It can be a tough job, but growing your own tree can be the most rewarding of all gardening activities. There are two ways to grow trees, either organically or through forced germination. The difference between the two is that they are either grown outdoors (organically), which takes longer or inside (forced germination), which has faster results.
If you want to grow your seeds organically, sowing them in the fall is the best time to do it. Without previous treatment to the seeds, you can expect the tree to start germinating in the following spring. For this to happen you must follow the directions on the packet, if sown to deeply into the ground the tree can take longer to germinate. The germination process can also take longer, depending on the variety of tree you wish to plant, some may germinate in the first spring whereas other may take a couple of year, being dormant for a year or so.
Forced germination, however, is something else. Forced germination is a series of techniques used that mimic yet speed up the germination process, which can generate more consistent results than organic germination.
The three treatments that can be undertaken when assisting germination including: 1) Scarification, 2) Cold Stratification, and 3) Warm Stratification. However, be aware that some trees only require one or two of these treatments or may not require any pre treatments at all. All information can be found on the back of the seed packet, so make sure to read carefully before beginning any treatments.
Treatment 1) Scarification:
This process helps reduce or break the seed coat allowing moisture into the seed, speeding up the germination process. Most trees do not require this treatment; however a simple water soak can do the trick.
Water Soak: Place seeds in a glass container then using water at room temperature (depending on instructions) pour over the seeds and allow them to soak for the recommended time (normally 6 to 24 hours).
Treatment 2) Cold Stratification:
This process mimics the over wintering process, where naturally the seeds are exposed to cool and moist conditions, this normally takes place when the seeds as covered by autumn leaves. This can be achieved by undertaking these simple steps:
- Soak a few handfuls of peat moss in water then squeeze as much water from the moss as possible.
- Place a layer of the moist peat moss in the bottom of a sealable bag (sandwich bag)
- Place the seeds on the layer of moss, then fill the bag with the rest of the soaked peat moss and seal the bag.
- Store the seeds in a sealed bag and place it in the bottom of the refrigerator for the appropriate stratification time then plant as normal. Regularly check them and if there are any signs of early germination plant them as normal.
Treatment 3: Warm Stratification
This is primarily the same treatment as cold stratification, however this treatment is designed to mimic the spring dormancy of the seed when it is grown organically. The only difference between these two treatments is where the plastic bag is stored. To complete warm stratification follow the same guide lines, but this time instead of placing it inside a fridge place the bag in a warm area where temperatures can climb to 72 to 86 degrees F. Again check the seeds for any signs of early germination and plant as normal.
Planting the Seeds:
Seeds may be sown into individual containers or into seed trays, but need to be planted at the recommend soil depth, which can be found at the back on the seed packet. The seeds should then be sown in a well-drained mixture of peat moss and vermiculite. This mixture should fill the container or seed tray to about ½ inch from the top, with the seeds lying on top then covered with sand.
After planting the seeds, gently water them to keep them moist in a warm area. this can be done by enclosing the seed tray in a plastic tent that has holes, which are important to ensure air circulation.
Germination can take any time between a few days to several months, depending on the species and the environmental conditions. Once the seeds germinate, move the seedlings to a brighter location, inside for a few months before planting outdoors.