This is the result of my first attempt at germination. I took the rather simple approach of eating a date and putting the seed into a pot in my polytunnel. Two weeks later the first shoot had appeared. This has been a strong grower and I can understand the appeal from a nursery point of view, not just from the commercial, crop point of view, but as an easy plant to germinate and get some size in a short period for profitable resale. This plant was from a "Medjool" date seed, but unfortunately they are not true to seed, all "Medjool" dates coming from a clone of the original plant. At less than a year old from seed this plant is already a healthy 600mm/2' tall seedling with mature, pinnate leaves. Based on the current growth rate, I expect to keep it in my polytunnel for another year, before moving it outside in spring/summer 2008.