I think if you've just collected them within the last day or so they should be full of viable seed. Put the pods into a paper bag and put them up in the top of a closet to dry. The seeds look like wings, if you're not familiar with them google up an image so you know what you're looking for. I'd sow them during the winter so they can get some stratification. I have a Catalpa, love the fragrant, beautiful flowers. Good luck! Jeanne

"Well I went to Sheridan Nursies in Mississauga here and found a sugar maple for $420 + tax. The great thing is is they are very big already in their baskets...maybe like 18 feet. " Someplace in my Photobucket account I have pictures from a Harvard type study on growth rates for different size transplants. End result was the large transplants took longer to recover than smaller ones. Think of it as missed out on growing seasons. I would venture the chance of failure also goes up. BUT if it has a warranty that solves part of that problem. Random thoughts: Sugar maples are classy but not the fastest growers. I love them and if the size of the transplant helps you not have to settle on a lesser tree, go for it. Most trees that are not "male sexed clones" are just going to produce viable seeds. The neighbor thing is interesting. You know the dynamic of the relationship. If the gardenbeds are right on the fence line is it rude of them to want to limit what you plant? Of course it would be rude for anyone to plant bamboo on the property line and not have a plan to contain it for eternity. Maples are pretty normal though.

Ha ha ha ha!!! My empress trees are growing like crazy now! I cut nicks off the top of the still bald catalpas and it's green under there so who knows...I hear they don't come back until May. Here's the funny: I was telling my Mom today that my plan is to have these container trees then put vines and stuff in them; well she just sees these cut back stalks (and doesn't know what we all know know about this) so she didn't think I was going to have trees in my containers, then she didn't think the empress trees would grow here. HA! From the time I showed them to her to the time we got back from dinner they had grown. She then remarked that I could probably sit right there and watch them grow. Probably. You know what though, out of 200+ seeds, only 7 came up. Luckily. I also planted some okra seeds in there and they sprouted in 24 hours. The containers are full of that $2 a bag cow manure they sell at walmart. Maybe it's even $1 a bag, whatever. I anticipate wild growth this year! And with the empress trees in a pot I can cut them back ea year right? We are having a good spring here in FL so far.

Thank you! I think i'm in luck. They are over 1cm (I need the Northern) Could you advise how to go about growing them in the spring? I have plenty to experiment with -- planting in ground and also starting in peat pots. How deep to plant and any particular kind of potting soil?