Yes, gentlemen, yes, the holm oaks are finishing their fruits ripening and it is time to collect them, either for consumption or for sow them. Would you like to take advantage and try your luck with some? The planting a tree It is a fantastic experience that we should all have, at least once in our lives. And what better than to plant a tree as popular as the Quercus ilex?
Prepare gloves and substrate, and let’s proceed to begin the task. If you don’t know how to do it, don’t worry. You only have to do one thing: keep reading. And if you finally have doubts, Get in contact with us and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
But first … a bit of botany. That strange name that you have read before in italics is the scientific name of the oak. All species of the genus Quercus have more or less the same type of fruit; they vary especially in size and flavor. But without any doubt the one known more as acorn tree is our protagonist today.
This is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. Although it is a species whose height is important – it can reach 25 meters -, we can also find specimens that grow like bushes. Sun lover, resistant to drought and mild frosts, can grow in all types of soilsincluding limestone.
It reproduces mainly by seeds which are collected towards the end of autumn. To obtain a high percentage of germination, it is recommended to stratify them, that is, make them cool for two months in the refrigerator at about 6 degrees.
You will need the following for them:
- and tupperpreferably transparent although it can be opaque in color like the one seen in the photo
- river sand or vermiculite
- a bit of water to which a few drops of fungicide will have been added
- and of course the seedsto which we will have removed the »fiber» that protects one of its sides
Once this is achieved, we will proceed to the »sow» of the seeds in the tupper, and finally we will water a little, enough so that there is some humidity. Next we put the tupper in the fridge -in the vegetable region- and after two months we can proceed to sowing in the seedbed.
Once stratified, we will transfer them to a seedling tray or to pots. We will use a substrate based on black peat that contains some percentage of draining material (such as perlite or clay balls), and we will place them in full sun always keeping a little humidity. We will put them “lying” on the surface, and cover them with a thin layer of peat. If everything has gone well, in a few weeks you will be able to enjoy your own holm oaks.
Last but not least: don’t forget to go watering with fungicide from time to time so that the fungi cannot do any damage to your seedlings. These opportunistic organisms will not hesitate to appear at the slightest sign of weakness in the tree.
Enjoy planting the acorns!
