Nothing to write home about as an out of hand fruit. Apparently it makes great marula liqueur. Also i've heard the interior seed is quite good, but hard to crack.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: nullzero on October 31, 2013, 09:59:44 PM
Three Marula related questions:

1. Is this a marula seedling? (I recently germinated a mango seed in an old cup of seed starting mix and this popped up alongside it. The cup was labeled marula, and I seem to recall getting some marula seeds from Nullzero at last year's Green Scene.)

(http://s16.postimg.cc/ly5o3l4gx/20131031_165358.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/ly5o3l4gx/)

2. Has anyone here actually tasted marula, and feel they can recommend this fruit?

3. It's anyone willing to exchange (or sell) scions sometime down the road? I've only got the one plant, and I know that marulas are dioecious. I'd rather graft than grow out more seedlings.

Thanks

Congrats on the germination. As for the exchange for scion, its going to take a while (since it seems most on this forum started growing Marula in the last 3 years or so).
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Zambezi on October 31, 2013, 11:34:42 PM
Yes that looks like marula. I tasted fruits at F&S park. Nothing to write home about as an out of hand fruit. Apparently it makes great marula liqueur. Also i've heard the interior seed is quite good, but hard to crack.

It's called Amarula, a cream liqueur from South Africa.
It makes great cocktails, but it's also lovely in cakes, and ice-cream. It pairs well with chocolate and expresso, so the possibilities are endless...
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Recher on November 06, 2013, 07:12:32 AM
30 plus years ago on first shipment ex south africa i got an excellent germination.. several after that none.. every time i hit them with near boiling water.. they strike from cuttings... male female separate trees..SA did selection for fruit quality circa 1990 and I was 'promised' material but my requests after that went unanswered so somewhere in SA there are superior fruit types. This was a government selection program not private so maybe some of you Americans  don't want it bec of the socialistic nature of the cultivars :)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Ansarac on August 26, 2015, 04:23:04 PM
(I was reading about Marula, and this post came up, in the search engine. I see that it's old.)

Mine are germinating under temperatures, which were uncommon, for us. The thermometer on the always-shady, North side of the house read 114F and led to a freak hail storm. (August, 2")

5g pot, filled with 50% loam and 50% leaf mold, well draining, consistently moist, no pre-treatment or cold stratification.

In my quirky, not-always-scientific point of view, mushrooms and sprouts seem to pop up, naturally, under low-pressure systems. It may be impractical to recreate this, experimentally, but the warmth can be provided somewhat more simply.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on August 27, 2015, 02:28:16 AM
In the Lowveld where this tree is common Summer midday temperatures have been known to get that hot definitly and it doesnt seem to mind the full highveldt sun even as seedling(most so called 'fullsun' adult plant suffer terribly under our high veld solar radiation and plastic sheeting is destroyed in as little as a year)

Heats not a problem for these guys but they dont like cold and will drop leaves and go dormant when temps start being below 10/5C at night even if the days are warm 25c+.

Coming up in a warm compost heap is also common for me with these plants so they must respond to nice warm soil temperatures like you observed.
I dont think cold stratification would benefit as where they are most common doesnt get below 5C and the soil Im sure even less so. I have heard of treating them to a quick dip in boiling water but I prefer just popping them in the ground and forgetting about them. I put 50 seeds in a 50litre crate/pot and over 2 years the majority of them all came up bar maybe a couple here and there.
One thing about the seed is it can last alot longer than most and is pretty much the opposite of recalcitrant!

I still haven't found a good way to taste the nuts:(
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: barath on August 27, 2015, 10:04:53 AM
Stuart, I'm curious how you'd recommend growing Marula once it reaches a certain size.  I have them in 15 gallon pots, and they are growing like crazy (one is probably 4 feet tall not including the pot height, only sprouted 9 months ago).  Is that normal and ok to let it keep growing in a pot?

My concern is that the location I'm growing it at will get mild frost in winter (probably at worst a couple of degrees below freezing), and we're also expected to get some heavy (cold) rains because of El Nino.  My main consideration is whether it will fruit in a large pot or whether it needs to be in the ground.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: siafu on August 27, 2015, 05:31:20 PM
Stuart, I'm curious how you'd recommend growing Marula once it reaches a certain size.  I have them in 15 gallon pots, and they are growing like crazy (one is probably 4 feet tall not including the pot height, only sprouted 9 months ago).  Is that normal and ok to let it keep growing in a pot?

My concern is that the location I'm growing it at will get mild frost in winter (probably at worst a couple of degrees below freezing), and we're also expected to get some heavy (cold) rains because of El Nino.  My main consideration is whether it will fruit in a large pot or whether it needs to be in the ground.

Thanks!

I have a pair of fruiting marulas (male + female) at 37º N, South Portugal.
Sadly, the fruits I get are small, the seed is large and the rind is thick.
There's very little to eat, but they are juicy with a rather nice flavor.

In a another location, that experiences frost, I kept some plants, from the same seed lot. They would freeze to the ground
every year. When leafed out, marula is not really hardy. Maybe if they enter dormancy sooner that might help them cope with the cold...
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: barath on August 27, 2015, 06:21:01 PM
Stuart, I'm curious how you'd recommend growing Marula once it reaches a certain size.  I have them in 15 gallon pots, and they are growing like crazy (one is probably 4 feet tall not including the pot height, only sprouted 9 months ago).  Is that normal and ok to let it keep growing in a pot?

My concern is that the location I'm growing it at will get mild frost in winter (probably at worst a couple of degrees below freezing), and we're also expected to get some heavy (cold) rains because of El Nino.  My main consideration is whether it will fruit in a large pot or whether it needs to be in the ground.

Thanks!

I have a pair of fruiting marulas (male + female) at 37º N, South Portugal.
Sadly, the fruits I get are small, the seed is large and the rind is thick.
There's very little to eat, but they are juicy with a rather nice flavor.

In a another location, that experiences frost, I kept some plants, from the same seed lot. They would freeze to the ground
every year. When leafed out, marula is not really hardy. Maybe if they enter dormancy sooner that might help them cope with the cold...

Interesting -- I'm also at 37º N.  Are yours planted in the ground?  When do they go dormant for you?  (Are they like normal temperate trees that lose their leaves in winter, or do yours lose leaves at other times?)

What is the coldest temperature the trees (in the first location, with the fruiting trees) experiences in the winter?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on August 28, 2015, 04:59:16 AM
I havnt fruited in a pot yet my oldest potted seedling is >2 years old.
Iv never experienced them freezing to ground and we have gotten -3/4C they were normally slightly protected but just with walls nothing overhead and I saved my frost cloth for more sensitive plants.

My current location gets pretty cold nights as there is a river on our property that puts us in a dip during a short dry winter but even one year old seedlings with light protection easily survived stems in tact. '
They go very clearly dormant and just look like twigs though. To put temperature in perspective a large compact tamarillo, 2mtall musa williams and a small wax jambu with frost cloth was completely killed and marulas seedlings survived ok.

I had a bunch better protected but even in that position another wax jambu much larger had bad die back. They had been dormant for well over a month and received no water all winter, they are all just getting their leaves back now and were young only one summer old.

I wonder whats the difference? Are you more wet? or too warm for them to go properly dormant or is this kind more tolerant of cold?
Maybe a combination of all three?

They seem very happy in pots but the wild ones I have eaten from have been massive so it will be interesting to see if they can fruit in big pots.

Im moving to a warmer area a 100kms to the north in a couple years and most of my babies will go in the ground then but I will keep a few in pots just for fun:)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: snowjunky on February 11, 2016, 05:46:47 AM
I got marula seeds from Isreal and South Africa two weeks ago.  They're both already germinating, wow!  Here are the steps I took:

1.  Sanded the seed eyes down with 60 grit sandpaper, but stop before you hit the white nut.  I find it very hard and unsafe to try to pry out the eye caps with a knife.

2.  I soaked the seeds in bottled water(no chlorine) for 2 days in a ziplock bag with the seeds only half submerged in water. 

3.  Planted in seedling soil mix half inch deep in large cell seedling tray and then watered thoroughly.

4.  Placed tray on heat mat inside clear plastic container with lid loosely on.

5.  Placed container in shady location and the seeds started germinating in about a week.

Good luck!

Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on February 11, 2016, 06:25:28 AM
Made Marula jam last week out of a small packet of fruit, brown sugar and 2 slices of apple(for pectin) and it is the best jam I have ever had if I do say so myself :)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on October 19, 2016, 09:16:56 AM
So I had a whole bunch (maybe 40) of very old marula seeds. All were at least a year and a half to 3 years old and I threw them into a 50L crate I use as pots about a month ago.
Well I have never had such quick, uniform and vigorous germination! Im sure the very warm weather has helped but it seems like older seeds germinate alot better??

My oldest Marula is 3 years old from seed has a 5/6cm thick trunk but i kept nice and short at less than a metre high from the top of the pot.

I will post some pictures soon. It is really reving up for summer and has stunning dark red new growth :)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: shaneatwell on October 19, 2016, 08:50:06 PM
Three Marula related questions:

1. Is this a marula seedling? (I recently germinated a mango seed in an old cup of seed starting mix and this popped up alongside it. The cup was labeled marula, and I seem to recall getting some marula seeds from Nullzero at last year's Green Scene.)

(http://s16.postimg.cc/ly5o3l4gx/20131031_165358.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/ly5o3l4gx/)

2. Has anyone here actually tasted marula, and feel they can recommend this fruit?

3. It's anyone willing to exchange (or sell) scions sometime down the road? I've only got the one plant, and I know that marulas are dioecious. I'd rather graft than grow out more seedlings.

Thanks

I'll exchange when the time comes. I have 3 in the ground and know someone else with several more.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: snowjunky on March 17, 2017, 05:52:28 AM
Yes it is marula.  My seedlings last year looked the same.
If my seedlings survive my 9a/9b zone cold and phoenix heat down the road we can exchange scions.
Judging by how long it took you to get a reply, marula seedlings are probably not that desirable.  Too bad choice cultivars are not available here.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: EvilFruit on March 17, 2017, 05:27:18 PM
Yes it is marula.  My seedlings last year looked the same.
If my seedlings survive my 9a/9b zone cold and phoenix heat down the road we can exchange scions.
Judging by how long it took you to get a reply, marula seedlings are probably not that desirable.  Too bad choice cultivars are not available here.

It will survive the heat, but Not sure about the cold because our winter is very mild.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: SocalTropics on May 03, 2017, 10:32:12 PM
Any updates on your Marulas including how long it took to flower?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on May 04, 2017, 12:17:19 AM
Yes it is marula.  My seedlings last year looked the same.
If my seedlings survive my 9a/9b zone cold and phoenix heat down the road we can exchange scions.
Judging by how long it took you to get a reply, marula seedlings are probably not that desirable.  Too bad choice cultivars are not available here.
I've only ever tasted seedling fruits and they are not undesirable, there are apparently selections out there but good luck to anyone trying to find them! :(
Flavour is excellent very sweet and a no e balance of acid not sour at all. Main complaints are slowish flesh to seed ratio(if you use the nut maybe that's not too bad?) and flesh clings to seed which is a bit annoying sucking on a big seed. Fruits are not tiny but think selection could get us much bigger fruit too.

I would love to try fruit from a pampered well fertilised tree that had it's fruits thinned. All they sell here are from wild trees as far as I know.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: shafak on July 03, 2018, 07:39:37 AM
Sorry to revive this old post.  I need some more clarifications.  It seems that there are either 2 or 3 seeds within a marula stone.  So, has anyone ever got all the seeds within a stone to germinate?  Will each seed grow into a separate tree? 


(https://s15.postimg.cc/m6xw5wzav/Sclerocarya_birrea_-_Seed.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/m6xw5wzav/)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Daintree on July 03, 2018, 09:55:21 AM
Yes, I have gotten all the seeds inside the stone to germinate. Don't break the shell open and try to plant the seeds, just carefully pry out the "lid" over each "eye". I scraped the shell with the blade of my pocket knife until I could locate the eye, then pried the lid off each one.  Once you get the lid off, you will notice that there is a papery membrane over each seed. You don't want to break that membrane.  A pocket knife blade works really well. Poke the tip into the crack between the lid and the shell, but not too far.  Just a tiny bit. Then pry.  Think of it as opening a REALLY full paint can, and trying to carefully pry the lid off without spilling or touching any paint. I ruined the first seed, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy.

Carolyn

(https://s22.postimg.cc/iyoot7ku5/marula1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/iyoot7ku5/)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: shafak on July 03, 2018, 10:50:58 AM
So, how is one supposed to separate multi seedlings from a single seed?

Yes, I have gotten all the seeds inside the stone to germinate. Don't break the shell open and try to plant the seeds, just carefully pry out the "lid" over each "eye". I scraped the shell with the blade of my pocket knife until I could locate the eye, then pried the lid off each one.  Once you get the lid off, you will notice that there is a papery membrane over each seed. You don't want to break that membrane.  A pocket knife blade works really well. Poke the tip into the crack between the lid and the shell, but not too far.  Just a tiny bit. Then pry.  Think of it as opening a REALLY full paint can, and trying to carefully pry the lid off without spilling or touching any paint. I ruined the first seed, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy.

Carolyn

(https://s22.postimg.cc/iyoot7ku5/marula1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/iyoot7ku5/)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on July 03, 2018, 01:13:46 PM
So, how is one supposed to separate multi seedlings from a single seed?

Yes, I have gotten all the seeds inside the stone to germinate. Don't break the shell open and try to plant the seeds, just carefully pry out the "lid" over each "eye". I scraped the shell with the blade of my pocket knife until I could locate the eye, then pried the lid off each one.  Once you get the lid off, you will notice that there is a papery membrane over each seed. You don't want to break that membrane.  A pocket knife blade works really well. Poke the tip into the crack between the lid and the shell, but not too far.  Just a tiny bit. Then pry.  Think of it as opening a REALLY full paint can, and trying to carefully pry the lid off without spilling or touching any paint. I ruined the first seed, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy.

Carolyn

(https://s22.postimg.cc/iyoot7ku5/marula1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/iyoot7ku5/)
Just let them grow and separate when they are a bit bigger. They have a large almost tuberous tap root and I found them pretty easy to separate once the stems go slightly woody.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on July 03, 2018, 01:23:46 PM
This one is about 5 years old from seed
(https://s22.postimg.cc/5iakceam5/IMG_20180703_190300_1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5iakceam5/)

Middle of winter and it's very dormant now but last night we were like -1C and no damage. I find them to be fairly hardy way more so than bananas which my top leaves got fried.

No flowers yet but I bet if this had been in ground and not getting root bound while growing it would be much much bigger:)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: snowjunky on July 04, 2018, 01:28:35 AM
My in ground marulas were taller than that in one year, but not as thick of a trunk.  They love the heat and sun.  The dryness doesn't bother them.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: stuartdaly88 on July 04, 2018, 06:17:07 AM
My in ground marulas were taller than that in one year, but not as thick of a trunk.  They love the heat and sun.  The dryness doesn't bother them.
I have always bonzaid this one a bit lots of pruning and tipping :)
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: 00christian00 on October 09, 2018, 04:58:10 PM
I got some Marula seeds, but I haven't been able to understand how to find these eyes.
The seed look roughly the same everywhere to me. I tried to pull randomly and nothing popped.
Can anybody explain how to recognize the eyes? Do you just go by shape of the seeds pulling the angles?
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: snowjunky on October 09, 2018, 06:05:10 PM
My seeds' eyes were very visible.  You might want to break one open to see the structure inside your seeds.  That might help you figure out where the eyes are and to make sure they are marula seeds.
Title: Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
Post by: Daintree on October 09, 2018, 11:21:51 PM
Just take the blade of a pocket knife and scrape away the surface until you can see the eyes. The pericarp is really thick, so by scraping, you can't penetrate the outside of the shell.
By the way, when I pried the lids off the eyes before I planted them, they germinated in about 5 days. Super fast.
These were seeds I have had for four years.

Carolyn