Growing Nuts from Seed

[OROZCONLECHE]

My next question was to see if you left them over water at night but I guess you just cracked the nut open, Seems risky but ill give it a try then.

[Richee]

The Hazelnut I just put in a glass of water on the counter, and cleaning the water out several times a week. I had a handful of Hazelnuts in there, and only one of them spread open and turned a light green.. so I threw the other ones in the trash.

The Almond I put in the fridge, inside a ziplock bad between two moist coffee filters. If you don't have coffee filters, just use paper towels. Keep it moist, but not dripping wet. I noticed the flat end was getting larger and showing more white, so I was unsure if it was a root or stalk, so I planted it in the dirt on it's thin side... so that both fat ends could grow either way. What I did not know was that they grow from the top... that is why my plant is pushed to the side of the cup. lol.

And the Chestnuts also spent a month in the fridge, but being so large, I did not think the ziplock bag and filters would work.. so I put hamster bedding in there(wood chips). I'm sure you could probably use seed starter or something.. maybe even dirt. But should be loose enough so you can take it out to keep checking on it. Once the stalk started to come out, I came to this forum to learn how to plant it. Here is a link to that post:
[url]https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=237948#237948[/url]

[Richee]

Sure, I would soak them over night as well.

I think I did that was the Almonds too before moving them into the ziplock bags.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Oh that sounds good, so soak them and put them I'm moist paper towel and or just warm soil will work right? now that I have a heatmat I think I should start putting it to good use

[Richee]

Here's two videos I watched to get an idea how to crack the seeds open, the first one looked too dangerous, so I cracked them with a hammer like I mentioned in my previous post.

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4FN9rEjnxk[/url]

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS8jQoWSqaU[/url]


I did not plant them in anything warm right away, only after they germinated. Apparently, they have to go through a short winter spell in the fridge.. but mine started to sprout after 2 or 3 weeks in the fridge, THEN I took them out and planted them in a warm location.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Oh ok then I shall put them in the fridge Thanks

[Richee]

It's only been a couple of days, but my Chestnut has grown pretty quick.
[img]https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/dailynightly/seedlings8.jpg[/img]


It even has another part growing near the bottom.
[img]https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/dailynightly/seedlings9.jpg[/img]


The other Chestnut has also been moved to a large planter... the seed flipped over and was pushing so hard it was bending the top of the cup.. now it's got room to do what it's trying to do. lol.


I moved the Almond to a bigger planter as well.
[img]https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/dailynightly/seedlings7.jpg[/img]


Gonna keep the Almond inside till it gets a little bigger and stronger.

[OROZCONLECHE]

That chestnut looks terrific, I must say its one of the most beautiful plants ive seen, idk why but I also love how an apple seedling looks, well I hope this nuts don't take too long to sprout in the fridge, but I have enough time.

[Richee]

I remember checking on mine every couple of days in the fridge, finally I cleared out the drawer in the bottom and put the ziplock bag with the chestnuts in there.

Since I no longer seen the ziplock bag when I opened the fridge, I forgot about it.. then 2 or 3 weeks later, I remembered I had them in there and went to check.. that's when I discovered the root stem coming out of both chestnuts.

Speaking of apple seedling, I got a few of those growing as well. I live in Florida, so I'm not sure how well they're going to grow, but I'm going to try.

[OROZCONLECHE]

I got a crabapple tree growing at the moment its doing fine actually great I'm in california so its farely warm even at nights

[Richee]

So far this year I am growing 2 Avocado, 8 Lemon plants, 8 Meyer Lemons, 4 Key Limes, 8 Grapefruit, 8 Orange, 4 Green Apple, 4 Washington Apple, 6 Pear, 12 Tomato, 1 Hazelnut, 1 Almond, 2 Chestnuts, and a couple shade trees like Sycamore and Elm. All from seeds.

Already grown are two Patchouli plants that are about 4 years old, an Earpod tree that is 3 years old and 8 foot tall, and an Italian Stone Pine that is almost 2 years old.

Then I have some plants that were given to me, like a Japanese Plum tree.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Wow that is a hell of a lot of trees, I'm soon to be like that or even more, the main one and the ones I pamper the most is red maple tree, crabapple, super hots peppers like ghost peppers scorpion butch and many others, well I have to many plants, almost no. Trees but my 4 faves are four little papaya trees

[Richee]

I'll make a post with pictures in another section of the forum, maybe in the What Doesn't Fit Elsewhere section of the forum. I would love to see a picture of your Red Maple.

I've bought seeds for that tree one two different occasions, and have never been able to get any to germinate, no matter what I tried. I even have some still trying to germinate.. but it's not looking promising.

But I don't want to continue hijacking this post, so I'll get a new one up in the What Doesn't Fit Elsewhere tomorrow with some more pictures.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Ok ill be taking pics too even thought the red maple hasn't germinated yet

[Richee]

I made a new post. [url]https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=240404[/url]

[OROZCONLECHE]

Did what you said and here is my chestnut [img]https://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee442/OROZCOVICTOR/2012-03-20200302.jpg[/img]

[Richee]

Hey,

That looks great!

It appears to have been planted right side up and everything.

Did you move it to another planter? That trunk is going to get thick and it needs the room to expand.

It looks like you left the fuzzy skin on there, but it seemed to be ok as it's sprouted. I peeled it all off, and I was left with a light peach colored wrinkled seed.

I'll post a recent picture of mine today. The large one is doing great, the one that was planted upside down is still off to a slow start. Infact, one of the trunks died back.

Both of mine have(had) two trunks, I don't think they're supposed to.. might not be good for the tree when it gets larger.

[OROZCONLECHE]

I did move it to another pot its doing much better, on the process of changing it, the seed broke apart, it didnt have a negative effect on the plant but I placed it back it the soil for looks, I try to remove some of the skin of the seed but it wouldn't come off, I'm sorry the trunk died off but I'm sure it was just robbing energy from the main one, I can't wait to see pictures from your plants.
Here is a pic of mine as of right now [img]https://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee442/OROZCOVICTOR/2012-04-28085909.jpg[/img]

[PunkRotten]

Looks good man. Keep doing what you are doing and gradually up pot the tree when it needs it. After reaching several feet tall you can probably put it in the ground. Make sure to find a good spot for it.

[Richee]

Here is mine next to one of my Lemon trees.

It gives you an idea on how big it is.

[img]https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/dailynightly/CN01.png[/img]


It's got all kinds of new growth coming through since it was moved to the big planter.

[img]https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/dailynightly/CN03.png[/img]


And here's what I am talking about with the two trunks, not sure what I should do, if anything, about it.

[img]https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/dailynightly/CN02.png[/img]

[PunkRotten]

I think those extra trunks should be cut off. Remove some of the dirt to see if it looks like it connects to the main trunk sorta like a branch. If not it is probably one of those root trunks. With the few trees I've grown I was told to cut them off cause they are not part of the main tree really and only take away energy from the tree.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Thanks and Yea I will take care of it and re-pot it just to see if it needs it soon, Your two plants look amazing and its huge, the lemon one is small but nice, also the new grow looks terrific, and If it was my Tree I would leave the second trunk, I wouldn't mind letting them grow a bit slow but it would look pretty cool as it gets older.

[Richee]

Yeah my Lemon trees all have these long thorns on them too.

Not sure how I can cut one of the trunks, wouldn't it just grow back?

[PunkRotten]

Well my goji tree grows stems like that too. But they come from the roots and not part of the main plant so they just suck energy. So I cut them but they come back. Eventually I might win and they won't grow back. I mulch over it so hopefully that will help. Also I hear it is better to deep water than sprinkle cause that encourages those root stems.

But I am not sure this is the case with your tree. You'd have to wipe away some dirt and see where the stem is coming from. If it is part of the main trunk I think you are ok, but if it is growing from the roots it might be best to cut it. You may wanna get some other opinions though.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Cant you guys just separate/split them that way you get 2 plants with roots?

[Richee]

Might be too difficult to do for me at this time, because the roots are too intertwined.

I'm not sure if I can re-root the one I cut off or not.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Oh well I got this one thing Azos and once I cut something or repot or reroot, I add it and the plants stay alive till it gets stabled, also I love you Lemon Tree, I want to Get a Key Lime so bad, but seems too long for it to grow from seed, I might might grow one or just buy one at a store, well for your plant I say you let it grow with 2 trunks besides if your growing it from seed, it should be for fun so why not grow 2 trunks for fun

[soil]

a few of my wild pecans have started to sprout

[OROZCONLECHE]

Just looked at pecan trees on google and those things give out a huge shell, I'm thinking of growing every type of nut, at least 1 of each just for the heck of it, and Congrats on your Seedlings

[PunkRotten]

Oh well I got this one thing Azos and once I cut something or repot or reroot, I add it and the plants stay alive till it gets stabled, also I love you Lemon Tree, I want to Get a Key Lime so bad, but seems too long for it to grow from seed, I might might grow one or just buy one at a store, well for your plant I say you let it grow with 2 trunks besides if your growing it from seed, it should be for fun so why not grow 2 trunks for fun

Should just buy a tree. Easiest way to do it and you don;t gotta mess around with grafting and/or having other trees for pollination. They sell key lime trees and lowes and homedepot, plus I am sure local nurseries carry it too. It's gonna be like around $25 though.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Yea I do want a Key lime but I rather grow it than buying it, I might just go to Cardenas its a Mexican grocery store, they sell all this type of grafted trees all under 15 bucks, pretty damn cheap but I like the fun of growing things from seed, its just a whole new level.

[soil]

in the last few days a whole bunch of my wild pecan seeds sprouted seedlings. should be a good 10+ years before I get my first pecan lol.

[PunkRotten]

Well you gotta start somewhere.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Just make sure You don't move somewere else if you plant it in the ground or 10 years sounds alright lol

[Richee]

OROZCONLECHE, My Almond tree suddenly died. Not sure what happened, it just started going down hill.. so I brought it indoors and put it in a window for light.. but it never recovered. I bought a bag of de-shelled raw almonds to try again... there was no way I was going to peel a bunch of seeds again, so I bought them already peeled.

But I have 4 Key Lime trees growing as well.

I could never find regular sized Limes with seeds in them, only when I bought some Key Limes did those have the seeds inside.

PunkRotten, I'm not sure what the whole grafting thing is about. Why would I need to graft something that is grown from seed? If these plants are never able to grow normally from seed, how have them not become extinct thousands of years ago? I'm sure the caveman wasnt out there grafting citrus trees. lol.

[OROZCONLECHE]

Oh man, that sucks but Trying and Trying makes us only better at doing stuff, and its a good way to start by buying deshelled nuts lol I made my self a promised of going to asian/mexican store and finding rare nuts, or any type of fruit I can or try to grow

[PunkRotten]

Well some trees need other trees of their kind to cross pollinate. That is the natural way. The whole grafting technique is something gardeners started because it cuts fruiting time down and you don't have to depend on other trees. You could be waiting like 15 years for a fruit, when a grafted tree will give it to you in 1/4 that time. Grafting is also good cause essentially you are cloning another tree.

[Richee]

PunkRotten, what if I have several of the same type of trees growing?

I have about 7 Lemon trees growing, not gonna keep them all, but will keep a few. I also have the four Key Limes growing. Would that be enough for the pollination?


OROZCONLECHE, try some Almonds, they bloom purple and pink, look really nice and stand out from all the other trees. Google pictures of Almond trees and you'll see what I mean.

[PunkRotten]

To be honest I don't know enough about trees to really comment on that. But I do know that the more trees around eachother is better.

[OROZCONLECHE]

I am Stun That is such a beautiful tree specially the flowers Going to get this for sure, and Punk is right The More Trees the Better, Its kind of a way of Me paying back Mother Nature for all the Wrong Ive done hahahhaha