This is the first set of seeds we are trying to grow. Washingtonia Robusta are the fastest growing of the four sets we have, they are also a big part of the skyline in Florida & California. The common name for this tree is Mexican Cotton Palm.

They are also called "Sky dusters." for obvious reasons!

Below is what the seeds look like on 10-07-03

(three weeks after sprinkling on some moist starting soil)

The three red circles  are starting to sprout, and we'll just have to see about the three others.

There was one false alarm, but two have taken quite well and earned themselves a new home in bigger pots. The others will just have to wait! Watch this space! The two that are being planted will now be placed about 1cm down in pots big enough to allow growth as they root fast.

Sunday July 27th and the sprouts are beginning to spring up. One so far, but four are in pots and the others are just getting going... (see below)

Four up and two still slowly making progress. Aug 3, 2003 just short of a month.

We have a new photo of the "little dusters" below, they are coming on strong now!

Here we are, August 9, 2003 and there are now five!

Here they are at just over a month and a half old, coming right along... the sixth seed never made it, but the others are doing well!

They have been sitting patiently in our kitchen window, and since we have a nice Southern facing view, we get some really intense sunlight. Even though it's a bit cold outside, the sun has been helping these trees to no end!

Here they are (above) getting that lovely morning February sun!

Here we are into November... and this is the bigger of the trees. We are very impressed with it's progress (nearly nineteen inches to from dirt to top the top leaf!) We'll keep you updated as it grows to sizes beyond that of our expectation. Hopefully it will be able to stand outside next winter as it will be too big for our house anyway.

This is him above in a bigger pot hoping for more rapid growth. Here's to hoping!

Well here we are in May, and it's time for our Robusta seedlings/juniors to grow outside. They have been gradually introduced to the weather, but in the UK it is hard to be sure that Mother Nature will be kind to young plants. So it will be moved under cover when needed, and brought out to enjoy the sun.

Below are three others that sit on top of our soil shed, under the patio roof for that greenhouse effect!

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