streitl
Member
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here, but I'm sure its something. 
I had these trays indoors under lights until just a week ago. Some leaves started to brown while they were indoors. Is it moisture related? Too much or not enough? They're outside now, and after last weekend, shouldn't need a drink for awhile.
I had these trays indoors under lights until just a week ago. Some leaves started to brown while they were indoors. Is it moisture related? Too much or not enough? They're outside now, and after last weekend, shouldn't need a drink for awhile.
OHIOshedder
New Member
Sun scald?
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Anyone else have acorns in storage and ready to plant this spring?
We've got a few to say the least... Been checking on the bags of acorns in the fridge periodically but tonight was the first time I actually opened the bags and pulled out some acorns. All is looking great at this point. Nothing had too big of root systems starting but all bags showed some signs of viable seeds.
The storage location - bottom drawer of the fridge and bottom of the side door. WAAAY more acorns in there than we'll ever plant this year but I figured better to have extra incase others decided they'd like some.
Swamp white oaks
Chinese Chesnut
Gobbler Sawtooth
Bur English
Dwarf Chinkapin oaks (what I didn't know if they are notorious for being hard to store over winter so it is suggested to plant them in the fall after they drop. I found a few that appear to be doing ok in the fridge storage, they've got the biggest roots on them out of all the types of oaks I have)
And the red oaks are even breaking dormancy and starting to show life
It is about time to get the setup ready outdoors for keeping these up off the ground a bit. Thinking about either using pallets or framing our some make shift shelving with 2x4s, wire fencing, and cinder blocks to raise it. We'll see. I think the other thing I need to prepare for is protecting the seedlings from the wind and hot summer suns. For that I'm open for ideas... So far I'm thinking about putting snow fence around the seedlings to help break up the wind. I'd ideally have some snow fence over top of the seedlings to help give them some partial shade during the hot summer days. :think:[/quote]
We've got a few to say the least... Been checking on the bags of acorns in the fridge periodically but tonight was the first time I actually opened the bags and pulled out some acorns. All is looking great at this point. Nothing had too big of root systems starting but all bags showed some signs of viable seeds.
The storage location - bottom drawer of the fridge and bottom of the side door. WAAAY more acorns in there than we'll ever plant this year but I figured better to have extra incase others decided they'd like some.
Swamp white oaks
Chinese Chesnut
Gobbler Sawtooth
Bur English
Dwarf Chinkapin oaks (what I didn't know if they are notorious for being hard to store over winter so it is suggested to plant them in the fall after they drop. I found a few that appear to be doing ok in the fridge storage, they've got the biggest roots on them out of all the types of oaks I have)
And the red oaks are even breaking dormancy and starting to show life
It is about time to get the setup ready outdoors for keeping these up off the ground a bit. Thinking about either using pallets or framing our some make shift shelving with 2x4s, wire fencing, and cinder blocks to raise it. We'll see. I think the other thing I need to prepare for is protecting the seedlings from the wind and hot summer suns. For that I'm open for ideas... So far I'm thinking about putting snow fence around the seedlings to help break up the wind. I'd ideally have some snow fence over top of the seedlings to help give them some partial shade during the hot summer days. :think:[/quote]
goatman
I hunt days ending in Y
Looking good there LoessHills. I was thinking the other day its almost go time. I like to start about March 15. The sawtooth didn't seem to mind the sun but I have thought the chestnuts certainly did better in shade. I put them in a old stock trailer to guard against rabbits. Did good till the mice found them. They ate the seed off but they were well on their way. You get all of them started you'll have a yard like sligh's. And that ain't a bad thing either.
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Some of the sawtooths you gave me last year ended up being mice food around mid summer. I noticed one day the stems were all chewed like mini beavers were at work.
The trees seemed to be doing ok yet so I planted them but we'll see if they surivived in a few months. If they died we'll replace them this year!
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Growing oaks from acorns is something kind of new to me, I've only been doing it for a couple years and with limited success thus far. So take what I share knowing that I'm still learning about this as I go. I still feel I've learned a lot and figured I'd share in case it helps even one person out.
I don't have a big south facing window or a greenhouse to start the acorns early so I have been waiting until mid April to pull mine out of the fridge and put them in rootmakers. That gives them a few days to sprout in the shop and then I'll move them outside in a week or so and bring them in if we get any colder nights. This year I planted a few different varieties of oaks (Bur-gambel, gobbler sawtooth, chinkapin, dwarf chinkapin, northern red, and swamp white) and also 6 Chinease Chesnuts.
I built a little shelter for the acorns planted in the 18cell rootmaker trays. Squirrels, rabbits, and mice can be hard on the seedlings so I wanted a way to protect them and also wanted to have it on wheels incase I ever need to move it around. We'll see how it holds up over the summer!
And I have 51 1gallon rootmaker pots with half northern red oak and half swamp white oak. I'm curious to see the growth rate differences, if any, between trees growth in these larger pots vs the 18cell trays. :think:
If you don't have rootmakers that is completely fine. Direct seeding acorns is another option. I seeded some white oaks, reds, and swamp white oaks last fall and have been seeding many more red oaks this spring. This bag of red oaks showed excellent signs of life with many of the acorns just cracking and beginning root development. I'll keep posting over the summer as these fall and spring planted acorns grow, assuming they'll grow anyway!
I stored a LOT of acorns over the winter in the bottom of the fridge, something I hadn't done before. I learned that dward chinkapin oaks are tough to store over winter and are probably best direct seeded in the fall soon after gathering them. I also had some acorns rot and get moldy on me so I'll be watching that problem more closely next year (but for just this reason I gathered plenty of extra acorns... I assumed I'd have some acorns, or entire bags of them, go bad)
I don't have a big south facing window or a greenhouse to start the acorns early so I have been waiting until mid April to pull mine out of the fridge and put them in rootmakers. That gives them a few days to sprout in the shop and then I'll move them outside in a week or so and bring them in if we get any colder nights. This year I planted a few different varieties of oaks (Bur-gambel, gobbler sawtooth, chinkapin, dwarf chinkapin, northern red, and swamp white) and also 6 Chinease Chesnuts.
I built a little shelter for the acorns planted in the 18cell rootmaker trays. Squirrels, rabbits, and mice can be hard on the seedlings so I wanted a way to protect them and also wanted to have it on wheels incase I ever need to move it around. We'll see how it holds up over the summer!
And I have 51 1gallon rootmaker pots with half northern red oak and half swamp white oak. I'm curious to see the growth rate differences, if any, between trees growth in these larger pots vs the 18cell trays. :think:
If you don't have rootmakers that is completely fine. Direct seeding acorns is another option. I seeded some white oaks, reds, and swamp white oaks last fall and have been seeding many more red oaks this spring. This bag of red oaks showed excellent signs of life with many of the acorns just cracking and beginning root development. I'll keep posting over the summer as these fall and spring planted acorns grow, assuming they'll grow anyway!
I stored a LOT of acorns over the winter in the bottom of the fridge, something I hadn't done before. I learned that dward chinkapin oaks are tough to store over winter and are probably best direct seeded in the fall soon after gathering them. I also had some acorns rot and get moldy on me so I'll be watching that problem more closely next year (but for just this reason I gathered plenty of extra acorns... I assumed I'd have some acorns, or entire bags of them, go bad)
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
The acorns in the rootmaker pots and trays are doing really well. Anyone else growing oaks or other trees from seed this spring?
In the tree nursery well over half of the oaks have sprouted so far with the rest well on their way.
Chinkapin oak growing strong
Swamp whites
Northern reds
Chinese Chesnut
Bur-Gamble hybrid
Gobbler Sawtooth
Just waiting on the Dwarf Chinkapins to sprout.
And I checked on the Gobbler Sawtooth trees I started from acorns last year and grew in the rootmakers over the summer a dn then transplanted in late August. Some are starting to wake up! Exciting
In the tree nursery well over half of the oaks have sprouted so far with the rest well on their way.
Chinkapin oak growing strong
Swamp whites
Northern reds
Chinese Chesnut
Bur-Gamble hybrid
Gobbler Sawtooth
Just waiting on the Dwarf Chinkapins to sprout.
And I checked on the Gobbler Sawtooth trees I started from acorns last year and grew in the rootmakers over the summer a dn then transplanted in late August. Some are starting to wake up! Exciting
ill post some pics in the next few days, iv got some dunstan chestnuts that r doing very well, i have dco that r slow but growing, swo, english oak, sawtooth, and some concordia oaks, most of the oaks are just breaking up out of the potting soil, also have some hybrid willows, hybrid poplar cutting as well
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Had something get into the acorns I was growing in the woodshed. Ate every single acorn, didn't leave one behind. I don't think it/they realize the trouble they just got into.... If you plan on starting your acorns outside it is very important to keep them protected. Mice, squirrels, etc can and will get to them and kill your trees in a few minutes. Even in your own front yard.
The roots were just getting going on these too. Whatever it was (probably a squirrel or coon) would eat just the acorn itself, not the root or any growth from the acorn.
There were some trees that were already growing quite a bit. The robber still ate the acorn off those trees but thankfully didn't pull the tree out. So 4 or 5 have a chance of survival yet!
I wasn't too concerned. I had 51 1gal rootmaker pots and I quick replanted them last night. I luckily had a flat of acorns I was sprouting just incase I needed them for a situation just like this... they put on a bit more root growth than I anticipated they would but I planted them anyway. So all is not lost for the 1gal rootmaker pots this year. And if these get raided there's a couple hundred more acorns in the fridge.
I then went through the tree nursery that has the 18cell rootmaker trays and I keep protected from predators. I've been going through every so often and taking out the dead acorns and replacing them with live ones.
They're growing pretty well - been in the ground for a little over 3wks I think. So not growing super fast but they're doing alright
I don't think it/they realize the trouble they just got into.... If you plan on starting your acorns outside it is very important to keep them protected. Mice, squirrels, etc can and will get to them and kill your trees in a few minutes. Even in your own front yard.
The roots were just getting going on these too. Whatever it was (probably a squirrel or coon) would eat just the acorn itself, not the root or any growth from the acorn.
There were some trees that were already growing quite a bit. The robber still ate the acorn off those trees but thankfully didn't pull the tree out. So 4 or 5 have a chance of survival yet!
I wasn't too concerned. I had 51 1gal rootmaker pots and I quick replanted them last night. I luckily had a flat of acorns I was sprouting just incase I needed them for a situation just like this... they put on a bit more root growth than I anticipated they would but I planted them anyway. So all is not lost for the 1gal rootmaker pots this year. And if these get raided there's a couple hundred more acorns in the fridge.
I then went through the tree nursery that has the 18cell rootmaker trays and I keep protected from predators. I've been going through every so often and taking out the dead acorns and replacing them with live ones.
They're growing pretty well - been in the ground for a little over 3wks I think. So not growing super fast but they're doing alright
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Barrett's Dad
Member
LHA - holy cow man! How did your stratify that many acorns? I had good luck getting some white oak acorns started by heeling some pots and an 18 cell rootmaker in my garden and covering them with hardware cloth.
I tried to do some chestnuts in pots of dirt in my shed, but I had zero luck on those. The fridge is not an option for me unfortunately. Thanks in advance for your help. I'd really like to get more success on the chestnuts.
I tried to do some chestnuts in pots of dirt in my shed, but I had zero luck on those. The fridge is not an option for me unfortunately. Thanks in advance for your help. I'd really like to get more success on the chestnuts.
goatman
I hunt days ending in Y
Chestnuts don't like wet feet. They have to be well drained. I use rootmakers and Promix.
Barrett's Dad
Member
Goatman - thanks very much for the info. I was worried about them drying out...figures. How do you store them through the winter in the rootmakers?
goatman
I hunt days ending in Y
I don't. Store them in a gal. ziplock bag with long leafed sphagnum moss to keep mold down in the mini frig. Also add a little water to the moss so they won't dry out. I have stored them in miracle gro potting soil also.
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Just as goatman said, 1gal ziploc bags. I used straight peat moss and got it damp before storing in the fridge. I did not check on them very much throughout the winter, if I would have I'm sure I'd have gotten better results but I had so many stored I wasn't worried if some molded and went bad. I had a lot of acorns... I'll collect tons more this fall and am always up for trading acorns or mailing them out to anyone who'd like them, just shoot me a PM. I collect quite a few varieties.
As far as the thief, I thought field mice as well but do you think field mice would steal 75 acorns in the matter of a day or two? And be able to tip over peat pots? I suppose it could be. Whatever it was it hasn't been back after I covered the pots with chicken wire. We'll see if it revisits once they start to grow. This time I buried the acorns a little deeper to maybe lower the temptation.
