How to grow an acorn at home?

Content:

1. What to grow a tree from
2. Preparing an acorn
3. Germination
4. Soil for oak
5. Oak transplant
6. How to determine the readiness of seedlings to change the place
7. Finding the right place
8. How to plant correctly
9. Oak care

An adult oak is a tall, stately tree with dense foliage and a solid trunk. It is not for nothing that it has been a symbol of power, strength and knowledge since ancient times, as narrated by folk tales and works of the classic A.S. Pushkin.

In the modern world, oaks are planted in park and roadside areas, in a summer cottage and even at home in a pot, decorative bonsai are grown in a special way.

Growing oak in conditions close to home, and then transplanting it to a summer cottage or adjacent territory will allow you to acquire your own tree of strength and wisdom, which will delight the eye of more than one generation of observers.

What to grow a tree from

You can get a healthy and strong plant from any planting material - an acorn or a cutting. In the first case, it will take more time; a tall oak will grow from a finished shoot 2-4 years earlier. The stalk must be prepared, the roots germinate. However, there is no guarantee that such a seedling will take root. It is easier to grow an oak from an acorn, therefore this method is preferred. The growth rate in the first 2-3 years is much higher than in subsequent years, so the process of monitoring development will become an exciting activity for young family members and hobby growers.

Preparing an acorn

It is possible to grow an oak from an acorn quickly if the preparation of the planting material is carried out correctly.

Fruits are harvested in autumn, when the tree throws off the leaf and the acorns are fully ripe. In search of material, they go to the deciduous forest. In Russia, the most common oak is found, its other names are ordinary, summer or English. The plant is characterized by frequent branches, medium-sized leaves with rounded edges, brown-gray thick bark. The height of an adult is up to 40 meters.

There are 2 types of common oak: winter and summer... In summer, the leaves bloom in late spring in May-June, by autumn they almost do not change color and fall until October. In winter, these processes occur 2-4 weeks later, the leaves acquire a dark brown color by October and can remain on the branches until the next flowering.

Fallen oak fruits are suitable for germination. It is necessary to listen to the acorn - to shake it and determine whether the core is alive in it (it should not blur). From the place of collection, you need to take a little fallen native foliage and the topsoil. They are necessary for the preservation of the material until the moment of disembarkation.

Houses once again check the suitability of the material: cold water is poured into a basin and the fees are lowered there. The specimens that floated quickly to the surface are empty, nothing will grow out of them. Re-check is carried out after 5 minutes: those that have not surfaced are good raw materials for planting.

The most natural and favorable planting of a tree in the spring, for wintering the fruits are sent to hibernation in conditions close to natural:

• Take a jar with a lid, in which there should be holes for ventilation;
• The collected soil is placed in it mixed with foliage;
• An acorn is placed in a "fur coat";
• Close the jar with a lid and put it in a cellar or refrigerator, where the temperature is not lower than + 2-30C.

 

Such "conservation" imitates wintering under a snow crust and the seed is preserved in its original form.

Germination

How to grow an oak from an acorn: then the fascinating process of plant development begins.

Before planting the overwintered fruit in the ground, it is necessary to germinate the roots... To do this, the closed "nuts" are placed in a humid environment, for example, in a bag with wet sphagnum, and left in the refrigerator for 90-120 days. How long it takes to pierce the roots depends on the type of tree.

 

When confident roots appear, the future seedling must be protected from mechanical damage.

If it was not possible to stock up on raw materials in the fall, you can find an already germinated acorn immediately after the snow melts, when the sprout has not yet entered the soil. You need to quickly pack it in a humid environment. It is impossible to keep the seedling outdoors for a long time - the roots require constant moisture and care.

Soil for oak

Oak is unpretentious to the soils of the middle lane, but loves fertile soil rich in nutrients. So that the sprout that has broken through does not die out, it is planted in moist soil taken from the place of growth of the mother oak. If there is none, you can take soil from a country house or a fertile garden plot, add peat moss or vermiculite to it to retain water.

The pot should have drainage holes to remove excess moisture... The sprouted material is planted to a depth of 3-5 cm. For the first time, before the seedlings grow, you can use small plastic cups, which are conveniently placed in the apartment on the windowsill. Landings are covered with a damp cotton swab or rag, creating the effect of a greenhouse with glass or film with ventilation holes. The first year and up to 10 years, the growth rate of seedlings can reach 25-35 cm, then the process slows down.

As the plants grow, they need to be transplanted into larger containers with soil replacement.

Oak transplant

When the seedlings have matured, it is time to transplant them into the ground in an open area.

How to determine the readiness of seedlings to change location:

• The plant has reached a height of 15 cm or more, it is more than 100% taller than the pot;
• The root system is formed, the central core is clearly identified, it has a healthy white color;
• The plant has already put out leaves.

Finding the right place

Oak can only be replanted without damage at an early age. When a tree sits in one place for a long time, its root system grows and deepens, the plant takes its place thoroughly. This fact must be taken into account before transplanting. There should be enough free space on the site, you should not put new houses and structures near the oak - the root system in the future is capable of violating the integrity of the foundation.

The oak cannot stand a dark place - it is impossible to plant it in the shade or under other mature trees, it will take root for a long time, the growth rate drops significantly, you will not have to wait for a mighty stately representative of the Bukovy family.

Where to plant an oak in the country:

1. The place must be open;
2. The light-loving oak should be identified in the west - south of the site;
3. In the future, a grown tree with a rich crown will itself become a source of a dark place, therefore, it is not worth placing a seedling in places where it is inappropriate;
4. There should be no communications and paths near the place that can be damaged by roots.

How to plant correctly

Algorithm of actions for a successful transplant:

1. The site is cleared of tall grass. How much space is needed for a seedling depends on the desired result - for a powerful tree, a free diameter of 15 - 20 m is required.
2. A platform with a diameter of 1.5 meters is dug up, achieving uniformity of the soil and its loosening for enrichment with oxygen.
3. Dig a hole several centimeters deep more than the length of the roots, moisten it.
4. A seedling is taken out of the pot along with the soil and transferred to the prepared hole, sprinkled with earth, compacted.
5. Water the planting abundantly. Do not be afraid to flood the roots - excess moisture will go deep into the soil.
6. At a distance of 30 cm from the trunk, mulch is poured in a circle - it will protect the soil from drying out and the spread of unnecessary weeds.

The same action plan should be followed if you want to make a home oak. In this case, the container must have a volume of at least 100 liters. Of course, no matter how much you take care of, the potted plant will not become so large and powerful, but it will delight the eye with greenery for a longer time.

Oak care

Like any plant, a young oak tree requires care and attention. At first, in an open space, "new settlers" may feel uncomfortable - a new place, soil, lighting. It is important to constantly monitor their condition.

Young shoots are attractive to birds and rodents. To prevent uninvited guests from spoiling the plant, they arrange protection - a small frequent fence around the planting. To avoid the attack of insects, the foliage is treated with pesticides.

Any kind of young oak requires high light and constant moisture. To avoid competition on the site, the area around must be cleared of foreign plants and fast-growing trees.

At first, the oak tree requires constant watering.

You need to take care of the plant until it gets stronger, on average, up to 4-5 years... Upon reaching this time, a young tree up to 1.5 meters high will already flaunt at the dacha.

How to grow an oak is now clear, there is nothing difficult about it, it is enough to be patient for several years.

Already after 30-40 years, a lonely oak begins to bear fruit - once every 6-8 years, acorns ripen on the branches, from which new seedlings can appear.

The oak has long been considered a symbol of stability, power and longevity. Some people take pride in the perennial huge oak trees planted by their fathers and grandfathers. Maybe you also want to plant a powerful tree that will grow for more than one century. Perhaps, in many, many years, your children and grandchildren will also proudly say that this oak was planted by my father (grandfather).

Growing an oak from an acorn is a lengthy process that takes more than one year. However, the cultivation of oak trains patience, endurance, teaches timeliness and regularity. Anyone can grow an oak, but for this you need to know a few subtleties. Involve children in the process - this will not only interest them, but also teach them to be more careful and reverent about nature. So, how to grow an acorn oak at home.

Choosing acorns

Everyone knows that the fruits of the oak are acorns. The best, strongest and healthiest specimens should be selected for inoculation. When collecting acorns, it is very important to understand that a certain percentage of the fruits will be spoiled, some acorns simply will not rise, some of them will die at the stage of planting cuttings. To grow at least a few mature oaks, you need to collect at least 300 acorns.

The acorns are harvested in early spring when the cap will easily separate from the fruit itself. By the way, the cap of acorns can be removed during collection, they do not carry any value, it is just an attachment to the branches and protection of the fruit.

When you bring the acorns home, you need to sort them out. Wormy, moldy, empty, rotten and other spoiled fruits must be thrown out - nothing will germinate from them. The rest of the acorns must be soaked in a container with water. When soaked, acorns that are not suitable for growing will float, which means that they are empty inside. They also need to be removed. The fruits remaining at the bottom must be blotted with a towel and left to dry. To do this, lay them out on paper or cloth, and then place them in a ventilated place. Drying acorns in direct sunlight is not recommended.

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Germination

When growable acorns are ready and dried, they need to be stratified.Stratification is an artificial imitation of conditions close to natural. That is, you need to ensure the humidity and temperature is appropriate for this time of year. Since acorns are harvested at the beginning of autumn, autumn conditions need to be stratified.

Stratification can be done in two ways. Divide the acorns in half. Most should be wrapped in plastic wrap and added to the bag with sawdust, moss or vermiculite. These substances retain moisture. Close the bag and place it in a cool place. It could be a basement or just a refrigerator. Leave the acorns on the bottom shelf, the temperature is usually around 8 degrees. From time to time you need to open the bag so that the seeds have access to oxygen. Monitor the humidity and add water to the bag from time to time. But do not pour - if there is more moisture than it should be, the acorns will rot.

The rest of the acorns should be planted in small cups. Fill the containers with peat and place 2-3 acorns in each glass. Place planted acorns next to the bag. All fruits must grow under the same conditions that mimic natural moisture and temperature.

Within one and a half to two months, the seeds will begin to take root. Some acorns never grow or rot, but more than half of the planted acorns usually delight with small roots.

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Seedling

The next step is to place the sprouted acorns in cups. Carefully remove all contents from the bag. Be careful - the roots of the future oak at this stage are very vulnerable and break easily. Carefully sort out sprouted fruits from rotten and unsprouted acorns. Place the acorns with roots in small 200 ml plastic cups. It is not necessary to plant deeply, it is enough only that the root is completely immersed in the ground. For planting, you can choose the soil from the area where the parent oak grew. But you can plant seedlings in ordinary garden soil with the addition of peat. Do not forget to make holes on the walls of the cup before planting. This is done to remove excess water from irrigation. If this is not done, young roots rot and die.

Those acorns that were not in the package, but were seated in glasses, must also be sorted out. The acorns that gave the root must be planted one in each glass.

At first, the seedlings need to be watered often enough. After planting for a while, it may seem to you that nothing is happening and the acorn will not sprout. But this is not the case. The fact is that at first the oak is gaining strength in the roots and only after that it sprouts. If you notice that the roots are getting cramped in small cups, they can be transplanted into larger containers. It is not worth planting oaks in open ground ahead of time - unprotected young roots are a delicacy for rodents, and small leaves attract herbivores.

When can you plant seedlings in the soil

In order to determine whether a seedling is ready for independent growth, you need to meet certain conditions. Pay attention to its leaves - if the seedling has more than five strong, healthy leaves, it means that it can be planted in open ground. Usually, ready-made shoots are planted in the soil within two to three weeks after planting. In this case, you need to pay attention to its roots - if they are large and white, then the plant is ready for independent growth.

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Planting oak

When you plant a tree in its permanent place of growth, you need to understand that it will grow here not one day, but years, decades and even centuries. Therefore, the choice of a landing site must be taken very scrupulously.

The oak should be planted in an open area of ​​at least two square meters. Oak grows in almost any soil, however, when it is very young, it needs soil rich in vitamins, minerals and fertilizers.Oak loves open sunny areas; it cannot grow in the shade.

When planting oak, it must be borne in mind that in the future the root system of the tree will be powerful and strong, so you should not plant the tree near water supply and other technical underground systems, near the foundation of the house, next to paths and other buildings.

The oak grows large and spreading, over time it will begin to give a good shade. Plant it on a certain side of the house so that later the oak will cast a shadow on the dwelling.

Before planting oak, the ground must be dug up and loosened. No other crops should grow near the seedling. For planting, a recess is made so that the roots of the future tree are immersed in the ground. After that, the soil must be slightly compacted and watered abundantly.

How to care for an oak tree

The first time after planting an oak, it must be watered abundantly. At a distance of 20-30 cm from the sprout, the soil is sprinkled with sawdust or crushed bark. This protects the soil from drying out, and also prevents weeds from growing near the seedling.

Over time, oak requires less maintenance. It grows rather slowly, however, if taken, it will delight you throughout your life. The tree will give its first fruits in the form of acorns only after 10-20 years, depending on the type of oak. During the first few years, the oak needs periodic soil enrichment - it needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers. Over the years, the tree will get stronger, the roots will go deep into the ground and the oak will only need regular watering.

Young seedlings, among other things, need mechanical protection from animals. If there are rabbits, rodents or deer on the site, the seedling must be protected with a small trellis. You can protect the plant from the May beetle and aphids with pesticides. They can be bought at any store for summer residents, they destroy pests, but they are absolutely harmless to plants and people.

As you know, every man must build a house, raise a son and plant a tree. The last item on this list is the easiest and most fun. If every person on earth planted one tree at least once in his life, life on the planet would become better, and breathing easier. Plant trees and your descendants will appreciate your efforts!

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Video: how an oak grew from an acorn

Self-cultivation of acorn oak at home

The process of growing oak from an acorn is quite lengthy, but very simple and interesting. It is this plant that, growing from a small seedling, turns into a massive tree that pleases every family, passing from generation to generation. You have a unique opportunity to observe the life cycle of an oak at the stage of its growth at home. How to grow an oak from an acorn is of interest to many gardeners.

Selection and preparation of planting material

1. Seat selection and landing.
2. Seedling picking.
3. Care of young seedlings.

Acorns for planting should be harvested in early fall. The planting material must not be damaged, contain holes, worms or mold. Brown acorns with a green tint are considered good planting material. Although each variety has a different color.

You need to take acorns, which are easily separated from the cap. The hat is not part of the acorn, but just its protection. Therefore, during the detachment of the cap, the acorn is not damaged.

Oaks must be looked for in the summer, and by the fall the acorns will ripen on them. But there are varieties in which acorns ripen only the next year. For example, a red oak acorn takes two years to mature.

After harvesting, the acorns are tested to identify and remove the spoiled ones. Dip the fruit in a container of water for a few minutes. All acorns floating on the surface, as well as soft and shapeless, are considered spoiled. They are rotten inside. Acorns suitable for planting should be removed from the water, laid out on a towel and allowed to dry in the shade.Then they are placed in a tight-fitting plastic bag. So that the planting material does not deteriorate, substances that retain moisture (vermiculite, a mixture of moss or wood chips) are added to it. A large bag can hold about 200 acorns.

Stratification

The harvested fruits in a bag are placed in the refrigerator for two months or longer, that is, until they germinate.

Stratification promotes active seed germination in spring. Acorns must be constantly monitored so that the nutrient medium is moderately moist. At high humidity, the planting material rots. Too dry environment does not allow them to germinate. In any case, acorns germinate in a humid environment and only after 1.5 - 2 months of storage in the refrigerator. This process occurs at the end of autumn - the beginning of winter.

Germination and care of seedlings

Sprouted acorns must be handled with care, as their roots are very easy to break. After the acorns germinate, they are planted in small pots, plastic cups or containers with a diameter of about 5 cm. The planting containers are filled with ordinary garden soil, adding a little peat moss. The acorn is not planted very deeply with the root down.

Each glass or pot needs to have holes on the sides to allow excess water to drain out. If the acorn has a well-developed long root, it is planted in the garden in light fertile soil. But such seedlings can die, since they have no protection from various rodents.

After planting acorns at home, they are watered so that the water flows out of the holes in the glass. The seedlings need to be watered very frequently for the first few weeks.

It is displayed on southern windowsills to provide good lighting. For a while, acorns will sit unchanged in the soil. This is a natural process, since at this time all the energy is directed towards the formation of the root system.

Picking up oak seedlings

As soon as the plants germinate and release 2-3 leaves, they are transplanted into larger containers so that they get stronger and grow a little more. This procedure is usually performed 2 weeks after planting the acorns. Other gardeners plant seedlings directly in open ground or adapt seedlings, gradually increasing the period of their stay in the fresh air, and then plant them in open soil. There are many opinions, but still, there are the main signs by which you can determine the readiness of acorns for transplanting at home:

• The plant has reached 15 cm in height and has several leaves.
• Healthy white roots.
• The plant has a well-developed main root.
• The seedling is larger than the pot.
• If the seedlings are more than two weeks old.

Landing in a permanent place

Determining the landing site is a very responsible matter. This should be a site with a large space, because in mature age the oak grows to a large size.

Factors to consider when choosing a landing site:

• Oak, like many other garden plants, needs good lighting. Therefore, its cultivation should take place in a sunny area.
• This should be a place away from water pipes, pipelines, paths. In the event of technical or construction work, you risk damaging the root system of the tree.
• If you plant a tree in the southwest of the house, then in the future, it will cast a shadow on the house.
• In southern regions, the tree should be planted west or northwest of the house to create shade.
• It is not recommended to plant oak seedlings in areas where there is a lot of vegetation. Plants, fighting for light and moisture, can simply destroy the seedling.

After the site for planting is selected, it is cleaned 1-2 m in diameter. In order for the soil to be homogeneous, it is dug to a depth of 30 cm, breaking lumps. To grow an oak from an acorn, you need to use a slightly damp soil.Therefore, before planting, you need to water it or wait until it rains. Then you need to dig a hole 30 cm wide. The depth of the hole will depend on the length of the root. He must completely immerse himself in it. The acorn is lowered into the hole with the root down, and the leaves up. Then carefully sprinkle the seedling with earth, lightly tamp and watered abundantly.

At 30 cm from the tree, you need to lay out mulch or pieces of bark.

This will prevent the soil from drying out and the growth of weeds. The main thing is that the mulch does not come into contact with the stem of the tree. In order for the transplant to be successful, experienced gardeners recommend planting several acorns at once in one place. To do this, you need to clear an area of ​​60x60 cm and plant two sprouts on it, sprinkling with a 3-5 cm layer of soil.

Care of young oak trees

After planting, oak trees need special care. After all, young seedlings are a source of food for animals that eat foliage (rabbits, deer), including rodents, which often dig them up. Therefore, all necessary measures must be taken to protect the young trees at home. You can set up a sturdy plastic fence or mesh grate. In regions where deer live, it is necessary to create protection for the crown of trees by making a fence from a net. To protect oak trees from May beetles and aphids, it is necessary to use pesticides.

Oaks have a long root that is able to extract moisture at great depths. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced. But in the summer, young seedlings need frequent moisture. Many gardeners use drip irrigation to keep the trees at home constantly and evenly. For about two weeks, you will need about 30 liters of water. A drip irrigation system will be required in the early years of the trees' life. It is installed around the trunk of the seedlings to prevent moisture accumulation, which can lead to rotting as a result. Every year of life, oak requires less attention and reverent care. Its root goes deep, and the crown becomes high. Further care consists in timely watering in hot and dry weather.

After about 20 years, the tree will give you its first fruits. Although this period begins in different ways for each variety. Some varieties may not bear fruit even up to 50 years. Oaks, regardless of age, shed their foliage, and young seedlings are no exception. Therefore, do not be upset, you just need to wait for the onset of spring.

If you would like more information, you can see the detailed instructions on how to grow oak from an acorn at home.