Sycamore maple seeds don't just germinate. Only pretreatment makes the seeds germinate. The subsequent sowing is child's play. Read the best tips for successfully propagating Acer pseudoplatanus by sowing here.
How to successfully germinate sycamore maple seeds?
To germinate sycamore maple seeds, they require stratification in the refrigerator for at least three months. They can then be sown in March or April. Growing substrate, partially shaded location and continuous moisture promote the growth of the seeds.
How do I germinate sycamore maple seeds?
The best way to germinate sycamore maple seeds is with acold stimulus, known in technical jargon as stratification. Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) has its seeds equipped with a germination inhibitor so that the seeds do not germinate prematurely and tender seedlings do not freeze miserably in the event of frost. This is how easy it is to overcome germ inhibition in the refrigerator:
- Soak seeds in lukewarm chamomile tea for 24 hours.
- Fill the plastic bag with moist seed soil (€6.00 on Amazon) or sand.
- Place maple seeds in the substrate.
- Close bag tightly.
- Place in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator until the first seedlings sprout.
How long does it take for sycamore maple seeds to germinate?
A cold stimulus of at leastthree months is required for sycamore maple seeds to germinate. Consistent temperatures of 0° to 4° Celsius in combination with a slightly moist substrate are advantageous for rapid germination.
When is the best time to sow sycamore maple seeds?
The best time to sow sycamore seeds is inMarch, when the days become longer and the temperatures become milder. In regions with harsh winters, postpone sowing untilApril so that the seed containers can be placed outside in a protected place. As a result, the ideal time window for stratification opens in December.
Growing sycamore maple outdoors in a frost-proof location is rewarded with resilient, strong-growing young plants. After overwintering under glass, you can plant out the sycamore maple in April or autumn.
How do I sow sycamore maple seeds correctly?
To sow sycamore seeds correctly, fill the growing substrate or coconut soil into a small pot, press the germinating seeds1 cm deep into the substrate and water. In a partially shaded location, keep the soil slightly moist at all times. Once a seedling has rooted through its cultivation container, it is repotted in pot plant soil and fertilized for the first time after four weeks.
Tip
Collect sycamore maple seeds yourself in autumn
In autumn there is a lot of activity around a sycamore tree because it is time for the seed harvest. After flowering in April and May, pollinated maple flowers turn into distinctive flying seeds that are popular with children as nose pinchers. From mid/late October, the winged sycamore maple seeds are ripe and ready to be sown into a majestic house tree or easy-care bonsai.
