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Best way to store and best time to plant Acorns

16 years ago

My daughters and I took advantage of the large acorn drop due to windy conditions this weekend and quickly gathered a couple thousand shingle oak acorns. I realize mother nature leaves them be once they fall, but is there an ideal time to plant - now or next spring? If I wait until next spring, should I store in the fridge?

John

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Comments (5)

pineresin
16 years ago
Refrigerated (+1 or +2Â°C, not more), and moist. Mix them with an equal amount of damp sand.

Inspect every few days for the first month or so to remove any insect larvae that emerge from them; also remove any acorns that get holes in them where the insects exited from (damaged acorns like these will go mouldy and could infect other healthy acorns). Ditto remove any acorns that go black and/or slimy/mushy.

Resin
shortleaf2002
16 years ago
Hi John,
Yes, I agree with Resin but for the American folk I believe the temps are 33.8 - 35.6 F. I once Fall planted Shingle Oak acorns and they came up in the Spring, not even in the ground, just in a planter box that I made. If I can, I'd like to get up there and see how your reforestation project is going next year. I think the seedlings in this photo were in a Swamp White Oak box that I made but I think I also put Shingle Oak acorns in that box (I think the seedling right above the red one in the lower left corner might have been one. You'll notice most have the typical serrated looking Oak leaves, I think those were the Swamp White Oaks, (which is also a nice tree, and easy to grow from seed). In any case the Shingle Oak acorns (Q imbricaria) grow easily when Fall planted too.
{{gwi:447594}}
Will
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I don’t attempt to put them in the rootmakers until spring. Over the winter, I keep them either in Ziploc bags in the refrigerator, or, if they’ve already tried to sprout roots, I will put them in a container of vermiculite or even just a cheap commercial potting mix, with the root (if it exists yet) pointed down. Typically, if you keep the refrigerator as cold as possible, or stick them in the back of the fridge where it tends to run a bit colder, they won’t aprout early, but at slightly warmer temps, roots May grow a few inches, but not long enough to cause any real problems, and you can just stick them into the rootmakers in March or April. That’s how I do it. If by chance the root is actually longer than the bottom of the boot maker, it’s OK to cut an inch or so off as long as there’s no top growth, but I wouldn’t cut anymore than that. Through some experimentation, I found that when storing acorns, if you can keep them between 29 and 33F, they won’t sprout in the fridge. I know my refrigerator runs around 36°, right at the back in the bottom corner it does tend to stay closer to 32.
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treeguy123
16 years ago
Here is a good link below on Growing Oak Trees from Acorns (PDF file):

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Oak Trees from Acorns
jinenid
16 years ago
I put them in a ziploc with damp dirt/sand mix ( about 30% dirt), and put them in the 'fridge. Bottom shelf, out of the way.
I live in the deep south, so it never does get cold so I have to use the 'fridge. In colder climates, you could plant them now.
You will have to protect them from the squirrels though. I bought some fence boards and built a square (2x4s on the corners). Then, build a frame that will fit over the top, and put 1/4" metal fabric over that. Cold air & water get in, squirrels don't. Perfect condition for stratification, if it gets cold enough!
Using the 'fridge technique, I get about 80% germination. You will have to keep an eye on them. Watch for leaks, mold, insects etc. Good luck!!
pineresin
16 years ago
"but for the American folk I believe the temps are 33.8 - 35.6 F"

You don't have to go on living in the 17th century!

;-)

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