trees from seeds

[Aquilegia]

I recently got intrested in growing my own trees.
It happend that my lazy son forgot an apple in the boot of my car and the apple was forgotten about 3 weeks a month. One day after shopping I brought the apple inside thinking it was one of the new apples that I brought. Then the apple came into the cozy warm kitchen, and was forgotten again, about a week or so. One day I felt like eating apple, cut the apple open...oh dear! It tasted like mud! Wondering how this old fruit came into my fresh fruitbasket I sliced it open and had a surprise. A seed had grow. In the middle sleeping a little tree complete with 2 small leaves and a curling root.

What wants to live so badly must live I desided and planted the little tree in a pot and placed it beside my tomato and pepper plants.. Now, six weeks later stands a little (10 cm) tree with 8 leaves. It lost its first 2 heart-leaves last week, but I think it is a natural process.

I got hooked up and sowed another seed last week. It is either Malus Baccata or Malus x purpurea, I am not really sure. And I am now jumping with joy since it came up yesterday! Lovely!

Is there anyone else here that has the patience of sowing trees?

I could send you seeds from Malus Baccata or Malus x purpurea or any other scandinavian tree that I can find, just make sure it is legal in your country!

[lokie]

Hi
I just joined this group and it sounds like a great place for plant people.Ive been trying to grow some tree seeds that I bought but have had no luck with them. I'd like to try some of yours.How do I do this? I'm not sure how this group works. Thanks, Lokie

[PlantSwap]

I've sown several fruit trees over the years - Mango, Avacado, Orange. I've also grown several non-fruiting trees from seed - Oaks (several varieties), Neem, Crepe Myrtle.

A lot of folk think its silly or a waste of time to plant seedlings that are so small, but I have found that they grow really fast and when they are planted young, their root systems tend to be much better developed than trees that were grown in pots.

You will also have an opportunity to shape the tree with pruning while young to ensure a great shape when it matures.

[gardeningmom]

Welcome lokie! Glad you found us. You will love this site - lots of friendly knowledgeable folks. Sorry I can't help you with the tree seeds but I'm sure somone will come to your rescue.

[treehuggers]

Wonderful story! I, too have been trying to develop a good way of propagating trees, recently. I have found that cuttings are fast, but the ones from seed are much stronger as mentioned by Plantswap. I've been growing Mimosa, but I'm now working on tulip trees. Good luck with those baby trees, and don't give up. The reward will be worth the wait.

[tracie1224]

Tulip trees? That sounds interesting I will have to look that one up

http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/...ulip_tree2.jpg

I found one how beautiful! I really like trees.

[Mr Green Thumb]

Hello all. I am new here as my tree/plant addiction has brought me here. I am growing trees as well. 99% are from seeds. I am planting Japanese Maples that must be cold stratified in the fridge for 90 days bfore they start to germinate. So Having patients for growning trees is a must. I am sowing 3000 crape myrtle dark red later today. I have thousands of maples waiting to sprout. My favorite is the chinese pistachio. This is the most colorful tree you can ever find in the fall. And a great shade tree that is very drought tolerant and almost desease resistant to all. And of course rdwood, costal and blues. I have 6 redwoods in my front yard the are over 100 tall, very beautiful. And palms. I have over 10000 palms from liners to 36" tall. As you can see I have a crazy passion for trees. Dogs too!!! I have four labs. Most loyal love of my life, my dogs.

[gardeningmom]

Welcome - I think you will love it here!

[ok_nurse]

I hope you stick around. I am starting to collect tree and bush seed to take to Australia with me. I would like to swap some seed with you when I get there-I bet I can send you some seed you couldn't get easily here. Australia has some interesting plants, I'm sure I will have some interesting seed that a seed loving guy in California would love to patiently look forward to.

[Mr Green Thumb]

I lived in australia myself at a younger age. I was 18 and living with my pops as a military dependant. I move to Alice Springe. Dead center of australia. town was surronded by canyon walls, outside was the bush. What a adventure that was. I took a bus ride from perth to there once across the desert. wow, what a different world. where are you heading to?

[ok_nurse]

Wow-what are the chances I'd get to speak to someone on Plantswap with those experiences?
We were looking at Perth but I have a Son-In Law who has some issues from being MP in Afghanistan and kinda needs to be close to a VA hospital but he an my daughter want to join us in Australia. From what I understand, there are only 2 VA's in Australia. One is almost a 15 hour drive North along the coast from Perth (too far-and too north for my liking) and the other is in Woolema about 4 hours north of Adelaide. My daughter that we're adopting needs to be near a pediatric endocrinologist and there is one in Adelaide so we were considering moving around Fisherman's Bay (100 miles N along the coast of Adelaide) There's a little dying town around there called Port Broughton where the real estate agent took over the bank building (only ATM now) and he has a bunch of vacation properties listed on Fisherman's Bay that we are interested in. I am a registered nurse and will take a job in Adelaide and stay the weekends to work 16 hour shifts and my hubby is a residential builder. We are planning to build a church. I am aware that the people of Australia are quite condescending to "religious" people. We are used to it. Came from Detroit-most people weren't much better there. Its that "post modern" intellect that seems to pervade Europe as well. I have to get over there before I turn 45 or we won't have enough points to move the whole family. That gives me until 3/2010. We are putting the house up for sale in March 2009. Trying to get it ready now and get passports and our final adoptions completed. Its alot of work.

[treehuggers]

Mr. Green Thumb, What is the best/most efficient way to sow crepe myrtles? I have sooooo many around the place, but only one that I really want to propagate. That one is pink and white. The seedpods are almost ready, maybe I could sow for fall. Would appreciate any advice.

[Mr Green Thumb]

They need to go through the process of cold strat before they can be planted. They are several ways, but I put them In a plastic baggie and place thm in the fridge for 90 days. Then plant. They cant be planted directly in the ground at this point, but I still use trays or community beds, depending on how many I do. I never hear of a high germination rate and haven't had one myself. I suggest plant a bunch of what you want and see what you get. Once sprouted there are still delicate and lost a few once sprouted. I am getting ready to do a buch of dark red. I will cold strat 2000 and see what rate I get. Good luck.

[PlantSwap]

Never heard of a high germination rate for Crepe Myrtles? They are almost as weedy around my yard as Chinese Tallow. They don't need any cold/chilling around my yard. The seeds get everywhere here and baby trees sprout all over my beds.

Seeds might not grow true to the parent plant though. Your best bet is to root a cutting if you want the exact same flowers.

Mr. GT, your redwoods sound awesome - I'm jealous!

[Diane]

Mr Green Thumb, do you have any purple crepe mrytles? And what is the chinese pistaschio.... New at this....But would love to trade ....or what you'd like for them.($)
Please let me know...Thanks