Growing trees from seed

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How to grow a tree from seed   
  

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Collection
Pick ripe seeds directly from the tree or gather from the ground. Use a paper or hessian bag to take your seeds home. Put seeds from different species in separate bags and label them.
 
Preparation
Fleshy fruits - Mix the berries with water and then gently mash them with a potato masher. Viable seed will sink to the bottom and the residue of the fleshy fruit can be discarded. For rowan or mulberry, put the berries in a sieve and gently squeeze with your fingers under running water to release the seeds.
 
Cones - leave cones in a paper bag to dry out naturally for a few days but not by a radiator or fire or in direct sunlight. The cones will open up and release the seeds.
 
Nuts - separate acorns and chestnuts from their outer casings and drop them into a bowl of water. Discard the ones that float and collect the ones that sink.
 
Winged seeds - these can be planted with the wings left on, just separate the seeds from each other and from their twigs.
 
Pre-treatment
Tree seeds have a better chance of germinating if they have been exposed to the cold of at least one winter. This is because the seed is programmed to germinate in the spring when temperatures rise. Tree growers simulate a cold winter through a process known as stratification.
 
A simple way to stratify seeds is to soak in cold water for 24 hours and then put them in a plastic bag (clearly labelled) in the fridge for a couple of months.
 
A longer method is to mix an equal volume of seeds into a stratification mixture containing one part compost and one part course-particle material such as bark chips, perlite or sharp sand. (Or just use compost.)
 
The mixture should be placed in a pot or bucket with holes in the bottom for drainage and should be moist but not saturated. Cover your containers with mesh or netting to protect your seeds from birds and rodents. Leave over the winter in a cool place such as against a north facing wall.
 
In the spring, tip out the mixture and remove any seeds that are showing small roots or shoots. Put back any seeds that have not germinated back in the mixture as they may need another winter but discard any that have rotted. Check the seeds regularly during the spring.
 
You can find more detailed information on growing trees - Grow your own trees with The Conservation Volunteers

 Sowing
Once stratified, sow your seeds in a suitable container such as a milk or juice carton or large yoghurt pot. Pierce holes in the bottom of the containers for drainage. Small seeds like birch and alder should be sown on the surface of the compost or soil and covered in a thin layer of sharp sand. Sow a pinch of seeds per container. Larger seeds such as acorns should be sown singly and covered to one and a half times their length in soil or compost.
 
Place the containers in a shady, sheltered spot to protect the seedlings from the elements. When the seeds have germinated, thin them out leaving one seedling per pot. Water the seedlings regularly and give them some liquid plant feed during periods of active growth. Weed occasionally but make sure you don't pull up the seedlings by mistake. After a few months the baby tree may outgrow its container so transfer it to a larger one.

Next steps
If you have any questions about growing your tree seedlings, click here to send an email to Charlotte.
 
Keep us updated on your progress by emailing photos of your seedlings to Charlotte  or TottenhamTrees
Or tweet them to @TottenhamTrees, @CharlotteRixon and/or @TheTreeCouncil
Using the hashtags #SeedGatheringSeason or #ChangingViews or #TreeCharter
 
You can also share your photos and updates on The Tree Council's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/treecounciluk
 
Your baby trees will not be ready for planting in their final growing positions until the next tree planting season: November to March. If you have space to plant your tree(s) in your garden then great, but if not, the plan is to donate them to local schools or community groups, possibly at an event some time in the summer. Keep an eye on the Tottenham Trees website for details: www.tottenhamtrees.org
Find out what's happening!
Learn more about trees
Find out out about the Tree Charter
Sign up for  Tottenham Trees Occasional Updates
Contact us at: tottenhamtrees@gmail.com
In Tottenham seven trees were planted in a ring over 400 years ago for reasons lost in time; the Seven Sisters area and the underground station are named after them. The seven trees have been replanted a number of times, always by seven sisters. 

The Tottenham Trees logo, shown on the right, is a silhouette of the Bruce Castle Oak with the logo of the Charter for Trees, Woods and People launched in November 2017, on the 800th anniversary of the Royal Charter of the Forest.

Picture
  • Tottenham Trees
    • #HaringeyFavouriteTrees 2022
    • #HaringeyFavouriteTrees 2021
    • Special trees in Tottenham >
      • Bruce Castle Oak >
        • Arboricultural survey
        • Reminiscences of the Bruce Castle Oak
        • Calling Tree >
          • Calling Tree: gallery
      • Mulberry tree
      • Seven Sisters
    • Trees in Tottenham (Galleries) >
      • Tottenham trees (A-D common name)
      • Tottenham Trees (E-K common name)
      • Tottenham Trees (L-R common name)
      • Tottenham Trees (S-Z common name)
    • Trees in Art from Tottenham
    • Trees in Words from Tottenham >
      • Epping
      • It's a Word Thing!
      • Message on leaves
      • Ode from the Oak
      • Of this tree
      • The Elder
    • Tottenham parks >
      • St Ann's Redevelopment
    • Tottenham Tree Trails
    • Who we are >
      • Postcards and Bags
  • Charter for Trees
    • Charter history
    • Charter Principles
    • Independent Panel on Forestry
  • About Trees
    • Latest news on Trees 2021 >
      • Tree articles 2020
      • Tree articles 2019
      • Tree articles 2018
      • Tree articles 2017
      • Tree articles 2016
      • Tree articles 2015
    • Threats to our trees
    • Tree Identification
    • Tree Quizzes >
      • Celebrating Trees Quiz 2019 >
        • Answers: Celebrating Trees 2019
      • Celebrating Trees 2018 >
        • Answers: Celebrating Trees
      • Lazy Sunday Tree Quiz >
        • Answers: Lazy Sunday
    • Global Tree Calendar
  • Urban Trees
    • Growing trees from seed
    • iTree surveying
    • Street Trees for Living
    • Tree care
    • Tree packs for free
    • Tree planting
    • Trees in the Townscape
  • Inspirations
    • Wangari Maathai >
      • Green Belt Movement
      • Institute and Foundation
      • First Seven Trees
      • Remembering Wangari
      • Kenya
    • Felix Finkbeiner
    • Chico Mendes
    • Chipko Movement
    • Plant for the Planet >
      • 3 Point Plan
    • Inspiring stories from around the world
  • Tree Events
    • Tree Charter Day 2019 >
      • Legacy Oak Ale
    • Urban Tree Festival 2019
    • Wassail 2019
    • Tree Charter Day 2018
    • Tree Charter Day 2017
    • 800 year Charter anniversary
    • Poetry Sunday @ Bruce Castle
    • Poetry @ The Room
    • Calling Tree: Tottenham
    • London National Park City 2018
    • London Tree Week 2017
    • London Tree Week 2016
    • Other Tottenham tree events
  • Green Spaces
    • Other Haringey Green Spaces
    • London Friends of Green Spaces
    • London National Park City
    • Parks cafe trail
    • The Conservation Volunteers
    • Future Forest