Maple Tree Seeds

[l008com]

So 2 years ago I bought a bunch of japanese maple tree seeds and some shantung maple tree seeds. I planted about 10 cups of them, but none of them sprouted.

I didn't feel like waiting, so I then ordered a bunch of saplings online. Some of those saplings took, others did not.

Well now its the start of winter and I believe what I was told last year was that the maple seeds need to be out in the cold for a period of time to become ready to grow? Is that right? So should I just take all the seeds I have now and put them in a jar in my shed until spring, and then re-plant them and see if I can get some action?

In the end, I really want 3 of the shantungs and 3 of the japanese.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Yes, they call it 'stratification' and Japanese maple do need it. The shed is a bit random, a jar with something damp, like a bit of moss, and put them in the salad drawer of the fridge is probably surer.

 

[l008com]

Well, do they have to be cool. Or do they have to be frozen? Cause they're not going to get that cold in my fridge. But Winter is here and they'll get freeze solid in my shed, just like they would if they were on the ground outside.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Ideal temperatures are just above freezing, frozen solid can actually damage seeds, think 34-40F

 

[l008com]

Ideal temperatures are just above freezing, frozen solid can actually damage seeds, think 34-40F

How do trees grow in nature then? Its well below freezing in winter, the ground freezes solid here.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Some seeds will land in sheltered spots, get accidentally buried, woven into a nest, whatever. A tree makes hundreds, sometimes thousands of seeds every year and is fairly long lived, even those that are not like oaks living for hundreds of years have a fairly long life. That is an awful lot of seeds, but in a truly wild state only one needs to grow to replace the parent, most fail to reach maturity, but you are looking for as near 100% germination as you can get, so give them ideal conditiond, slightly damp in the salad drawer for a few months.

 

[Meadowlark]

How do trees grow in nature then? Its well below freezing in winter, the ground freezes solid here.

According to AI, Maple seeds do not have any problem with freezing as long as they are dry. Wet/damp seeds frozen may be damaged or dead.

I have been able to grow only one Maple tree over the years from seed here but that is due to harsh hot climate rather than lack of seed germination.

 

[pepper2.0]

I don't know anything about the specific maple seeds but any seed I've ever grown that needed that cool down I just stick in the fridge for a few months wrapped in paper towel. Btw, I enjoy your channel, it's mellow and chill.

How is that boat motor holding up?

 

[l008com]

In wet papertowel or dry papertowel? I found some dirt so I filled a jar halfway with it, then poured way too much water in it, so now the jar is on the table drying out a little before i put the seeds in it and pop it in the fridge. Paper towel would have been easier. Although come to think of it, i'm out of paper towel so it would not have been easier after all!

Also thanks re the channel. That boat.... UGH omg. So I'm driving down the Charles River in Boston this past summer and the engine dies out of the blue. I ended up having to row to shore, get an uber to drive me 2 miles up river to get my truck, then I drive back to the spot where I tied my boat up and left it. Then I have to recover the boat, but theres no ramp. Just a kayak rental stand that is closed because its night. So I back my trailer right into the water and after much heroics, the boat is back.

I put a spark tester on it, no spark on all three cylinders. Not sure whats up with that, haven't had a chance to look in to it. I'll probably start by popping off the fly wheel and see how the coil looks.

Could be worse though I suppose, I used to take that boat out in to open ocean regularly.

 

[pepper2.0]

In wet papertowel or dry papertowel? I found some dirt so I filled a jar halfway with it, then poured way too much water in it, so now the jar is on the table drying out a little before i put the seeds in it and pop it in the fridge. Paper towel would have been easier. Although come to think of it, i'm out of paper towel so it would not have been easier after all!

Also thanks re the channel. That boat.... UGH omg. So I'm driving down the Charles River in Boston this past summer and the engine dies out of the blue. I ended up having to row to shore, get an uber to drive me 2 miles up river to get my truck, then I drive back to the spot where I tied my boat up and left it. Then I have to recover the boat, but theres no ramp. Just a kayak rental stand that is closed because its night. So I back my trailer right into the water and after much heroics, the boat is back.

I put a spark tester on it, no spark on all three cylinders. Not sure whats up with that, haven't had a chance to look in to it. I'll probably start by popping off the fly wheel and see how the coil looks.

Could be worse though I suppose, I used to take that boat out in to open ocean regularly.

My man, that's a story worthy of being called captain in your future boating adventures lol. I haven't been to your channel since that video of you clearing out the ditch. I'll check out any new ones this week. It's a nice break from the loud and hyper stuff.

As for the maple seeds.. I wouldn't put them in anything wet just wrap them in toilet paper or anything that gives them air.. not like a ziplock bag. You don't want to sprout them you just want to give them a nap before sprouting them.

 

[l008com]

Not sure what clearing out the ditch video you're talking about, but I've been focusing more on repair type videos lately since nobody actually watches the yardwork videos But you can watch them all, I'll allow it!

 

[pepper2.0]

Not sure what clearing out the ditch video you're talking about, but I've been focusing more on repair type videos lately since nobody actually watches the yardwork videos But you can watch them all, I'll allow it!

You have views.. give yourself some credit! But what I call a ditch might not be the right word there. It was at the side of your property.. a small brook down below. You cut the grass and went down saying you were going to work on landscaping it or something. I forget exactly, but I was thinking there could be so many cool things you could do down there like set up trail cams for critters that come to the water.

 

[pepper2.0]

Actually along that hill would be a perfect place to plant some wild ramps. Aka wild leaks. I have them growing on my property now, I planted them years ago. It takes a while for them to spread but well worth it and delicious!

 

[yardiron]

A couple of neighbors here added Japanese maple trees to their landscaping a few years ago, last spring I had seedlings popping up everywhere. They were like weeds.
All of the maple trees here sprout from the same year's seed drop every spring. They put on the first leaves, then sprout their seeds, drop those seeds as the leaves mature and the area is inundated with tiny maple seedlings, the most prolific seem to be Japanese, Red, and Norway Maple seeds. I potted a few of the seedlings in 10 gallon pots to see which one's mature the best for replanting. The 8 that I potted are over 20" tall already. Oddly two never lost their leaves when it got cold.

 

[l008com]

Hmmm, i hope i have as much success with mine!