Stratifying

[jmf]

Been looking at trees to purchase and made a post in another thread. Through reading about trees on this site, ive learned the term stratifying. Seems like several are doing this.

Neighbor has a couple persimmon trees that have been dropping for a couple months and still abunch hanging on the tree. Would like to try to get some seed and grow them.

Is it too late? What's your process for stratifying? Does it work for any tree seed? Would like to do chestnuts as well but would need to find a source.

Instead of stratifying, has anyone ever tried using a grow light through the winter?

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

Not to late. They typically need a 60 to 90 day window. But there is male and female trees. The females are the ones to produce. I'd look at grafting some
Limbs off the trees that are dropping.

With my chestnuts. After they stratify they'll go to the large bay window. I will
Use a glow lamp or 5 depending on how many i got going.

Good luck. It's addictive when you start growing your own trees

 

[backyardtndeer]

Stratified mine in the fridge. The persimmons seeds that i potted last year did take a good while to sprout but think nearly all of them eventually sprouted.

I have pecans and walnuts in the fridge now.

 

[TNlandowner]

The females are the ones to produce. I'd look at grafting some
Limbs off the trees that are dropping.

Good luck. It's addictive when you start growing your own trees

Great suggestion. I need to work on my grafting skills to spread some of my best producing persimmon trees.

 

[TNlandowner]

Stratified mine in the fridge. The persimmons seeds that i potted last year did take a good while to sprout but think nearly all of them eventually sprouted.

I have pecans and walnuts in the fridge now.

Growing pecans from the nuts sounds awesome. We are still waiting for 14 year old pecan trees to begin producing. Our pecan trees seem to grow very slow similar to their cousin Hickory trees.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Growing pecans from the nuts sounds awesome. We are still waiting for 14 year old pecan trees to begin producing. Our pecan trees seem to grow very slow similar to their cousin Hickory trees.

Two of the three pecan trees i planted in my yard were bare root trees. They weren't planted at the same time, but the smaller one was producing within 5 years. They are both supposed to be Stuart iirc, and were maybe 4 ft tall at planting. Don't remember the exact variety of my bigger tree, it was supposed to be a papershell but the shells are about the same as the others. That tree came from a local nursery. I do have a couple producing native pecan trees on the property.

 

[Chapman]

Been looking at trees to purchase and made a post in another thread. Through reading about trees on this site, ive learned the term stratifying. Seems like several are doing this.

Neighbor has a couple persimmon trees that have been dropping for a couple months and still abunch hanging on the tree. Would like to try to get some seed and grow them.

Is it too late? What's your process for stratifying? Does it work for any tree seed? Would like to do chestnuts as well but would need to find a source.

Instead of stratifying, has anyone ever tried using a grow light through the winter?

Some types of trees need stratification, some do not. I grow Live Oak trees from acorns and they need to be planted soon after dropping. They won't pop out of the ground until Spring. I've grown persimmons and Southern Magnolia seeds and they need stratification. I put mine in a ziplock with a handful of moist potting soil stored in the produce drawer of the frig. I don't know if the soil is necessary but it worked.

 

[mcbuck58]

Been looking at trees to purchase and made a post in another thread. Through reading about trees on this site, ive learned the term stratifying. Seems like several are doing this.

Neighbor has a couple persimmon trees that have been dropping for a couple months and still abunch hanging on the tree. Would like to try to get some seed and grow them.

Is it too late? What's your process for stratifying? Does it work for any tree seed? Would like to do chestnuts as well but would need to find a source.

Instead of stratifying, has anyone ever tried using a grow light through the winter?

Your last sentence doesn't quite make sense. Grow lights do not take the place of cold stratification. Some acorns and nuts have to be cold stratified. Meaning in the wild they drop to the ground and lay over winter and start growing next spring. This can be copied by putting them in your fridge for the winter. Some acorns and nuts drop to the ground and start growing right away, so they don't need stratification. Chestnuts need cold stratification. Chestnut Oaks do not need cold stratification.
Some people put persimmon seeds in soil and cold stratify in fridge. I put persimmon seeds in a baggie with moist paper towel in the fridge. After stratifying sand seed end or nick with knife, then plant in pot.
Here is step by step how I cold stratify chestnuts. Works for acorns and other nuts. Start reading page 5 post 92.

Thread 'Dunstan Chestnut Trees'

Apr 30, 2021

If anyone is interested Chestnut Hill Farms has shipped chestnut trees to area Walmart....years past they are always gone before I can get any.... Walmart in Dickson had about 25 of the 3gal and 2 of the 7gal yesterday....I picked up three of the 3gal which are around 5' tall with new growth.

So...for the guys who have planted several trees over the years I'd love to hear ideas on watering?....I am absolutely going to cage them! And I'm going to put a weed mat down with mulch...but being 5' tall should I still put a short tube around base to keep rabbits from chewing the bark? And as for...

• DoubleRidge
• Replies: 610
• Forum: Quality Deer Management

• 
• 

 

[jmf]

Your last sentence doesn't quite make sense. Grow lights do not take the place of cold stratification. Some acorns and nuts have to be cold stratified. Meaning in the wild they drop to the ground and lay over winter and start growing next spring. This can be copied by putting them in your fridge for the winter. Some acorns and nuts drop to the ground and start growing right away, so they don't need stratification. Chestnuts need cold stratification. Chestnut Oaks do not need cold stratification.
Some people put persimmon seeds in soil and cold stratify in fridge. I put persimmon seeds in a baggie with moist paper towel in the fridge. After stratifying sand seed end or nick with knife, then plant in pot.
Here is step by step how I cold stratify chestnuts. Works for acorns and other nuts. Start reading page 5 post 92.

Thread 'Dunstan Chestnut Trees'

Apr 30, 2021

If anyone is interested Chestnut Hill Farms has shipped chestnut trees to area Walmart....years past they are always gone before I can get any.... Walmart in Dickson had about 25 of the 3gal and 2 of the 7gal yesterday....I picked up three of the 3gal which are around 5' tall with new growth.

So...for the guys who have planted several trees over the years I'd love to hear ideas on watering?....I am absolutely going to cage them! And I'm going to put a weed mat down with mulch...but being 5' tall should I still put a short tube around base to keep rabbits from chewing the bark? And as for...

• DoubleRidge
• Replies: 610
• Forum: Quality Deer Management

• 
• 

Thank you.

As for the grow light, didn't know if it was possible to take the seed and plant it under a grow light during the winter instead of stratifying and waiting for the spring to plant. I'm clueless when it comes to growing trees from seed but want to learn.

 

[mcbuck58]

Thank you.

As for the grow light, didn't know if it was possible to take the seed and plant it under a grow light during the winter instead of stratifying and waiting for the spring to plant. I'm clueless when it comes to growing trees from seed but want to learn.

You're welcome.
Grow light just allows you to grow something indoors without sunlight. An acorn or nut that needs stratification will not grow under a grow light until it stratifies. Stratification has to take place outdoors, during winter, like in the wild or indoors during winter in a refrigerator.

 

[jmf]

You're welcome.
Grow light just allows you to grow something indoors without sunlight. An acorn or nut that needs stratification will not grow under a grow light until it stratifies. Stratification has to take place outdoors, during winter, like in the wild or indoors during winter in a refrigerator.

Thanks. I get it now.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I'd look at grafting some
Limbs off the trees that are dropping.

Going to have to look at grafting some of our old trees after my late drop trees get established.

 

[Ski]

Not too late at all. Plenty vids on YouTube showing various ways to do it. I've got persimmon, apple, apricot, Allegheny chinkapin, cherry, and chestnut seeds in fridge right now. Got haws in a dresser drawer as they require warm strat before cold strat. It's a lot of fun starting new trees from seed.

I'm also learning and practicing my grafting skills with pears and apples. I've got several volunteer invasive Bradford pears that I'm turning into keifer and moonglow pears.

As for grow lights here are some chinkapins and a couple apples that rooted early so I got them started already under lights. They're growing fast.

 

[jmf]

Not too late at all. Plenty vids on YouTube showing various ways to do it. I've got persimmon, apple, apricot, Allegheny chinkapin, cherry, and chestnut seeds in fridge right now. Got haws in a dresser drawer as they require warm strat before cold strat. It's a lot of fun starting new trees from seed.

I'm also learning and practicing my grafting skills with pears and apples. I've got several volunteer invasive Bradford pears that I'm turning into keifer and moonglow pears.

As for grow lights here are some chinkapins and a couple apples that rooted early so I got them started already under lights. They're growing fast.

View attachment 307985
View attachment 307986

That's awesome. What do you put the seed in when stratifying? Peat moss?

 

[Ski]

That's awesome. What do you put the seed in when stratifying? Peat moss?

Depends on the seed. Bigger seeds like chestnut go into a ziplock bag with damp peat moss. Small seeds like apples get folded up in a damp paper towel & sealed up in a ziplock bag. The bags go in the bottom drawer of the fridge until roots are popping out of the seeds. Then they're ready to put into pots!

 

[jmf]

Depends on the seed. Bigger seeds like chestnut go into a ziplock bag with damp peat moss. Small seeds like apples get folded up in a damp paper towel & sealed up in a ziplock bag. The bags go in the bottom drawer of the fridge until roots are popping out of the seeds. Then they're ready to put into pots!

Thanks. What do you typically use for pots and how long do you keep them in a pot before planting?

 

[Ski]

Thanks. What do you typically use for pots and how long do you keep them in a pot before planting?

Depends on seed and when I plan to put it in the ground. The pot must allow room for roots to establish without too much confinement and I personally prefer planting in ground as soon as possible but only in spring or fall. For instance the apples I posted above will be planted in April. The chinkapins might if they're big enough or else they'll be planted in October.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I've got several volunteer invasive Bradford pears that I'm turning into keifer and moonglow pears.

Will be interested in hearing how that works out, hope you report back results.

 

[jmf]

Depends on seed and when I plan to put it in the ground. The pot must allow room for roots to establish without too much confinement and I personally prefer planting in ground as soon as possible but only in spring or fall. For instance the apples I posted above will be planted in April. The chinkapins might if they're big enough or else they'll be planted in October.

Any suggestions on pots for Chestnut and persimmon that will be planted in the ground next fall?

 

[Ski]

Will be interested in hearing how that works out, hope you report back results.

I will for sure. I grafted some already plus I'm taking cuttings now to graft in spring. I fully expect the winter grafts to fail but if they work then I'm going to have a whole bunch of them. Spring time when bark is slipping is supposedly best time for grafting so I'll try it then too but wanted to see if I could get by with winter grafting. Will for sure report results.

 

[Ski]

Any suggestions on pots for Chestnut and persimmon that will be planted in the ground next fall?

This is what I'm using for chestnuts because of their long tap roots.

And this is what I use for most other seeds.

The peat pots are awesome because when it comes time to plant the tree in the ground I just dig a hole to fit the pot & all. The roots are never exposed or disturbed and the pot will rot away to become part of the soil. Roots go right through the pot into the ground. This minimizes transplant shock. So far I've had great luck doing it this way.

 

[jmf]

This is what I'm using for chestnuts because of their long tap roots.

View attachment 308373


And this is what I use for most other seeds.

View attachment 308375

The peat pots are awesome because when it comes time to plant the tree in the ground I just dig a hole to fit the pot & all. The roots are never exposed or disturbed and the pot will rot away to become part of the soil. Roots go right through the pot into the ground. This minimizes transplant shock. So far I've had great luck doing it this way.

Thank you. The peat pots sound like a great idea. When you go to put the seeds in the pot, what do you fill the pots with.

 

[Ski]

Thank you. The peat pots sound like a great idea. When you go to put the seeds in the pot, what do you fill the pots with.

Potting soil works well for me. Some folks on the tube mix 50/50 potting soil with dirt or compost. I just use straight potting soil and have good results. I don't know that you can really get it wrong. If a seed wants to grow it will. If not it won't. All you gotta do is keep the soil moist but not soaked and nature will handle the rest.

 

[jmf]

How long does it take for a chesnut to sprout? Mine have been potted for about 2 weeks and nothing above the potting mix yet.

 

[Popcorn]

How long does it take for a chesnut to sprout? Mine have been potted for about 2 weeks and nothing above the potting mix yet.

Read mcbucks posts throughout the thread Dunstan chestnuts.

Once properly cold stratification is complete some report spouts within weeks, personally mine took longer than normal.