I was visiting Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania maybe 15 years ago or so and swiped some osage oranges that had fallen on the ground. I stratified the
seeds in my refigerator and then planted the sprouted
seeds in pots in the
spring.
I got maybe a dozen or so little
trees. Some of them dried out, but I gave some away and planted a couple. Then when I moved to Floyd County, VA, I dug them up and transplanted them. Unfortunately, they didn't make it through the first winter. I guess it was because I moved a
zone further north and they weren't acclimated to the colder temperatures. Anyway, I got some
seeds from one of the friends I had given a
tree to, went through another round of stratification, and now have a couple young
growing trees again.
I didn't know about eating the
seeds, but I've made orange marmalade from the peels and what little pulp there is inside the fruits.
Your right about the home security. They have HUGE thorns. I've considered planting a hedge of them around the edge of my property to help deter the deer.