I have an October Glory maple that flowered for the first time this spring and has produced winged seeds - can I sow these now or should I wait until autumn?
I doubt if they're ripe yet. Are they brown and dry?
If they are, sow them fresh and leave them cold through the winter. I've always left tree seeds outside but some people use a cold frame so they don't get too wet.
Right, sow them, well drained compost, top with grit, shady place outside now. Outside or cold GH/coldframe for winter. No heat at any time, germinate in spring.
Not completely different but October Glory is a cultivar of Acer rubrum and cultivars don't come true from seed, they're reproduced vegetatively, cuttings, graftings etc, a clone. Seedlings are likely to be be closer to the original species but you might get something you like even better
Great - be good if I get something different, I also have an Acer freemanii Jeffsred maple tree and have been looking online to see if it produces seeds - some sites say they do others say they dont so will have to wait and see. I suppose the above about the babies not being same as parents would be the same for Acer Campestre William Caldwell?
But you might get something nice. There was an Acer plantanoides cultivar in the garden when we arrived. Lovely for a couple of weeks with new growth and flowers but dull and dreary after that. Its babies are much more attractive all season
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I doubt if they're ripe yet. Are they brown and dry?
If they are, sow them fresh and leave them cold through the winter. I've always left tree seeds outside but some people use a cold frame so they don't get too wet.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Yes they are brown and dry and falling from the tree now, the tree has been well watered and fed.
Right, sow them, well drained compost, top with grit, shady place outside now. Outside or cold GH/coldframe for winter. No heat at any time, germinate in spring.
Good luck
The babies may not be the same as the parents
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks for your help, will do that later on-
When you say the babies may not be the same as the parents- does that mean I could get something completely different?
Not completely different but October Glory is a cultivar of Acer rubrum and cultivars don't come true from seed, they're reproduced vegetatively, cuttings, graftings etc, a clone. Seedlings are likely to be be closer to the original species but you might get something you like even better
In the sticks near Peterborough
Great - be good if I get something different, I also have an Acer freemanii Jeffsred maple tree and have been looking online to see if it produces seeds - some sites say they do others say they dont so will have to wait and see. I suppose the above about the babies not being same as parents would be the same for Acer Campestre William Caldwell?
That's right, yes.
But you might get something nice. There was an Acer plantanoides cultivar in the garden when we arrived. Lovely for a couple of weeks with new growth and flowers but dull and dreary after that. Its babies are much more attractive all season
In the sticks near Peterborough