How to Plant Acorns? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
The acorn comes from a plant called the oak (Quercus), and its starch content is only slightly lower than that of soybeans, while its protein, fat and other nutrients are all higher than those of the five grains. It is generally used to make acorn flour and acorn starch, and can also be used to make tofu and brew alcohol. It can also be used in industrial manufacturing, such as textiles, papermaking and printing and dyeing, all of which require it. So how do you grow acorns from seed? Below we will explore its planting methods.
1. Planting Conditions
In China, acorns are mainly distributed in the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains, the Changbai Mountains, the Qinling Mountains, the Daba Mountains, the Dabie Mountains and other places. It is tolerant of poor soil, tolerant of drought, and highly adaptable. So it actually has no great requirements for the growing environment; generally, any area with a climate similar to these planting sites can be used to grow acorns. For land preparation, generally only the pit-burning method is needed, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied during land preparation, mainly decomposed farmyard manure or organic fertilizer.
2. Seed Treatment
Acorn seeds must not be exposed to the sun; they should be stored in a cool place, and mixed with wet sand during storage. Before sowing, we take the seeds out, soak them in warm water, remove them after ten minutes, then mix the seeds with fungal soil and sow them. This can kill insects and sterilize the acorn seeds, improving the seeds' own immunity.
3. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
Acorns can be sown in spring or in autumn and winter. Spring is generally around March or April each year, while the autumn and winter season is from November to December. To grow oak trees, we need to raise seedlings in a seedbed and transplant them later. In the prepared seedbed, we sow the acorns evenly at a row spacing of 20 cm, with a spacing of about 8 to 10 cm between each seed. Finally, cover with soil to bury the seeds; the covering soil is generally about 3 cm thick, and the covering must be even, so as to ensure uniform emergence.
4. Transplanting Seedlings for Afforestation
About one month after sowing, the seedlings emerge. We generally have to wait until the plants have grown to a certain size before transplanting, preferably around 40 cm. An ordinary oak tree generally takes one year to reach 40 cm, so that means the seedling-raising period is one year, and we need to carry out scientific water and fertilizer management. When the seedlings have grown to about 40 cm, plant them at a row spacing of 5 m and a plant spacing of 4 m. When transplanting, be careful to protect the seedling roots, as this can increase the survival rate of transplanting.
5. Forest Management
In the month after planting, we should reasonably control moisture, maintain soil humidity, and water irregularly. After one month, we should fertilize appropriately; in the early stage, mainly urea, supplemented with an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer, following the principle of frequent application of thin fertilizer. At the same time, during the growth period of the oak tree, we should prune branches and leaves irregularly to promote the growth of the oak tree, but when pruning, be careful that the cuts are smooth and do not damage the bark of the oak tree and affect its growth. Finally, we should irregularly carry out intertillage and earthing up to promote the absorption of nutrients.
The above is an introduction to the planting methods for acorns. That is all for our share. If you want to learn more about acorns, you can follow our website. At the same time, if you encounter any problems during the planting process, you can consult us.