Please Help Me Find FRESH Katuk Seeds

[agroventuresperu]

I'm looking for fresh Katuk seeds. I was gifted about three white Katuk fruits from ECHO last year, and obtained about 6 seeds total. I planted them three weeks after they were harvested (keeping them within their fruit until just before planting time), and one of them actually germinated successfully. It has become a decent-sized bush in a year, and I have already taken cuttings from it. The bush has been flowering profusely since it was about 3 months old, but it has never produced a single fruit, so I'm guessing they require cross-pollination with another genetically-distinct individual.

I was strongly cautioned NOT to grow the plant from seeds while at ECHO, but apparently success is possible with very fresh seed. I'd be interested in some seeds next month ( late September) if anyone can time some fruiting for then.

[D-Grower]

I don't understand why everyone thinks growing katuk from seeds is a bad idea. They certainly will sprout but in my experience can take 6 plus months to germinate even when fresh. I don't often get seedsthis far north and propagate by cuttings usually. I did discover that the compound leaf will root and produce a plant as well though its a slow process too.

[agroventuresperu]

6 months to germinate! I'd just assume bad seed by that time. The seed that I got to germinate germinated in about 2 or 3 weeks.

[khachaturian]

so I'm guessing they require cross-pollination with another genetically-distinct individual

I've got 3 plants, grown from cuttings from the same mother plant, and they give me the occasional fruit.

[endemic2earth]

Just get more seed and be patient during the germination process. The seed does not need to be fresh; katuk seed can be dried like common vegetable seed (squash, beans, lettuce, etc.), stored, and germinate just fine.

[agroventuresperu]

OK thanks. That's encouraging.