Author Topic: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)  (Read 24730 times)

nullzero

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #25 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.)



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).
Grow mainly fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Zambezi

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #26 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...

Recher

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #27 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 :)
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Ansarac

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #28 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.

stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #29 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:(
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

barath

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #30 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!

siafu

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #31 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...
Sérgio Duarte
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barath

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #32 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?

stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #33 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:)
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

snowjunky

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #34 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!


stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #35 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 :)
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #36 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 :)
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

shaneatwell

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #37 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.)



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.
Shane

snowjunky

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #38 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.

EvilFruit

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #39 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.
Moh'd

SocalTropics

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #40 on: May 03, 2017, 10:32:12 PM »
Any updates on your Marulas including how long it took to flower?

stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #41 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.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

shafak

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #42 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? 




Daintree

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #43 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


shafak

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #44 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



stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #45 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


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.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #46 on: July 03, 2018, 01:23:46 PM »
This one is about 5 years old from seed


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:)
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

snowjunky

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #47 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.

stuartdaly88

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #48 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 :)
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

00christian00

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Re: Germinating Marula Seeds (Sclerocarya birrea)
« Reply #49 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?