Question
my bismarkia has just started flowering.when do you harvest the seeds & the procedure you follow when trying to grow them ,also the time of the year for planting. I live in a subtropical climate. Thanks Don.

Answer
Hi Don,
Thanx for your question.  Bismarckia usually start flowering in the spring.  If there are no other Bismarckias in your neighborhood, you will not get viable seed and you will have to buy the seeds.  After the palm has set fruit allow the fruit to become overly ripe.  Clean off all of the pulp as the pulp can inhibit germination.  I have previously answered this question several times however, I don't think I addressed the issue of when the seed is ripe, so I pulled a previous answer from the archives by using the Search engine for this site.  Here's you answer.

You can start the seeds any time but use a deep pot.  I would first soak the seeds for 5 days, changing the water should it become fouled.  Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep.  Keep the pot in a warm environment. If you can bottom heat, that's even better.  Seeds should begin sprouting in 2-3 weeks, sometimes longer but they're fairly easy to sprout.  They will have long, thick, brittle, white roots.  Be careful not to break the roots.  Once they germinate they are rather slow-growing.  The sooner you can get them outdoors, the better.  They are only hardy to the warmer parts of Zone 9 and in the U.S. primarily grow in Florida from Orlando South, very South Texas, possibly the Phoenix area and coastal California to San Francisco.  In Australia, they will be hardy in all of your frost-free areas or areas where frost periods are short-lived and very infrequent.  Use, potting soil mixed with peat, sand and perlite.  If your climate is warm, they can be started outdoors.  If not, start them indoors underneath 40-watt shop lights.  When moving them outdoors, they should be placed in the shade for 10 days to harden off.  After that, they'll need direct sunlight.  I hope this helps.
Tom