Germinate Terminalia Catappa Seeds - Indian Almond
by Pirranha in Living > Gardening
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Germinate Terminalia Catappa Seeds - Indian Almond
![2018-04-20 16.25.02.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F34/ANPN/JG74WA37/F34ANPNJG74WA37.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 16.25.02.jpg)
I thought I would share my progression growing Indian Almond seeds in a climate colder than they normally grow in.
This picture is what I started with.
If you have a one, you will notice one end has a round flat spot that was attached to the tree. That appears to be the end the seed will sprout from so I left that end alone and worked from the end with a sharper point.
Tools I used -
A sharp knife to cut away the outer husk
Something to put pressure on the shell, a vice would be good, I didnt have one available so used some channel lock pliers.
A small flat screwdriver - To pop open the shell without damaging the seed inside.
Cut Away Extra Husk Around Shell
![2018-04-20 16.27.03.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGY/KFBJ/JG74WACG/FGYKFBJJG74WACG.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 16.27.03.jpg)
I was cutting everything away I could for the first few and decided it was unnecessary.
I started only shaving half down as shown to the hard shell inside.
Put Some Pressure On
![2018-04-20 16.28.06.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FEM/8X7L/JG74WAS8/FEM8X7LJG74WAS8.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 16.28.06.jpg)
This is where something for slow even pressure would have been nice like a vice.
I used my pliers to squeeze from the edges, not from the flat sides, until I could see the seam of the shell starting to come apart.
Gently Pry
![2018-04-20 16.40.42.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVX/B305/JG74WBM3/FVXB305JG74WBM3.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 16.40.42.jpg)
![2018-04-20 16.28.54.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1M/SM6T/JG74WAZJ/F1MSM6TJG74WAZJ.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 16.28.54.jpg)
I found my screwdriver was not small enough here to start in the crack so used a knife to start carefully, I didnt want the thin knife blade to snap.Then squeeze a little more to open the seam up and get the screwdriver in a bit, without damaging the seed in the middle, then pry the shell open very easily.
Finally the Prize
![2018-04-20 16.24.05.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F13/JUSI/JG74WA1D/F13JUSIJG74WA1D.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 16.24.05.jpg)
![2018-04-20 18.12.07.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBJ/58DD/JG74WIW6/FBJ58DDJG74WIW6.jpg&filename=2018-04-20 18.12.07.jpg)
You can see the thick shell in this picture and the meat in the middle.
I popped this out easily and rinsed it off as shown in the last picture.
From here I have placed them in a ziploc bag with damp paper towel and placed at room temperature which is about 70 degrees, or a little warmer if you can find a spot.
Now to Plant
![2018-05-04 15.54.22.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FKA/FQCP/JGSG61O8/FKAFQCPJGSG61O8.jpg&filename=2018-05-04 15.54.22.jpg)
Everyone has germinated!
These took 2 weeks exactly and have long roots already.