Potting Acorns-How to Hatch a Tree Part III

It was time. Time to plant the acorns we collected in How to Hatch a Tree during the fall. For the past few months they (the acorns) have been cold stratified in my fridge. We knew it was time to plant them since all the white roots have emerged as shown in How to Hatch a Tree Part II. I prefer to put the newly hatched acorns directly in the ground, but it began raining here... With the earth to mushy to work in we had to pot them so they will keep growing properly. Sometimes compromises must be made.


First we filled the pots with a good well draining potting mixture. The pots are all cast offs from the local nursery. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle... We used a bag of "special" Miracle Grow potting soil, but any kind will do. We packed in the soil compressing it so it was firm, but not too tight.


Next we poked a hole deep enough to place the newly emerged root in the soil mixture. Then we carefully pushed the soil around the root.


During the proceedings, Lucky the cat, watched us from a baby valley oak tree in the yard. He obviously has a job as a supervisor on our property. Add in the occasional mew for direction and we got the job done. (I have never seen a cat scaffold trees the way this one does. He's gorgeous to look at and an incredible climber.)


Finally, after carefully planting each acorn at the surface of the pot and burring the long tap root we lined them up for a photo op. I think they like the publicity.

Now we get to wait some more for the emergence of the first few baby leaves which will spout from the apex of the acorn in about 2 months from now.

All this work for native valley and live oak trees, but it is worth all the effort. Replanting native trees is the biologically correct way to go. They grow best in the local climate, are more disease resistant, and make great homes for native wildlife.

Grow baby oaks, GROW!!!!