Yerba Mate germination

[polux]

Finally its clear that both of my female Ilex paraguariensis plants have fruits. From last year experience, when I got only 1 fruit which I lost after storm (or bird prey? dont know..) I expect that they will be ripe at the end of august. What is your advice for succesfull germination? Only very few direct reports are acessible online and they use very different methods. I dont want to waste so precious seed material... Thanks

[polux]

No any experience? Some reports recommend warm stratification....

[fruitlovers]

Don't think the seeds need any special treatment. They just need to be very fresh to sprout. So would skip stratification.
Also wondering how you can get fruit when you have 2 female plants?
BTW, you can also easily propagate from air layers. Cuttings also work with rooting hormone.

[polux]

I have 2 females but 1 male so no problem with pollination. Im curious what will be the sex ratio if I will get some seedlings. I need more males because  they are more problematic with speed of growth than females.