[Sca-cooks] Planting Period Spices from Seed

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/10/01 2:32:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jugglethis at yahoo.com writes:

<< galingale, etc) >>

Galingal is the dried root of a species of ginger. It will not germinate
under any conditions. If you can get your hands on fresh, unfrozen galengal
root then that shouyld grow fine. I currently have 6 pots of white ginger
grown from fresh gingerroot.

Treated seeds must say somewhere on the label that they have been so treated.
The use of such (if it does occur) is limited to biogenetic varieties. Most
certainly spices do not come under that umbrella. Certain spices such as the
various peppercorns will not germinate since they are fermented immature
seedpods. Cloves are dried flower buds. Cinnamon sticks are bark. Some spices
are heat treated and/or fermented to make them usable rendering them
incapable of germination.

I see no reason why grains of paradise/cubeb berries would not germinate. Why
not try a few and see? One long pepper pod would provide dozens of seeds.
Since they are tropical plants  by nature I would suggest waiting up to 12
weeks  before giving up on waiting for them to germinate. Soaking overnight
in warm water before planting may help.

Ras