Freshly collected seed loses around 50% of its moisture in the first three days. It has also been found that germination rate decreases with the loss of moisture, and therefore seeds are planted as soon as possible after collection. If planting is not possible straight away, they are placed in a tin of charcoal to help retain moisture levels. Seeds are planted after being raised in special germination beds, around 90cm wide, with spaces between to allow room for walking. They must be planted horizontally to avoid twisted shoots, and generally in numbers ranging from 5-9 seeds allowing for some.
