Seed Germination
I started soaking five seeds on 8/8/02. First I scarified each seed by holding it in pliers and sawing through the seed coat with a fine-toothed X-acto saw until I could see the cream-colored flesh inside; then I enlarged the cut with a triangular file. I changed the water twice daily and kept the seeds in my (very warm!) greenhouse. After about 48 hours, I noticed that the seeds looked lumpy, which I attributed to water absorption. In about 72 hours, I noticed a crack in one seed, at the end opposite the "nipple," and twelve hours later, discovered a stout green shoot emerging from this crack.
(Photo on the left) The seed to the right shows the scarifying mark.
(Photo on the left) Another view of the same germinating seed as above.
The three photos on the right show the unfolding of the initial shoot during the next eight hours or so. The pair of seeds at the bottom were the next ones to germinate. At this stage, I decided to plant them.
