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Trees from seed
Irene Thornton
Posts: 3
in Talkback
I am trying to grow European Silver Fir Trees from seed in a cold frame and I am told to apply (4 to 6ins of mulch after the first killing frost) does this mean after the first frost we have? and can I use leaves as a mulch or is there a specific on I should buy
many thanks
Irene
0
Posts
If they haven't I wouldn't expect the tiny plants to struggle up through 6 inches of mulch. Yes, you can use leaves as a mulch, but don't bury the plants; they should be hardy.
Seeds don't naturally sink themselves 6 inches into soil, they land on the surface. Then they sit out in the weather. I cover hardy tree seeds in a small layer of compost, just enough to surround them, then a layer of grit, then I leave them outside to take what nature would give them. I don't have many failures
In the sticks near Peterborough
I have never done any of this before I have stratified the seeds in the fridge for 6 weeks then planted some seeds in a mix of 1part sphagnum 1part vermiculite some seeds in john innes no1 compost and some in ericaceous compost to see what works best
The fridge is an alternative to standing them out for the winter. I think outside is better. Fridge temperature is above freezing point, outside is often lower than that. Variable temperature is what happens in nature. Plants evolve to survive the climate they're in
In the sticks near Peterborough
thanks for the comments
I don't have much room outside so I just put the seed trays in a little plastic greenhouse ( so the wind dose'nt blow them away) and left the front of this open will this do for winter?
Pots are better than trays, some trees create a longish root before you want to be pricking them out. That's best done as things get a bit warmer, otherwise they might rot.
My feeling is that exposure to all weather is part of the process. However, some trees will germinate whatever you do or don't do. This may be one of them
A lot of people fail with tree/shrub seeds because they do too much, or try and be kind to them.
In the sticks near Peterborough