How to plant an acorn correctly to get an oak seedling at home?

Previously, oak groves (oak groves) accounted for almost half of the forests of Europe, but today there are ten times less of them - about 3%. Therefore, germinating an acorn is a good idea anyway. This is a tree of courage, fire, princely power. The green giant can live for about 1000 years and reach a height of 60 m.

Preparing acorns for planting

To grow oak, you need to select high-quality fruits. Acorns should be free of mold and damage. Make sure the shell is glossy and the cap is easy to remove. Seed collection is carried out from late August to mid-autumn, until the heavy rains began.

Acorns that lie under the tree are suitable for planting. If the fruit is hanging on a branch, it means that it is not yet ripe - you do not need to pick it.

Collect as many acorns as possible, as many of them will not be viable.

Preparation for landing includes the following steps:

1. Viability test. Some acorns are hollow on the inside. To select suitable ones, dip them in a bowl of water and select only those that sink to the bottom. The ones that have surfaced can be safely thrown out.
2. Stratification. This is the process of simulating winter conditions. The acorn should be dormant for some time. If planted without stratification, it can simply rot in the ground. In addition, it will be difficult for a seedling to grow immediately after harvesting in autumn and winter - too little light and cold. Therefore, the seed is wrapped in wet gauze (burlap) and kept for 3 months at a temperature below 0. The place should not only be cold, but well ventilated so that the acorn does not rot. You can arrange it on the balcony or in the cellar.

Germination

Germinating an acorn is easy. It is enough to provide high humidity. Already at + 5 ° C, it will begin to swell and hatch.

In March, you can safely plant the fruit directly into the open ground. With a high degree of probability, within 1 month, a seedling will appear from the ground, which will subsequently develop into a strong tree. At the same time, acorns that have not been trained and hibernated under the snow emerge only in 10 cases out of 100.

The second way is to germinate an oak acorn at home right in a pot. For this you will need:

• suitable container for growing;
• stratified acorns;
• priming;
• settled water for irrigation.

Choosing an acorn pot is important!

The choice of container for growing is very important. 99% of the pots are not suitable for planting oak. They permanently cripple the root system, because of which the tree grows disabled and cannot withstand the gusts of wind.

The oak has a vertical root, and in the first month in natural conditions it reaches a length of 50–70 cm. It grows straight, deep into the ground. If you plant an acorn in a shallow pot, the root will quickly reach the bottom and twist. When transplanted, it will remain so and will not go deep.

Moreover, you cannot grow oak at home for more than 1 year. During this period, the root should grow more than 1 meter. Up to 4–5 years, the roots of the plant occupy 80–90% of the total mass!

In order for the root system to develop correctly, to germinate the acorn, you need to take a very deep and preferably not wide pot. You can use a 2L mineral water bottle. For convenience, the narrow part (neck) should be cut off with a hot knife or scissors. Also, holes should be made at the bottom and drainage from expanded clay should be added.

Priming

Fertile compositions are suitable for planting acorns. You can use store-bought primer or make it yourself.

The following mixture works well for oak:

• 3 pieces of garden land;
• 1 part of humus;
• 1 piece of leafy land.

Some gardeners advise taking land from under the oak trees that grow in parks and forests. But you need to pay attention to keep the tree healthy. In general, oaks are picky about the ground. The main thing is that there is not a lot of clay and sand in it.

How to plant an acorn?

The recommended time for germination is from late January to early February. After preparing all the necessary materials, the acorn is planted as follows:

1. A small hole is dug in the ground, up to 1 cm deep.
2. The acorn is laid horizontally, on a barrel, and sprinkled with soil.
3. Watering is in progress.
4. For germination, the acorn pot is placed in a warm, shaded place.

How to care for a seedling?

Before the sprouts appear, the ground with an acorn is regularly watered - once every 2-3 days. After the seedling has grown, the care changes somewhat:

• Lighting. Oak loves an abundance of light, so it is placed on the south window. A very young sprout is slightly shaded so that the leaves do not burn out.
• Temperature. Room temperature is sufficient for the growth of oak, but it is important that there are no drafts.
• Watering. Seedlings are often watered, preventing the clod of earth from drying out. It is important that the water does not stagnate, but flows out through the holes in the bottom of the pot.
• Hardening. When 5 leaves appear and the stem height is 15 cm, the plant is prepared for transplanting into open ground. He is taken out into the street, first for 20 minutes, then for 30 minutes, and so on. Hardening lasts 2 weeks.

The first shoots after planting acorns in the ground appear after 1–1.5 months. First, the root part is actively developing. But the stem also grows quite vigorously: by the end of the 3rd month, its height is 10-15 cm.

Outdoor transplant

Young oak trees are planted in spring for better adaptation and strengthening of roots in new soil. Some gardeners transplant seedlings in the same year, others grow trees at home for 2-3 years. The first option is preferable, since a long stay in cramped conditions has a bad effect on the root system.

When replanting, the first step is to choose a suitable place for the "king of trees". The crown of an oak tree can grow up to 50 m in height and over 20 m in width. The root system must be removed from plumbing and buildings.

Planting seedlings in open ground is done as follows:

1. Deep conical pits are prepared. The depth should be such that the root can be fully contained.
2. Fertilizers (humus) are placed at the bottom of the pit.
3. The seedlings are transferred together with a lump of earth and added in such a way that the root collar rises a couple of centimeters.
4. The earth is compacted and watered abundantly. Plants need watering in the first 3 years, then the trees independently take moisture from the soil.
5. To avoid the appearance of weeds, the root circle is mulched with sawdust. And so that the tree is not accidentally trampled, protective pegs are installed around.
6. In the first week after planting the oak, it is advisable to shade.
7. In order to prevent the appearance of pests, seedlings are treated with pesticides.

In the first 5 years, the tree grows slowly. Intensive growth occurs in the period from the 5th to the 20th year of life. The oak begins to bear fruit even later - 30–40 years after planting. Oak loves rich moist soil, but without waterlogging. It has a high level of heat and drought resistance, for which it is highly valued in landscaping.

Oak prefers to grow "in a fur coat, but with an open head." It is planted along with other trees, but make sure that the top is open to the sun. So a tree develops a straight and slender trunk, cleared of branches, and the crown rushes upward.

Growing an acorn oak is a tempting idea. The tree will ennoble any area. In addition, the seedling germinates quite easily. At first, he has enough to grow his own nutrients. But you need not only to pay attention to the future crown and stem, but also to take care of the correct development of the root system.To do this, you need to choose a deep pot and do not hesitate to transplant the seedling into the ground. And it is better to plant acorns immediately on the site so that the oak tree can develop a powerful taproot system. So it will probably occupy deeper layers of soil, better provided with moisture, and will not fall off when the wind gusts.