Maple seeds still on tree

[Cajunrider]

I found a maple tree with tons of seeds still on the tree. They have been through our winter. Do I still need to stratify the seeds?

 

[penumbra]

M ost of those seeds are desiccated. Stratification involves seeds kept slightly damp. Still, there is no harm in trying.

 

[rollwithak]

M ost of those seeds are desiccated. Stratification involves seeds kept slightly damp. Still, there is no harm in trying.

What he said. I would take some, soak them in water for 24 hours, place them in a ziplock with some sphagnum moss or paper towel if you don’t have any sphagnum. Keep it in your fridge for 2-4 weeks depending on where you are. Here in Cali we are practically at spring, I already have some going! Good luck! Post results

 

[Shibui]

I have never had any trouble germinating fresh trident and Japanese maple seed even without stratifying. Different species may behave differently but my bet is that these will still germinate without the traditional stratification process.

 

[Cajunrider]

I have never had any trouble germinating fresh trident and Japanese maple seed even without stratifying. Different species may behave differently but my bet is that these will still germinate without the traditional stratification process.

I will do that. Thanks.

 

[Cajunrider]

Well I collected them and put them in a holiday popcorn plastic can. I put them in my truck and forgot about them for a week. I open the can today and found 2/3rd have germinated.

 

[Shibui]

So much for stratification!
As mentioned earlier, fresh seed germinates very easily and often without any treatment.

 

[Cajunrider]

In a few days I think I will have a ton of maple seedlings! They are popping up fast.

 

[Cajunrider]

Today

 

[W3rk]

TodayView attachment 474536

Nice, I was going to say, it's free to try so why not. Also, while not a straight comparison (I'm further north of you by far with colder winters), but about a month ago I found a couple of local full grown Chinese Elms that were still full of tons of seeds. I sowed some inside/early and have had a very high success rate with germination.

 

[Cajunrider]

Well I now have 200 maple seedlings. Keeping them alive through the hot summer has always been the killer part.

 

[nuttiest]

Is that rockwool or sponges?

 

[Cajunrider]

Is that rockwool or sponges?

Rock wool

 

[leatherback]

I have never had any trouble germinating fresh trident and Japanese maple seed even without stratifying. Different species may behave differently but my bet is that these will still germinate without the traditional stratification process.

exactly my thoughts

 

[ajm55555]

Well I now have 200 maple seedlings. Keeping them alive through the hot summer has always been the killer part.

Exactly. From a bunch of about 40 seedlings I had in the Spring of 2020, I now have 3 that survived these 3 years (maybe 2 if one of them keeps sleeping...)

 

[Cajunrider]

Thicker than thieves


The ones in rockwool and fed with hydroponic feed grow a bit faster.

 

[Joe2758]

Do densely planted seedlings like that need to be transplanted within a year or would they be ok 2 years or more?

 

[Cajunrider]

Do densely planted seedlings like that need to be transplanted within a year or would they be ok 2 years or more?

I don’t know of any thing trees or vegetables that can thrive for 2 years when densely planted like that.