HelpfulGardener.com

I bought some japanese cherry tree seeds (Prunus Serrulata) online and I was confused on how exactly to start them. I did some research online and the information that I found contrasted what it says on the package.

The package says to warm stratify first, then to cold stratify, but the internet has told me opposite. I am also unsure as to what soil to plant it in. I have tried to grow a cherry sapling from Japan in the past and attempted to use a premixed cactus soil for good drainage, but I'm not sure exactly what would be best. I appreciate any responses. Thanks!

If those were my seeds I would sand-file nip the point off of the stone. Then I would wring out some peat moss for all I was worth and mix the stones into that medium (A damp wrung out paper towel is another option)

Place all into a tupperware that has holes in the lid and the whole mess goes into fridge till four weeks before your weather breaks. For me (in SE-OH zone 6-A) that would be about April 15th. Your milage will vary.

The change out from little tupperware to Wintersown jug comes next. Use fast draining soil.

I dig a shallow hole and nest my milk-jug up to its soil line into garden soil. Mulch around jug thickly.

After you start having warm days peek into jug (discard plug) daily. Hope for an awakening.

tomc wrote:If those were my seeds I would sand-file nip the point off of the stone. Then I would wring out some peat moss for all I was worth and mix the stones into that medium (A damp wrung out paper towel is another option)

Place all into a tupperware that has holes in the lid and the whole mess goes into fridge till four weeks before your weather breaks. For me (in SE-OH zone 6-A) that would be about April 15th. Your milage will vary.

The change out from little tupperware to Wintersown jug comes next. Use fast draining soil.

I dig a shallow hole and nest my milk-jug up to its soil line into garden soil. Mulch around jug thickly.

After you start having warm days peek into jug (discard plug) daily. Hope for an awakening.

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to gardening and what not, so this all just kind of went over my head. Would it be possible for you to explain in a little more detail?

anthonystallone wrote:I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to gardening and what not, so this all just kind of went over my head. Would it be possible for you to explain in a little more detail?

Tree seeds unlike vegetable seeds often to not go truely dormant. Drying, freezing, or treating tree seeds like dried dormant seed is a virtual guarantee of dead tree seed,

Successful storing this kind of active seed involves storing them damp and cool. Like in some kind of damp medium in the fridge. Improving seeds access to moisture also helps germination.

Nesting a pot or wintersown jug into garden soil is an additional way to moderate temperatures as spring opens and the inherent seed inhibitors go away, so that the seeds can germinate.

Gardening terms you want to research and understand are: Cold stratification, wintersown, scarification of seed.

Warm stratify, cold stratify... Feeling a little wobbly has a reasonable external excuse.

Most of these 'treatments' have a goal in mind (add scarify seed in here too) of hydrating seed and to give exit to a first root.