Wash immediately if any is spilt on your skinģ) Place seeds in the dry glass containerĤ) Add the sulphuric acid concentrate at a volume about twice the volume of the seedsĦ) Periodically check the seed for coat thickness by extracting a few seeds and cutting in half with pruners. If you are attempting it, you may want to consult a more detailed protocol and follow these basic guidelines:ġ) Wear goggles and protective clothing. Take care to avoid damaging the seed embryo.Ĭ) Chemical (Acid) Wash: The chemical wash method of scarification is generally used by commercial growers for select seed varieties and is often not required for home gardening purposes. Follow the above noted directions, using water at the recommended temperature.ī) Physical/Mechanical: Using a small file or sandpaper, rub the outside of the seed coat to reduce its density or to nick the seed coat so that moisture can more easily penetrate to the embryo. Some seeds may require hot water as per instructions. It is best to use a glass container for soaking the seeds. Most water treatments are done using room temperature water. Hard seed coats can be broken down by a) a water soak, b) a physical or mechanical breaking of the seed coat, or c) a chemical or acid treatment (not commonly required).Ī) Water soak: Pour water over the seeds and let them soak for the recommend time, often 6 to 24 hours. Many tree seeds do not require any scarification, and for those that do, the most common treatment is a simple water soak. Scarification is commonly required on seeds with dense or hard seed shells. Scarification is the process of reducing or breaking the seed coat so that moisture can penetrate and the embryo can begin the germination process. In fact some seeds do not require any pre-treatment whatsoever. Keep in mind that not all seeds require all of these steps. The three steps are: 1) Scarification, 2) Cold Stratification, and 3) Warm Stratification. Many seeds require one or more treatment steps to stimulate the germination process. Please carefully read the recommended steps listed on each individual seed package. There are several techniques that may be involved to force the germination of any given tree seed. Basically, it means using various techniques to mimic the role nature plays in causing tree seeds to germinate. Forced or “Assisted” GerminationĪlthough natural germination is an acceptable way to start most tree seeds, sometimes better and more consistent results can be achieved through forced or “assisted” germination. In a natural forest, if seeds germinated immediately upon falling to the ground in late summer or fall, the tender seedlings would die off during the cold winter.
The delay in the germination process is vital to the survival of many tree species. For many types of seeds, the embryo inside the seeds is immature and unable to germinate (this is called ‘dormancy’) until it matures in this manner. As the warm spring weather arrives the seeds then begin the germination process. Over the winter, the seeds remain bedded in this cool moisture environment. It is important to remember that many species originated in cooler climates where seeds drop to the ground and are covered by leaves in the fall. With some seed varieties you may see germination spread over two or three years with some seeds germinating in the first spring and others taking longer to break dormancy and germinate. If the seeds are planted too deep, this could delay or inhibit the spring germination process. Be sure to sow the seeds at the recommended depth. Most seeds, when sown in the fall without any pre-treatment, will begin to germinate the following spring. The “natural way” to germinate tree seeds, then, is to allow nature to take its course. Seeds have been sprouting and trees have been growing for an awfully long time without any help from humans.
In most cases, there are two ways to start tree seeds: The natural way, which often includes sowing the seeds in the fall, or through forced or “assisted” germination, which is initially done indoors.
Starting trees from seed can be one of the most rewarding gardening activities, but tree seeds often require a little more preparation than many common flower or vegetable seeds.
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