In beech forests in spring you will often find many small plants whose leaves are still half enclosed in a capsule. These are beech seedlings that have germinated from the seeds of the beech trees, the beechnuts.
What is a beech seedling and how does it come about?
A beech seedling is the young plant that arises from a stratified beech seed, the beechnut. The seed germinates after a cold phase, in nature winter, and after a few weeks appears as a small plant whose leaves are protected by a capsule.
Grouping a beech tree
Beech seedlings arise from the fruit of the beech tree, the beechnut. Each fruit contains two of the triangular seeds. Beech seeds need to be stratified in order for them to germinate. This means that they have to go through a cold phase.
In the wild, this happens automatically during the winter. If you have collected beech seeds yourself in order to grow a beech tree, you need to simulate the cold phase. For example, you can put the released beechnuts in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
The stratified seeds are then sown in small pots or directly into the ground. This is followed by a layer of earth that is about as thick as the beech seed itself.
Beech trees germinate slowly
It takes a few weeks until the seed has germinated and the beech seedlings can be seen. At first the seed appears to rise from the ground. The hard capsule protects the delicate cotyledons. It falls off later or is carefully pulled off by hand.
Protect beech seedlings from frost
Beech seedlings are still too tender to withstand sub-zero temperatures. In the event of a sudden frost they can freeze to death. Therefore, protect the beech seedling from temperatures that are too low. For example, you can put old leaves around the small tree.
But make sure that the seedling still gets enough light. If it is too shady, it will collapse. That's why, for example, beech forests are thinned out when new trees are grown.
From beech seedling to seedling
After a year, the first two leaves, the cotyledons, fell off the seedling. This is why the first real pairs of leaves were created.
The beech seedling is now a seedling and can be transplanted to the intended location.
Be careful not to damage the delicate roots as much as possible when removing them from the pot or digging them out.
Tip
You can eat beech seedlings that grew near beech trees in spring. Simply pull the plants out of the ground and eat them fresh or cooked as spring vegetables.
