ERCLover’s Acorn to Oak thread

[ERClover]

I’ve got 40 Willow Oak seeds started. 30 sown outside for the winter and 10 in the fridge trying cold stratification indoors.

Also have a couple random Overcup Oaks and Southern Live Oaks that I am going to try to germinate which could wind up being entries. We’ll see in 5 years!

 

[czaczaja]

Are you putting them in the fridge as a backup in case the others don't germinate or just an experiment?

 

[ERClover]

Are you putting them in the fridge as a backup in case the others don't germinate or just an experiment?

Sort of both I guess you could say. I have never done this before so part of me is worried one method alone could fail entirely so I am trying to mitigate that risk by using a couple different methods. Hopefully between the two I will get some viable seedlings!

 

[czaczaja]

Sort of both I guess you could say. I have never done this before so part of me is worried one method alone could fail entirely so I am trying to mitigate that risk by using a couple different methods. Hopefully between the two I will get some viable seedlings!

I was personally pleasantly surprised when I dug mine up yesterday. Didn't expect such a germination rate. And personally moved away from fridge stratification, always ended up with mold.

 

[ERClover]

I’ve since also added a number of southern live oak acorns that I threw in the fridge. Took all
My seed experiments out yesterday to check on and we have liftoff:



Had a number of other things going, some common pear seeds all of which sprouted, a few extra willow oak which did not produce a root yet, some overcups which hadn’t either, and several mystery nuts from a huge tree my app said was bitternut hickory but they don’t match up with what the nuts appear as online. Dug up a couple sown willow oak that have been out over the winter and no root coming out of at least that sample yet either. Good to have some movement though!

 

[ERClover]

My furthest along Willow Oak, one I started inside. Several other sprouts shooting up from the outdoor crew. Got a lot of taproots from the Virginianas but so far no upward shoots yet. Had a few that did really well hydroponically to start but when I put in soil seem to have stalled. Hoping all of them just need a little more consistent heat to get really going. Should at least have some Willows though.