Acorn Planting Techniques: Can Acorn Fruits Be Grown from Seed?
Summary Seed collection: the fruits fall after ripening; pick them up and place them in a cool place, then wait until spring to sow. Sowing: sowing can be done in spring, autumn or winter, with the highest germination rate in spring; soak the seeds in warm water before sowing. Spacing: row spacing is generally about 20 cm, with seed spacing in between of about 10 cm, sowing about 100-200 kg per mu. Growth: seedlings emerge in about 1 month; once they grow to 40 to 60 cm they need to be transplanted, and later pruning must also be done in good time.
There are many kinds of oak trees, with several dozen or more in our country; this tree is usually fairly tough by nature and is not very demanding about its growing environment, so it is planted in many places. Because it is a wild tree species, oak trees do not need dedicated care, and they can survive even in fairly harsh environments, so the planting techniques for acorns are much the same as for ordinary tree species and do not require very meticulous tending. Let us learn about acorn planting techniques together below.
Acorn Planting Techniques
1. Seed collection
Oak trees generally reproduce by sowing; the flowering period is in May, and the fruits ripen in September and October. When they ripen, the fruits fall to the ground naturally, so the seeds all have to be found on the ground. The germination rate of this kind of seed is fairly high. After picking the seeds up, they need to be placed in a cool place, not in direct sunlight, and stored in slightly moist sandy soil; the seeds are then sown in spring.
2. Sowing
Oak tree seeds are not very demanding about climate, and sowing is generally possible in spring, autumn and winter, but areas with severe frost need to take care. The germination period will be in the spring of the following year, but usually, if sown in spring, the germination rate will still be somewhat higher than usual. However, when sowing, it should not be done too early, as this will cause the seeds to go mouldy and affect their germination rate. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water, ten minutes is enough, then use the drill sowing method, with row spacing generally about 20 cm, seed spacing in between of about 10 cm, and about 100-200 kg of seed sown per mu. When sowing, note that placing the seeds horizontally is most suitable, as this helps emergence, then cover with 3 cm of soil; mushroom soil can also be considered. Note that the soil thickness must be uniform, otherwise the seedlings that come up will be uneven.
3. Growth
About one month after packing, the seedlings can roughly emerge. When the roots of the young seedlings have already gone deep into the soil, at this time, at one month, use a shovel to cut off the main root and water promptly; this will slow its growth. If you want it to grow fast and thickly, you can strengthen the fertiliser management. One-year-old seedlings can reach 40 to 60 cm, and at this point they need to be transplanted. Transplanting is roughly between autumn and spring, but care must always be taken to protect their root system, keeping as many lateral roots as possible, so as not to cause damage to the seedlings. To make the seedlings grow better, prune in good time; the cuts must be smooth and must not damage the bark.
Can Acorn Fruits Be Grown from Seed?
Acorn fruits can be grown from seed, that is, after seed propagation, the seedlings are then transplanted for growing on. Seeds generally germinate well, but the germination time is rather long; usually, when sown at 5°C, they will germinate in 30 to 45 days. When sowing, generally choose to place the seeds horizontally, as this helps the growth of the shoots; the covering soil must be equally thick, and 3 to 5 cm is fine.
Oak trees have a certain resistance to the environment; they tolerate drought, high temperatures and flooding, but oak trees still need to be planted in soil with good drainage in order to grow better. The growth rate of oak trees is neither fast nor slow, and they can grow even in fairly poor places.