What's this plant?: SOLVED: Is this Catalpa Seed Pod

Replies: 11 Views: 92

Author	Comment
Sami Corapeake, NC (Zone 6b) November 19, 2009 03:44 PM	This pod is on one of my neighbors trees. I opened up the pod and these are the seeds in them. I was wondering if this is the Catlpa tree seeds. I had some seeds sent to me one time but they were not as big as this. The tree is full of these pods right now. Are they ready to plant? I would like to try to plant some of these. I am not sure how to plant them. I tried before but didnt get any results. Sami View Larger
Sami Corapeake, NC (Zone 6b) November 19, 2009 03:46 PM	Here is another picture of the size of the seed View Larger
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 19, 2009 04:51 PM	Hi Sami. I think this link may be of help to you. Those certainly look like Catalpa seed pods. http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/plantguides/trees/plantgu...
Carolyn_Roberts Ladson, SC November 19, 2009 07:09 PM	It sure is. I have four of them in my backyard. My father was the great fisherman and used the Catalpa worms. Which by the way have to be ordered for the first time and put on the tree. After that they come back every year. I was a scared lil girl 14 yrs ago when I baited my first hook with one. Biggest bass and catfish I ever caught were on those darn worms. Bless his heart. Some of my best memories.
Carolyn_Roberts Ladson, SC November 19, 2009 07:11 PM	The seed pods are also refered to as indian cigars. They used to smoke them. I tried it at about 18. They were pretty harsh and nasty, but boy my brothers sure liked them.
Sami Corapeake, NC (Zone 6b) November 19, 2009 08:16 PM	Thanks for the info and I will try and plant these and see if I can have some luck with them. I tried before but could not get them to germinate. Sami
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 19, 2009 08:26 PM	Too welcome sami...good luck. Moon
Carolyn_Roberts Ladson, SC November 20, 2009 08:41 PM	Plant them about 1/2 inch under a mixture of humus. They never grew for me planted! I always had to wait for them to drop and I put a handful of old leaves before breakdown and a handful of humus on them and had to leave them in a pot outside. I could never get them to intentionally germinate. I had to make them think I was mother nature. LOL
Sami Corapeake, NC (Zone 6b) November 21, 2009 02:21 AM	Carolyn do you mean you had to wait for the pod to drop. Do you mean you put the pod in the pod and cover it it with soil. I am sorry just never have tried to get this going except one time when Tammy sent me some seeds but had no luck with them germinating. Sami
Carolyn_Roberts Ladson, SC November 21, 2009 01:25 PM	I waited for the pod to split open. How many are you trying to germinate? After it splits open you have to fool it. I could be wrong but it should not sprout until the spring. I do them in a pot This way if it starts to germinate the soil is not moist enough to freeze the seedling.
Sami Corapeake, NC (Zone 6b) November 22, 2009 12:54 AM	Carolyn I am not sure how many I will try to germinat. I will go get some more pods and will wait until they open up by themselves. Tammy is going to send me a tree already to plant but would like to try and get some started too I dont have any shade here and we have almost 2 acres and it is very hot in the summer. Sami
Carolyn_Roberts Ladson, SC November 22, 2009 02:44 AM	Let me know through a D mail if You need anymore I can probably get you about 7 to 10 yearlings or better. Remember if you have a fishing hole out there they are awsome...... I will even send you some worms next spring if you remind me. Like I said The first batch has to be trasplanted to the tree. After that they come back.