Question
QUESTION: Tom,  I know nothing about gardening but I have some fruit from the bismarck palm.  I hear that you can germinate the seeds and then plant them.  I don't know what that means.  I read a note you had answered that I peel back the fruit, take the pulp out and put the seeds in warm water for a few days.  What am I looking for in order to go to the next steps and what are the next steps?  I'm not experienced in gardening having lived in a city all my life; now have home in FL, so be gentle.  Tx for any help you can provide.

ANSWER: Hi Debra,
Thanx for your question.  I love gardening so, the last thing I want to do is come across as intimidating or elitist.  Once you get started growing things, it's like most anything else.  It gets easier with experience.  You just need a little patience and a little gumption to get things going.  As you  described, the first thing one does is remove the pulp from the seed and then soak the seed for a few days in clean, lukewarm water.  Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep.  Keep the pot in a warm environment. Seeds should begin sprouting in 2-3 weeks, sometimes longer but they're fairly easy to sprout.  They will have long, thick, brittle, white roots.  Be careful not to break the roots.  Once they germinate they are rather slow-growing.  As soon as you can get them outdoors, the better.  So, once you get them started in individual pots, wait until they are large enough to handle and then you can plant them where they will get at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.  I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK, Tom, it's been a while but I am now ready.  I have two bulbs or whatever they are called from a Bismarck.  I have peeled the outer layer and now I have a very hard pit.  Am I supposed to break open the pit and remove contents sorting the pulp from the seeds OR is this big hard thing the seed that I germinate.  I have tried to break open this big hard thing with a hammer and it is not opening so I thought I would check back to refine the process.  tx for any additional clarifications.  Debra

Answer
Hi Debra,
Thanx for the followup.  After you have removed all of the fruit/pulp from the hard pit, wash the seed thoroughly and then allow it to dry out.  Next, plant the seeds as described in my previous post.  You do not have to break anything open.  I hope this helps.
Tom