Multiple sprouts from a single seed?

[cedillamuerta]

I need help! I sprouted an acorn and am growing a nice little white oak seedling but today I noticed that there are two other sprouts emerging from the soil. How can I deal with them to prevent competition with the main stem without exposing them to rot and other things? I'm worried that if I snip them off at the soil line, it'll invite rot into the main sprout. The main sprout has yet to fully develop its first leaves. Also of interest but less important, how did this happen? Is this a common phenomenon with oaks?

[tomc]

At a guess only, I'd still wager even money that there are as many nuts as there are seedlings. You may not have deposited them all...

Right now urgency isn't an issue. When you finally do pot-up this seedling you can prune or tease apart the oakley babies.

[cedillamuerta]

Ok, thank you. I intend on having this tree around for a long time so I wanted to make sure I have everything right at this most vulnerable stage in its life.