Fishman
Active Member
So I am currently growing cherrybark, nuttall, northern red, southern red, willow, swamp laurel, sawtooth, bur, overcup, white, and swamp chestnut oaks. I am also trying to grow Shumard oaks and it is a dismal failure so far. My germination rate on all the other oaks is 75% or better. Right now, my germination rate is a little over 10% for the Shumards. I have 8 seedlings out of approximately 75 acorns that I stratified for roughly 90 days. They have been in the ground for approximately seven weeks. I floated tested the acorns and stored them, just like all the other acorns, but they are not germinating. The acorns are from several different mother trees. Anyone have any luck with Shumards?
I did some research and found conflicting information on the stratification process for Shumards. USDA states here that "Seed has no physiological dormancy and should be sown immediately upon harvest for best results. Fall sown seed typically exhibits >90% germination, while seeds stored overwinter exhibit greatly reduced germination; typically <50%." This page states that "fall sowing in mulched beds is preferred to artificial stratification." The OSU Extension Service recommends cold stratification of 60-120 days and that germination should take place between 29-50 days depending on temperature and that I should expect 72-82% germination. Carl Whitcomb of Rootmaker fame found that you can store Shumard oak acorns for 16 months without affecting germination.
So USDA and Sheffield's recommend no stratification while others recommend stratification. The acorns that have not germinated look perfect. Temps have been in the upper 60s and low 70s since I put them in the ground. I have Nuttalls collected around the same time and planted at the same time that are 6-9 inches tall. Maybe the Shumards will germinate and I just need to be patient, but I wanted to ask what experiences others have had with Shumards and see if I am doing anything wrong. Thirty-six of the acorns are in Rootmaker trays while the others are in a raised bed. I have four seedlings in the raised bed and four in the trays. So has anyone had any luck growing them?
I did some research and found conflicting information on the stratification process for Shumards. USDA states here that "Seed has no physiological dormancy and should be sown immediately upon harvest for best results. Fall sown seed typically exhibits >90% germination, while seeds stored overwinter exhibit greatly reduced germination; typically <50%." This page states that "fall sowing in mulched beds is preferred to artificial stratification." The OSU Extension Service recommends cold stratification of 60-120 days and that germination should take place between 29-50 days depending on temperature and that I should expect 72-82% germination. Carl Whitcomb of Rootmaker fame found that you can store Shumard oak acorns for 16 months without affecting germination.
So USDA and Sheffield's recommend no stratification while others recommend stratification. The acorns that have not germinated look perfect. Temps have been in the upper 60s and low 70s since I put them in the ground. I have Nuttalls collected around the same time and planted at the same time that are 6-9 inches tall. Maybe the Shumards will germinate and I just need to be patient, but I wanted to ask what experiences others have had with Shumards and see if I am doing anything wrong. Thirty-six of the acorns are in Rootmaker trays while the others are in a raised bed. I have four seedlings in the raised bed and four in the trays. So has anyone had any luck growing them?
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