Description
Kapok Tree Seeds
This is an heirloom kapok tree variety. Buy Once and Build Your Own Seed Bank
About this variety
A seed with a story
A massive tropical tree famous for the silky fiber (Kapok) found in its seed pods, used for pillows and life jackets.
An important commercial crop in districts like Salem and Madurai, supporting local cottage industries.
Sowing Calendar
When to plant — year at a glance
For Tamil Nadu and most of South India. Highlighted months show the ideal sowing window for this variety. Adjust slightly for your microclimate.
Best Sowing Window: June-July
Grower’s Quick Reference
Everything in one glance
Sun
Full Sun6+ hours of full sun
Water
moderateWater regularly during establishment, drought tolerant later.
Sowing Depth
1cmFor Ficus, mix with sand and surface sow.
Spacing
7m x 7m—
Germination Time
15-3025-35°C
Soil
well drained soil—
Seed Treatment Method
Prepare your seeds the traditional way
A simple ritual handed down through generations — gentle treatment that improves germination and protects young seedlings naturally.
Soak seeds in water for 24 hours.
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How To Sow
From seed to seedling
Prepare a nursery bed or polybags with a mix of soil and manure.
Nursery or direct sow.
Keep moist.
Wait for germination.
Tending the Plant
Care through the season
Water young saplings frequently.
Apply organic manure once a year.
Monitor for leaf-eating caterpillars.
Sustainable harvest of leaves, fruit, or timber after maturity.
Companion Planting
Plants that love this neighbour
Old wisdom and modern observation agree — these companions help your plant thrive, while a few are best kept apart.
Plant alongside
Save Your Own Seeds
One pack. A lifetime of harvests.
Because this is an open-pollinated heirloom — not a hybrid — every plant you grow can become next season’s seed source. Here’s how to keep the lineage alive.
Collect ripe fruits from healthy trees.
Wait for the fruit to ripen naturally on the tree.
Remove pulp, clean seeds, and dry in shade.
Store in a cool, dry place.
The truest gift of an heirloom seed is the seed it gives back. Save a few each season, share a few with neighbours — and you become part of a chain of gardeners stretching back generations. — From the Manvasanai farm journal
More Details
Everything else you may want to know
Seed specifications
- Plant name: Kapok Tree
- Tamil name: Ilavam Panju / Silk Cotton
- Scientific name: Ceiba pentandra
- Variety: Native
- Germination rate: 70-80% (lab-tested)
- Pack size / Quantity: 20 seeds (approx. 20 seeds)
- Seed life when stored properly: 1 year
- Type: Open-pollinated · Heirloom · Non-GMO
Sowing & growing summary
- Best sowing time: June-July
- Sowing depth: 1cm
- Spacing: 7m x 7m
- Germination: 15-30 25-35°C
- Days to harvest: 10-20 Years days from sowing
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: moderate
- Soil: well drained soil, pH 6.0-7.5
How we grow & harvest these seeds
Storage & shelf life
Common growing challenges
- Poor germination? Most often a result of cold soil, irregular watering, or seeds buried too deep. Soak before sowing, sow at the recommended depth, and keep soil consistently moist.
- Yellowing leaves? Usually a sign of waterlogging or nitrogen deficiency. Improve drainage and apply a compost tea drench.
- Pest attacks? Switch to weekly preventive sprays of neem oil + diluted soap solution. Encourage ladybugs and birds in your garden.
- No flowering? Often too much shade or excess nitrogen. Move to fuller sun and reduce nitrogen-heavy feeds.
Aayush Chauhan (verified owner) –
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