Author Topic: Growing sugar apple from seed  (Read 2581 times)

gnappi

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Growing sugar apple from seed
« on: August 05, 2020, 01:51:12 AM »
I've tried to grow sugar apples from seed without success. Do the seeds need to be scarified before they will sprout?


Regards,

   Gary

SeaWalnut

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2020, 02:26:21 AM »
They need to be fresh and soaked in water 24 hours first.
If you get them from Ebay ,you will mostly get old seeds.
From 5 orders from ebay ,from different sellers,i managed to get a single seedling.
It worths trying because they fruit fast,in a year and a half ,from seed,in ideal conditions.

achetadomestica

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2020, 08:01:20 AM »
I got 10 big red seeds and was told to put them between damp papertowels
in a baggie.
Within 10 days all 10 germinated and within 2 weeks all 10 sprouted.
I then tried to do Thai Lessard seeds and it took a month to get 10
seeds to germinate and sprout.
I thought this is easy but then I started having mixed results on others?
I have never figured out why. I got some Vietnamese Na Dai that sprouted
6 months later after Winter but I only had 3 out of 20 seeds germinate and sprout.
I have a different Na Dai seed that is from last year and they are still
viable and germinating easy now.  I had 4 Pouteria hypoglauca seeds for around
10 months in damp vermiculite that would not germinate and I scarified them
and so far 2 have germinated. That seeds coat was thick I would be inclined to
try scarifying any annona seeds that don't germinate in the future. If you use
papertowels change them often to avoid mold. I recently got some cherimoya
seeds and I put them in damp vermiculite and 3 have germinated so far.




« Last Edit: August 05, 2020, 09:25:45 AM by achetadomestica »

nana7b

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2020, 08:11:11 AM »
My results have been mixed as well.

I have noticed that they seem to germinate better outside in the shade.

Also, a lot of rain seems to help.

I recently threw a bunch of 2 yr old big red seeds and only one sprouted after 2 months or so.

Kevin Jones

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2020, 09:24:51 AM »
Get your seeds from a trustworthy seller like achetadomestica... use the damp paper towel technique:
Seeds wrapped in a  damp paper towel... placed into a ziplock bag.... left in a shady warm area.
You should soon have EZ Sugar Apple sprouts!
My Na Dai seeds from achetadomestica sprouted easily in a little over a week.

Kevin Jones


Ant21

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2020, 10:57:14 AM »
I bought 30 red sugar apple seeds from ebay and 25 of them has sprouted so far. They did take a long time to germinate about 4-6 weeks and I see another 3 barely coming out of the soil. Once germinated they do grow fast..

Kevin Jones

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2020, 11:49:31 AM »
I have to admit when they are inexpensive enough... I will take a chance on (Mystery) Sugar Apple seed on ebay.
Low cost and low risk I guess!

Kevin Jones


RodneyS

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2020, 01:16:10 PM »
Soak seeds until they sink, then plant

Francis_Eric

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2020, 03:53:56 PM »
Step #1 for 10 to 50 seeds
 Take a zip lock bag gallon size or Bigger.
(soaking optional preferable for a night or two t in Warm water)

#2 using only a handful of soil so the bag is a quarter full fill
Close with air inside so Humidity can build up inside (or just tie a grocery bag with a knot "PUFFED UP WITH AIR INSIDE)

If you have Knats They will eat the seeds Their Larva (rot maggots )
You can take that Grocery bag, and place it inside a (WHITE ) Large Garbage bag
(cool Climate weather permiting Black to build up heat (do not bake seeds)

Very Important do not use wet SOIL dilute with dry soil
 should be like oreo cookie crumbs (for pie) slightly misted with water or a couple table spoons h2o


use peat moss ( optional or a soil mix --->(sterile) <--(IN your controlled environment Organisms can breed)

 just nothing un broken down like homemade compost at this stage with living mulch or green mulch
(  vermiculite "composted pine bark", or a soil mix should be fine
be aware sand (in Florida ) could contain traces of salt wash)



they are recalcitrant seeds are kept wet while stored to sprout
 not Orthodox seeds which are dried like Pumpkin seeds   tomato, or ,grape, apple, rose, tamarind mango etc.
, but do not agree with all the literature online As personal experience
As a matter of fact just today I went out side in a dry part of the yard ,
and a pawpaw (annonaceae)   was growing through  thick clay, and it has been a drought.
I've seen Cherimoya seeds dry a bit
but do not keep enough track to know how long they have been
 with multiple seeds just mostly for fun.




WilliamTheYoungGrower

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2020, 04:10:06 PM »
I got 10 big red seeds and was told to put them between damp papertowels
in a baggie.
Within 10 days all 10 germinated and within 2 weeks all 10 sprouted.
I then tried to do Thai Lessard seeds and it took a month to get 10
seeds to germinate and sprout.
I thought this is easy but then I started having mixed results on others?
I have never figured out why. I got some Vietnamese Na Dai that sprouted
6 months later after Winter but I only had 3 out of 20 seeds germinate and sprout.
I have a different Na Dai seed that is from last year and they are still
viable and germinating easy now.  I had 4 Pouteria hypoglauca seeds for around

10 months in damp vermiculite that would not germinate and I scarified them
and so far 2 have germinated. That seeds coat was thick I would be inclined to
try scarifying any annona seeds that don't germinate in the future. If you use
papertowels change them often to avoid mold. I recently got some cherimoya
seeds and I put them in damp vermiculite and 3 have germinated so far.






Hey achetadomestica,

Do you sell your seeds? Im interested in some of those varieties.
 
,William

Francis_Eric

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2020, 04:55:04 PM »
I MAde mistake I meant Pelite (not vermiculite , but can be used just air flow is good.)

Note you can use good smelling out door soil (which I'm not against)
just make sure there are no green sticks

This can cause Rotten egg smell (hydrogen Sulfite )
When a problem happens  in vinting  wine (making)  copper is used for it.

What a pain , and a lot or time, and money wasted for nothing if this happens on a large scale

Just be warned , but OUT DOOR SOIL can be very good with the )good) microorganism
In a closed high humidity greenhouse like condition
you can screen this (green Mulch/sticks) out from screen mesh from the hardware store.

Also Do be aware of store bought  Sterile Peat moss in a bag out side (by you)
 where it can ferment in the bag, and cause rotten egg smell.

Tommyng

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2020, 10:04:33 PM »
I just throw them in my garden beds and they sprout. Gary, if you need some sugar apple seedlings come on up.
Don’t rush, take time and enjoy life and food.

Francis_Eric

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2020, 12:17:32 AM »
I made it sound harder than it is
just a couple inches of soil (peat moss) in a gallon bag blow up with air inside seal.
you should see condensation water droplets on the side of the bag in a day or so.
(but so not over water seeds will rot)(


Tommyng That can always work in rich soil good offer of  you.
 I've been having problems with squirrels eating my persimmon seeds , and others (maybe coat cayenne pepper next time)
like Osage Orange for Che rootstock (I want to try grafting onto like others che's  are good tasting)

Glad you actualy posted this stayed awake , and went through seeds I have
Looks Like I got Cornelian Cherry (A dog wood species that mice didn't get into in a broken storage container)
I hope they grow
 (also checked my Gingko biloba sprouts wish I gathered more seed sprouts (ratio) looks Okay though.

If you think About it in the woods (edit) leaves fall break down,
and seeds stay under them building up humidity like a blanket.
Or just look at a compost bin it's warmer then the other soil.

since I do not have room inside for a big tree  For fun I've grown a Mango in a thick dog food bag opened
It grew thick , and fast.

the older ones in full sun with weeks head start barely grew even in time months they didn't out compete the one in humidity.
(edit )Keeping seeds sprouting IN a sealed Bag after leaves form for a while can cause mold this is for getting the roots to form.
(For Pawpaw (a Annonaceae likes acidic soil I like pine bark compost  found in stores.)


« Last Edit: August 06, 2020, 12:46:27 AM by Francis_Eric »

W.

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2020, 12:03:16 AM »
It seems that different people have had different experiences with germinating sugar apples.

When I was new to growing tropical fruits a couple of years ago, I bought 25 red sugar apple seeds from a seller on eBay (a good seller located down in Homestead, not a Chinese scammer selling who knows what). I did not scarify them. I planted them in a covered seed starting tray using Miracle-Gro seed starting mix after soaking them in water for 24 hours. I kept the Miracle-Gro moist using a spray bottle to prevent overwatering. I did not have a heating mat, so I kept them near (but not on) a radiator for warmth (I was germinating them in winter).

Using those methods, I, someone who had never grown any Annonas before (excluding pawpaws, which are Annonaceae but in the genus Asimina), had excellent success. I believe I had 22 or 23 out of 28 seeds germinate plus the seller sent five regular sugar apple seeds, all of which germinated. They did so quite quickly, within a few weeks.

I would not try that method on any Annonas known to be difficult to germinate such as ilama, but sugar apples seem to be fairly easy to germinate. I do not think there is much reason to overthink their germination.

SeaWalnut

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2020, 12:26:11 AM »
Ive ordered sugar apple seeds from ebay, from USA sellers,Spain,Portugal,Germany ,India and i got a lot of seeds from Sri Lanka.
None germinated except one seed that was from a seller from... Hungary .
I always carefully select the seller to avoid scammers like the ones that sell rainbow colored roses  ;D.

gnappi

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #15 on: August 07, 2020, 01:34:32 AM »
I've put them in damp paper towel for varying length of times, left tree drops in the mulch under the trees and not one has sprouted. Now I have a Kampong Mauve that produced a dozen fruits and I'm trying once again with all the methods above except scarring the seed which I'm going to try.

The Kampong fruits are larger (despite the tree being somewhat compact) than my sugar apples, have a higher fruit meat to seed ratio and they're more juicy and sweeter than either of my custard apples or two sugar apple trees. If I can get them sprouted I have a number of friends who want seedlings.

Regards,

   Gary

Francis_Eric

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #16 on: August 07, 2020, 06:19:05 AM »
Do not feel bad if they didn't work in papper towels
I see a lot of people like it, but I never have succuess with it (maybe once just once)
think of a micro organism , or even as wine making
if the PH is low it protects the wine from bad organisms.

even if sanitized they always dry out, and I forget , or get funky even if I used bleach to clean seed
Speaking of which the other day I opened a cooler out side to protect from rodents , and
All  the Pawpaw seeds where sprouted in a plastic grocery bag nothing else
with water inside (which must a leaked in from something else) 

May as well try to post a picture It's a new brand of computer (HP) so haven't figured it out
here is a site that explains couldn't figure it out..

(I forgot this part (also I do not use a pot for large seeds just ,  pluck them out. (flood it or not if needed)
Large scale you can use steel mesh from hardware store , and a aquarium (like a terrarium )
I can get 500 pawpaws sprouted,  and more seeds inside (in a 10 gallon aquarium)
(I know less soil though , and the better faster they sprout ,
 but only have so many aquariums (or space for them)
(note for that I use a cardboard lid snuggly  wrapped in a garbage bag so humidity doesn't escape)
(HARDWARE STORE also has Styrofoam in sheets cardboard thickness
 I tried looking for you online (and back yard for name (rubbed off),
but I usually find it free anyways in the garbage.) no promises ,
 but I can try to report back on name need to go there anyways,
but personally wouldn't buy unless super cheap since a bag wrapped in cardboard works fine
(just aesthetics  ) maybe it's foam cardboard insulation (cardboard thickness)

Note at least for pawpaw seeds When I left 100 in 2 different aquariums for over a year.
after the winter , and into the summer I just flooded (or the rain did ),
and found just pluck them out .
Set in shoe box over winter in basement
(and some outside when get around to it..)
No worries about log tap roots (like what's said online growing about pawpaw  being complicated )
 even the roots where all bent growing sideways. maybe will try with oak (got a 130 year burr Oak.)

Back to I forgot copied from side with images
and with small seeds I'd use a pot in the bag
do not forget if it's just seeds you do not care about (rootstock)
even just placing soil in a grocery bag,
and placing that in a garbage bag puffed up with a bread tie. works well.

Once your seedlings germinate they can stay in the bag for a few weeks, but you should open the bags and let the pots "breath" and dry out a little so that the plants become accustomed to normal air humidity.

https://www.hardyplants.com/seed_starting_.html


Francis_Eric

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #17 on: August 07, 2020, 06:47:17 AM »
I forgot to add for  if you have a (Salix) willow tree around (making willow water doesn't hurt)
  for making a Rooting hormone just fill a bucket add willow sticks ,and let soak for 3 days.

I tried the leaves , and mold grew, on top leaves
 next time will tie down  with a rock in (chesse) cloth/ sock or something for leaves.
(edit) Popular tree's (Salicaceae)  will work
(so will  alder/birch (Betulaceae  I believe (but not a Salicaceae, but contain Salicin)
https://pfaf.org/user/otheruses.aspx
I Did   search the site for salicin too only (don't waste your time all willows , and poplars)
one other was black haw /nanny berries (which taste like hackberry) a Viburnum species has it listed there.)

willow Bark is also used for aspirin at a time may try plain aspirin one day for seeds/cuttings. 
which contains (aspirin) salicin converts into aspirin in the body.
not for you, (but this is a forum)
I didn't forget but Also Large scale
(in aquarium placing dry sand on top helps with root maggots
Diatamonous earth (spelling ) helps with root maggots too just ground up fossilized  sea shells
(do not breath (place shirt over face  can cause very bad lung damage quickly 
From personal experience it feels like a sharp pain for a day straight.
(not me someone (friend landlord) placed on  a bed I slept in it hurts
day 2 of sleeping in it (WI.) Girlfriend at time (edit visited) made me buy bed cover
I didn't know I thought it was baby powder tasted sweet said she was over reacting)

Just adding that Because I know people do not take that stuff serious
( google Pneumoconiosis interstitial fibrosis)
that stuff can kill , place shirt over face ,
 and do not use directly  on bed for fleas roaches or what ever.

MODIFYING
(edit)(Long ago I learned the willow water idea  from a now deleted yahoo group
 maybe able to find good stuff at Organic Homesteading, and Gardening OHG
ran by backwater Jon of KY.
and for the aquarium Idea used for cutting have to give credit to Mike Mcgroarty newsletter
instead for cuttings He made scotched tape stripes half clear half tape to block light.)
(edit Link Below if anyone is interested no need wasting time looking., )
been doing that way for over 10 years (not the cutting seeds)
(and just looked online not easy to find anymore I could forward it on a email if anyone wants from him)
Never mind found in email (but for cutting with sand is what I thought he used  )
 http://www.freeplants.com/homemade-plant-propagation.htm


Oh, I read the link and I have baked soil in a Oven not a microwave like site says
but it was a large amount & had root maggots  flies larva troubles )
(and I wouldn't do it again probably )
( but I have used good fresh forest dirt with a lot of beneficial bacteria too
under a pine tree I for paw paws is good (in my experience ) (oak leaf compost too.)

(sorry for late Modifying of message wanted it all in  one place, so people didn't have to browse around)
Note for small seeds I'd be opening the bag, and placing a Fan on them every night
Do not want to to get leggy Tall, and skinny , and fall over
(I've weighed seeds down with weights rubber bands to stress them it works (somewhat)
I've read a lot of plants grow right before the sun goes up.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2020, 10:35:41 AM by Francis_Eric »

Mike T

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2020, 11:41:30 AM »
You know the old wive's tale that floating Annona seeds don't germinate - well they often do. Not quite at the rate of sinking seeds however. They ar usually easy just to plant and grow unless they are really old. In a ziplock with lightly moistened sterile media in a warm spot gives good results. If you want to throw off the shackles and use GA3 stick to around 300ppm to 50ppm and just a few hours is enough.

kh0110

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Re: Growing sugar apple from seed
« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2020, 01:33:48 PM »
This works for me all the time and fast, even for the bigger seeds like those of A. Salzmannii.
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=40410.msg397677#msg397677
Thera