4 months ago I asked if this would work for Sakura tree seeds , and you said you weren’t quite sure . You made another video of how online bought seeds have less success rates, but I tried this method and I actually got some to germinate! I’m so happy , I’m so grateful to be a subscriber of this channel
Thank-you Mike! I now have baby seedlings from my dear 94 year old Grandfather's 🍁 maple tree thanks to your method. Greetings from Australia and all the very best!
Thank God i found this video! This is really going to help me. Ive got a japanese maple that has seeds, so im very excited to try this! Thank you for posting this!
@@MikeKincaid79 Dear, Mike Kincaid, I was just wondering how to grow red maple from seeds. My father picked them from a maple tree just today. However I am not sure what to do with them as I am completely new to growing maple plants. The thing is my dad just picked it today when it is July. Here in UK it is quite cold outside and raining but the seed was just picked directly from the plant itself not from the ground so it is not brown/ dry like the ones on your UA-cam channel. The seeds are green with red tip as it was picked straight from a mature red maple plant in our local area. It seems like on the internet many suggest putting in the fridge for a while including on your UA-cam channel. I however noticed people whom are all trying to germinate maple from seed, all their seedlings seem to be brown and dry looking, not like the ones I have, which was picked directly off the Acer plant. I would really like to show the maple seeds I have so you can see and give me better advice but it seems through UA-cam I can't seem to send any/ share my pictures. But if you can give me some advice on how to start it would be very useful as I have never tried to grow maple from seed. Only have bought maple from a garden centre and even so they are completely different variety as they are green maple.
Thanks for the advice. My Japanese Maple is inside my enclosed balcony. Weather conditions in there are much like a cold greenhouse. This summer it's mostly been cold, wet and damp outdoors with a couple of bursts of really hot weather. I've noticed this clump of seeds growing on my tree for some time, anyway, they came off in my hand today so I'm going to try your method and see what happens. Thanks a lot, Mike.
hellou my friend i just wanted to stop by to thank you for this wonderful method I am from Colombia and my dream has always been to have a maple now i haved a 10 maples from seeds
have had mine in seed trays with fine barkchip peat moss covered with glass and gravel for drainage and moistness since Nov and i am fearing they may have rotted but its only Feb and not quite spring yet im praying they sprout ! arggh the anticipation
Mike, Thank you for making these video's I love them. I have followed your directions exactly, and collected hundreds of beautiful Japanese Red Maple seeds from a spectacular blood Red Maple , and Japanese Maple seeds that came from a beautiful bright shaded orange Japanese maple, Sugar Maple seeds, and yellow maples.....I put them all in their own seperate little plastic bags at the end of October, and put them moist in the fridge for the last 3 months. Each few weeks a burped the bags, and So I just looked again yesterday and I have many many seeds all sprouting roots out for all of the different kinds of maples in all of the bags. I have bought a few plastic totes like you said, and drilled holes in the bottom, and have bought the fir bark, and have it ready to add the seeds, but was curious about something. I don't own a green house. Or a hoop house and i live in NY state where it is still winter and while the temperatures are currently range in the high 30's to high 40's, but we could easily still get a winter snow storm in march or April and I don't want to lose the seeds that have started growing. So I am curious if I can just place the seeds in the tote, and leave them in my kitchen by a window with the temperature is 70-72 degrees? Would the seeds grow and be ok inside until i am sure that the temperature outside gets more stable? Will these trees survive if we go from the refrigerator to a room temperature near a window.....Please let me know because if not, I could always put them in the back of my SUV outside if they need to still stay in the lower temperatures. Thanks again for all your video's. I love them.
I've created a monster, lol. You can do several things, put them in a tote on your back porch where the snow won't pile up on them, if you have an extra fridge you can plant them and then slide the totes back in the fridge and they'll slowly grow more roots until spring, or you could bring them inside but that would be my last option. If you bring them indoors, make sure you have good lighting and are ready to care for them and fertilize until spring. I suppose you could also leave them in their bags and plant in a few months, it shouldn't hurt anything and they will just grow more roots slowly.
Thank you for the reply. I will keep you updated. I had never really been interested in trees and growing things myself until I came across your video's searching for a Japanese maple. I have new a found passion now, and my girlfriend laughs at how excited I got when the seeds finally sprouted. It really did give me a weird sense of elation. Thanks for the video's. Im actually thinking of building a small hoop house in my side yard. Id love to eventually try that garden as well. Let me see if I can keep these trees alive through the winter first...lol
Hey no problem! Glad you enjoyed it. This is really the best method I've ever found and you can get massive amounts of seeds going this way. Great germination rate.
@@MikeKincaid79 I've just done a load of Korean fir and Lebanese cedar in the soil tray fridge method.... do you think this method will work for most seeds I've but some exotic seeds and they have different stratification techniques....
With regards stratification, I’ve chucked them in a zip lock bag in the fridge, they seem to have a bit of mould starting.. is this likely to affect their viability or is a little mould ok? Also, seen elsewhere about soaking them for a couple of minutes in 10-1 water & bleach solution to stop the growth of mould.. would rather avoid bleach if possible, but if it’s the difference between success or failure I might submit 🤔 thanks in advance! Great videos 🙏🏻
Hey, nice video! I have a question. If u germinate some palmatum atropurpureum seeds, will u get maples with similar caracteristics? I mean, with red leaves? Or they will just be normal green? Thank u!
Hi Mike, I live in Salem Oregon, today I collected 35 or so seeds off this 60 year old Japanese Maple. They over wintered on the tree I would love to grow some babies from this amazing old Maple. What should I do since its now spring and they over wintered on the tree? The seeds are full, plump and firm they look very viable.
They're probably going to work out just fine. Follow the same rules of stratification that we practiced in this video. It's still early so I'd give them about 3 months in the fridge, which would put us at the middle of June, and then plant them. Still plenty of summer to grow them.
With this new method you use, do you let them dry before you put them in bag and refrigerate? Or have they just fallen?.. Im in the UK and my maples are dropping seeds now (mid-summer) so do i refrigerate now until next spring or should i store them until November?
Hola Mike!! Muchisimas gracias for your helpful videos about growing Japanese maples from seeds. I am a Spanish teacher at JMU here in Virginia. I am originally from Uruguay, and when I go home I always take some Japanese seeds with me to grow there. After going through the stratification stage the seeds sprouted very well. Then, when they were about 4 cms. tall, they were attacked by the damping decease and died. I really felt distressed and sad. Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent or fumigate to keep them out from getting the fungus? I watched all your videos very closely, the only thing different was that I kept all the seedlings inside of the house. I do have a large house though... Muchas gracias, and ..Dios le bendiga!!
Growing plants indoors during the winter can be difficult. They're subject to getting all kinds of disease like fungus, gnats, spider mites, etc. I really don't recommend growing these plants indoors and they can take the cold outside. My seeds even start germinating in the fridge.
Hi Mike. I tried your technique And it WORKED! Thanks. I have a question. The size the container I used is 9.6(L)x14.3(D)x5.5(H) in inches -internal space measurements. I have 40 trees growing and they’re all about the same height, 3 to 4 inches tall.. Is that too many? Should I cull them back? Looking forward to you’re reply.
Great videos and channel. I live in tropical weather, so there is no danger of freeze. Do you know if it is necessary to cold stratify the seeds in the fridge for a few months?
Mike, how can you tell when seeds are ready to be harvested? What signs do you look for to indicate readiness? (leaves falling? seed color?) I live in Zone 7.. Also, what percentage of your harvested seeds will end up germinating? Thanks for your time! Spencer
Hey Spencer, thanks for asking. The seeds are ready to harvest when they start falling from the tree. In my area of 8a-8b this usually happens in November. I start looking for leaves falling and when I see the first seeds on the ground I harvest. I'm not sure of the exact percentage because I've never counted before and after but as you can see in the videos, a very large amount sprout.
Yeah I noticed in the subsequent videos that at minimum it appears that 50% and more of your seeds are sprouting and if I were to collect even 100 seeds, that would give me enough as a hobbyist.. Thanks for the advice! I'll keep my eyes open; leaves should start dropping here this month.
Yeah, the method is great, pretty much foolproof but as with anything in nature you never get 100% viable seeds so you'll never get 100% germination but like you said, 50% will give you more than you can handle, especially if you gather 1000 or more.
Hi Mike. I just collected seeds that were all dry. Should I just dip each one in water and then put the in dry peat moss, or should I just make the peat moss slightly damp?
Yep, make the peat slightly damp and store that way. You can soak them in water for a few hours to get them to start re-hydrating before putting them in peat.
I just started to do gardening. And today i noticed that there is some maple japanese tree- about 1-2 inches height now -growing in my front yard, it is obviously from my neighbor’s tree. Will i be able to dig it and replant it in my backyard? Will it continue to grow? Or if i will leave it there, will it continue to grow? Thank u!!!
Great video. If I were to order seeds online would I be doing your method? Place them in fridge until ready or do you know if I can germinate them and get them going before winter?(I have a place inside I can place them for winter)
Hi Mike. Will this work on seeds harvested in late summer? We have a beautiful Japanese maple that sadly has to be cut down very soon due to septic system issues in our yard. Can we harvest the seeds now and put them in the fridge until spring? We also found a couple of tiny saplings too that my little boys and I are trying to grow (we put them in some potting soil but beyond that we aren't sure what to do). Any tips on keeping this tree "alive" would be very appreciated : )
The seeds really do need time to fully mature, just like apples or any other fruit on a tree. If it's getting cut down anyway then it doesn't hurt to try, but wait until the latest you can.
Do I have to wait till spring to plant the tree is seeding now I want to take them to Florida it’s a very special tree to my family can I pick them off the buds thank you
Hey Mike! Messaged you a few months ago about my Japanese Maples (thanks again for your response!). We are heading into fall here in upstate New York and I was curious about how to care for the seedlings during fall/winter. Currently they are in a tote but I do not have any cover over them. Do they need sun or can I keep them in a dark shed? Also what's the deal with watering in the winter? I appreciate your feedback!
Wait until they go dormant and then you can put them in a shed or garage. Keep the soil lightly moist through the winter, don't overwater. You may only need to water a couple times through the whole winter. When spring arrives and you see the buds start swelling, you can bring them back out. Alternatively, you can leave them in the tote and just place it on your back porch under a cover. They will be fine there all winter long.
Mike, I threw a bag of maple seeds off etsy in the fridge as you instructed. I knew the expectation - but I DID end up having one sprout 6 months later. The issue I am having is that the seed sprouted and its October 10th. Should I leave it in the bag in the fridge? I don't want to leave the sprout in the bag if it is detrimental but I also don't want to throw the seedling off by moving it into a small pot next to the window. What should I do?
I live in Oklahoma and it’s cooling down. My house faces south and windows do not get a lot of light. Should I look into a grow light? I am worried it won’t survive winter in a window sill and don’t want to keep it outside at this time of year.
Hello. I live in southern california where the risk of frost is not much of a problem. Is there a minimum amount of time i should keep the seeds refrigerated before planting them? thanks.
They have a hard outer shell so they'll still need some stratification to help break down that shell. I would keep in the fridge for a minimum of 2 months.
Hello Mike, I did exactly as you said to do and I have noticed mine are starting to mold. What did I do wrong? Do I need to let them dry out some before putting in the fridge?
No, you want to keep them moist. You may need more air flow to the seeds. Also, mine usually get a little mold in the winter but it doesn't grow fast enough to cause a problem while they're in the fridge.
Mike, I did it with redAmerican acer and was a success, the are now going on one year, can I transplant them now to a gallon pot, or better wait for next winter. I live in Spain
Hey Mike, last November I collected seeds. I planted them in late march after they sat in the fridge all winter. So far I have over 60 (4 inch) seedlings, all very healthy. My container is smaller than yours and the seedlings are very densely populated. I'm curious if re-potting is premature at this point.
Great job! Just leave them in the pot right now and give some slow release fertilizer. Keep watered through the summer. They will be crowded but it won't hurt them at all. I like to wait until the next winter after the roots have hardened off and everything is dormant. Then they are really easy to pull apart and pot up. Do this in late winter/early spring before the new growth starts.
@@MikeKincaid79 Awesome, thank you so much for the info, and for getting back to me so quickly. I really enjoy your videos, I had put this off for years, and I am so stoked I followed through with it. Your guidance is appreciated.
Hi man how you’re doing? I hope you’re ok, in the video you mentioned that collected these seeds on September? Im in Michigan and seeds are falling but we get them seeds falling in May, is it because you are in different state or what’s up, im confused?
I'm in East Texas. My Japanese maple is leafed out and there are seeds hanging on it now.....what do I do with these seeds? should I baggie them up until next Spring? or can I plant them now...if now....what is the procedure for doing that?
My Japanese maples have germinated and are small seedlings now, I’m protecting them from frost etc. They are growing really tall, fast and flopping over. Should I stake them to support? I don’t want to damage them when they are so small but want them to develop a strong straight stem! I’m excited as I have at least 5 different varieties growing!
Do you have them under grow lights? If so, that may be why they're growing tall and flopping over. Especially if they are fluorescent tubes. Get the light closer to the plants so they don't grow leggy. As soon as it warms enough in your area, start transitioning to more outdoor light.
Down here in the south, all the seeds and leaves don’t fall to the ground. In spring, the dead leaves and a few maple seeds come down. If these seeds are planted in the spring, will they grow?
Hi Mike, great videos! I've got a question: how long does it take from the moment you plant the seeds of acer palmatum dissectum untill they start to sprouting? I stratified 4 different types of japanese maples, 3 of them sprouted in 4-10 days (62 new little japanese maples!), however the dissectum( I've got about 200 of seeds, stratified in same conditions as the others) doesn't show any activity after 10 days. I'm a bit frustrated...
palmatum dissectum could be several types of Japanese maples and some are sterile , palmatum dissectum is a classification not a name. palmatum I think means hand shaped, and dissectum I think is small serrated leafs. they also have like 3 difference classifications for color of leafs and a few classifications for the color of the bark. 1 classification for weeping. think japanese maples have like 17 different classifications. and almost every one adds palmatum but not all are palmatums, so going to a japanese maple society page and learning how classifications work will help you realize when a japanese maple isnt labeled right. which happens alot. Basically learning the classifications, you can tell a japanese maple grower, size color type leafs, varigated, none varigated, full leafs, serrated leafs. weeping, ground cover. without even having the name of the tree type or color of the tree your looking at. And yes if some japanese maples arent straped their first few years they will make ground cover.
Hi Mike, in my area I have searched for & been unsuccessful in finding a Japanese maple that's close to the color of Dan's. Do you now sell the seeds and/or saplings of Dan's Japanese Maple??
I don't have anything to sell. The tree I have was the only seedling that germinated from the seeds that he sent me and I just planted it out a week ago. It will be a few years before I can get seeds off of it and germinate them.
I collected maybe 500 seeds. I put them in the frig at 40 degrees and got maybe 20 plants. Is that about normal? I did turn the frig down a couple of times to get the beer cold, could that effect them? Thanks for the video.
Turning the fridge down shouldn't do any harm as they usually freeze in nature. You should be able to get a bigger percentage to sprout but sometimes that's the way nature goes.
Thanks Mike I know your time is valuable. You have helped me a lot. It is funny because I started 2 years ago digging these maples out of the ground when they came up from the 15 year old tree and have got around 20 plants every year. I love nature.
Hi Mike, I've collected a lot of fallen Japanese maple seeds from my in-laws' tree. Given that it's only late-spring/early summer here (am in the northeast), will these seeds be viable if I toss them in the fridge or should I just throw them all out? Thanks in advance!
Japanese maple seeds aren't viable at this time of year. They need the summer to fully mature and ripen, just like fruit. They will usually drop a few seeds this time of year based on moisture and heat but the tree is just self pruning off the excess. You'll want to wait until fall to collect the viable seeds and start germinating them.
My JM seeds are already falling off the tree - will there still be some left in the fall? Can I collect the seeds that are falling or are they still too green?
The seeds that are falling are either not viable or the tree is dropping them because it doesn't have a good supply of water and can't maintain them. Either way, the seeds won't sprout because they never fully ripened on the tree. Mine does this a little bit every spring but there are always way more seeds still attached by fall.
So how long does it take for germination, when you take them out of the fridge and plant them? I use a similar method... but I sandwich my seeds inside of a moist paper towel placed inside a ziplock bag and then put them at the bottom of the fridge. They start to germinate within 3 months right inside the fridge. The moistened paper towel helps to break down and soften the thick outer shell. Curious how long germination takes with your method, from the time of sowing them in soil?
I have spruce seeds and I am not sure if I must put them in the fridge like you did with your Japanese Maple. We are in Montreal in beginning of August. Can you help me, Please. Thanks.
I'm trying to understand. Did you collect seeds that were already laying on the ground all winter, or seeds that were new from this year and attached to the tree? From your first comment, I'm guessing they were new seeds that were still attached to the tree and if that's the case then they are not viable. The seeds have to grow and fully ripen on the tree all summer and fall before they are ready to germinate. Next fall when the seeds start falling from the tree is the perfect time to collect them. I hope that helps.
Hey Mike, I’ve watched all your Japanese maple videos and they’ve been very helpful. I still have a few more questions. Some background... I’m from MI and my grandparents had to move into assisted living in July. At that time I went all through their yard and collected as many sprouts of their Japanese and Full Moon Maple that I could find and put them in small pots (started out with about 20). About half have died which I expected since I transplanted then in the summer when they weren’t dormant. I just went back this Friday (Oct. 25th) and collected as many seeds off the ground or trees that I could find. Put them in a smaller ziplock bag and misted each bag with one squirt of my squirt bottle. Should I use a gallon size bag or does it really matter? The bag of seeds I collected in August (likely too early but I didn’t know when their house was going to sell) have mold on them because I forgot to burp the bag but I’m keeping them just in case. The ones in small pots I have on a covered porch. It has frosted once and I got really nervous it would kill them. They seem okay but I’m anxious to get them to my moms garage since I still live in an apartment. I’m wondering if she should water them once in awhile in the garage if they’re dormant? Also am I moving them into the garage too early since they have all their leaves still or too late since we had a little frost on the ground last week? Also, what kind of fertilizer should I use next spring? Sorry for the long winded post. I’m just so scared they’ll all die and I’ll be left without a tree to plant in my house to remember them by. My grandfather passed only one month after moving into assisted living and it meant so much to him that I gathered sprouts and wanted seeds.
Sounds like you you've got plenty of trees to work with. They should be just fine through the winter as maples can freeze hard as a rock and take rally cold temps. If you have them in the garage then you will need to make sure to keep the soil moist through the winter or the trees will die. That probably means only watering once every month or 2, it doesn't take much in the winter. I think you'll be fine with all the trees you have.
I haven't tried this with Japanese maples, as I don't have luck with them. So I focused on other maple spices, with witch I have success. I tried several spices to stratify. First in sand, and nothing happened. Then I tried in coconut peat, and all the seeds got molded or disintegrated. Same result with sphagnum moss. I tried also to change the time of collecting seeds, even tried with seeds still on the trees, and nothing. One day I stumbled on this video, purely accidental. It is so weird, at first look, that the logic tells it will never work, as it doesn't work for other spices. As I have tried everything I know about, I decided to try your method. What can I lose, if I give it one more time? After all, maple is a maple. It was this autumn when I tried this method, and today, the first days of 2023. , I can say that it's applicable to other maples. I tried with Norway maple and Sycamore maple. So far, Sycamore have few with roots, while 1/3 Norway. And it's all almost 20 days before the scheduled time for stratification ends.
Hi Mike, I collected maple seeds 2 weeks ago, and follow your steps.. put them in the zip bag, but them in the fridge. I check them today, and unfortunately I see start of mold on some seeds!!! How to proceed now?
Ok I started growing outside in pots they are 5 in tall .what should I do once it's winter ? Bring them in , garage,our let them get the full Ohio winter?
I just bought seeds in one of these classic bags from a nursery that they have from companie's,, can i skip with these the fridge process, and just start sowing in small pots?
I guess it depends on how they handled them. Japanese maples should go through a stratification period so you may still want to put them in the fridge with moisture for a few months.
hi mike what is the ideal temperature range for most tree seeds to germinate? ive been trying to germinate in my greenhouse temp 95 at the highest with no succes, do you think that is my problem?
Sounds like you don't have viable seeds or your methods are not working. The temp is a little high but they should at least germinate if it's viable seed. There's a broad range they'll germinate in, from just above freezing all the way up into the 100's
Hi Mike, sorry about another question, As i bought the seeds online they are dried. The site says to soak them for 72 hours and then follow basically your method. Im not sure about the 72 hours thing, it seems a bit long.
Hard to give a recommendation as I've always had poor results with dry seeds. My advice would be to follow whatever instructions they gave you based on the fact that they must have their system figured out (hopefully). I personally only soaked them for about 24 hours when I did it that way.
The seeds are ready to harvest when they start falling from the tree. In my area of 8a-8b this usually happens in November. I start looking for leaves falling and when I see the first seeds on the ground I harvest. Fresh seeds are the best for germination.
Thanks. The thing is that I´m in Argentina, it´s springtime and I´m in a 9 zone. Growing maples as long as Rhodos like I do is quite a chllenge for me. I have some maples in containers and they are showing some seeds right now and I don´t want to lose it. So, I don´t know when is the earliest time to harvest. Thank you so much.
Hello, dear friend! Tell me. Fresh seeds acer palmatum dissectum (not dried, fresh) before stratification in the refrigerator should it be soaked in warm water or not?
I have a question, where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before stratification? Where can I store them? I cannot store them in hot temperatures is because hot temperatures may kill all of the seeds, they will no longer be viable after storing them in hot temperatures. When hot temperatures kill seeds, it will not germinate at all. Please tell me where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before cold stratifying them. Please tell me.
I gathered seeds from a neighbor's tree. Do you think it's necessary to wait for all danger of frost to pass before pulling them from fridge? I'm thinking of planting them in a tote like you suggest , but putting them out once everything freezes and letting them germinate naturally (weatherwise, I don't have a greenhouse) More like the winter sowing method.
My red maple after pruning & cutting the roots 30%, branches & twigs dry immediately. how to handle red maple after pruning & root cutting? does it have to be covered?
Can I skip the refrigerator for two or three months if I am germinating and keeping them growing indoors until the spring? or do they need to go through that cold refrigerator cycle before germinating into seedlings?
Never tried germinating them immediately but it would be a good experiment. I have a feeling that they need that cold stratification to do well but it's worth a shot.
can this work to seed that i bought from online shop ? because your seed is fresh, is there any different method to germinate seed that i bought from online ? really need your answer
Hey Mike, I've been waiting to gather some seed pods from the Japanese Maple at church and I'm not seeing any! 🤷🏻♀️ Do some varieties of Japanese Maples not make seeds?
I have a question for you 🙋♂️ , do Japanese Maple seeds need Scarification in order to germinate? Do they need Scarification? Do they need it? Yes or no? Do Japanese Maple seeds need to be scratched? I hope you can answer my questions.
Acrorns will immediately root after falling to the ground like in a week same thing with watermelon seeds fresh out of a watermelon .. just lay those maple seed in a try on clay or potting soil as soon as you gather them. Now that would be a worthy experiment acrons lay on hard bare ground and split open sending down a green and white root in the hard ground you can still move the acrons nut a little bit Are you sure about this three month cold weather or refrigerator deal
Yes, they will germinate without help but I mimic nature as much as possible while placing them in the fridge. The reason for the fridge and not leaving them outside is that the weather outside is unpredictable and all the germinated seeds could be killed by a bad winter.
Okay, so I purchased (supposedly) A Japanese Blue Maple on line. I was sent seeds. Do I need to wait for Spring here in Orlando, FL to attempt to germinate them to have successful seedlings? And does a 'Blue' exist?
I've heard that the blue is a hoax but I don't know enough about it for sure to say one way or the other. I personally can't think of any plant that has true blue leaves but I haven't seen it all yet, lol. You can germinate them anytime you want, and in Florida, I don't think you'll have any problems with freezing weather killing your seedlings.
4 months ago I asked if this would work for Sakura tree seeds , and you said you weren’t quite sure . You made another video of how online bought seeds have less success rates, but I tried this method and I actually got some to germinate! I’m so happy , I’m so grateful to be a subscriber of this channel
How do u get Sakura seeds from the tree? I don’t see any from my tree
I really don't know how nature manages to grow seeds all on its own.
In nature it takes 2 years
Peach trees take one year. I stuck pits into a pot and they grew the next spring. I ate the peaches one year prior.
Most seeds never grow
@@billgateskilledmyuncle23 I
PURE QUANTITY
Thank-you Mike!
I now have baby seedlings from my dear 94 year old Grandfather's 🍁 maple tree thanks to your method.
Greetings from Australia and all the very best!
Congratulations and have fun heading into spring!
That’s wonderful. How are the seedlings doing now?
Hey Mike! I started stratifying my red maple seeds today, and your vids are brilliant, I'm really excited to watch the growth.
Glad to help! Have fun with it.
Did it grow??
red maples shouldnt be stratified dude
Thank God i found this video! This is really going to help me. Ive got a japanese maple that has seeds, so im very excited to try this! Thank you for posting this!
You're welcome, Beth! Glad to help.
can't wait for your spring video on planting the seeds. I collected some seeds this past fall and can't wait to plant them.
We're headed into spring pretty quick! Couple more months and we'll be planting.
I gonna fallow you for my seeds this year
To heck with you all, I love the rooster!
He loves you too!
KidCity Lynnwood Ah Johnny be good, l wish l could have a few chickens and a rooster . Love to hear him.
@@MikeKincaid79 Dear, Mike Kincaid,
I was just wondering how to grow red maple from seeds. My father picked them from a maple tree just today. However I am not sure what to do with them as I am completely new to growing maple plants. The thing is my dad just picked it today when it is July. Here in UK it is quite cold outside and raining but the seed was just picked directly from the plant itself not from the ground so it is not brown/ dry like the ones on your UA-cam channel. The seeds are green with red tip as it was picked straight from a mature red maple plant in our local area. It seems like on the internet many suggest putting in the fridge for a while including on your UA-cam channel. I however noticed people whom are all trying to germinate maple from seed, all their seedlings seem to be brown and dry looking, not like the ones I have, which was picked directly off the Acer plant. I would really like to show the maple seeds I have so you can see and give me better advice but it seems through UA-cam I can't seem to send any/ share my pictures. But if you can give me some advice on how to start it would be very useful as I have never tried to grow maple from seed. Only have bought maple from a garden centre and even so they are completely different variety as they are green maple.
WHATS THE ROOSTERS NAME!
Thanks for the advice. My Japanese Maple is inside my enclosed balcony. Weather conditions in there are much like a cold greenhouse. This summer it's mostly been cold, wet and damp outdoors with a couple of bursts of really hot weather. I've noticed this clump of seeds growing on my tree for some time, anyway, they came off in my hand today so I'm going to try your method and see what happens. Thanks a lot, Mike.
Good luck with them and have fun!
Thanks for that Mike. I'll keep you posted!
I clicked on this video expecting to have a laugh, but instead i learned something new. Thanks, man.
Right on man, glad you learned something here. Check out part 2 to see the seeds germinating: ua-cam.com/video/ga39f8qPA3I/v-deo.html
why would you expect to laugh?
hellou my friend i just wanted to stop by to thank you for this wonderful method I am from Colombia and my dream has always been to have a maple now i haved a 10 maples from seeds
That's so awesome to hear man! Thanks for sharing your success.
have had mine in seed trays with fine barkchip peat moss covered with glass and gravel for drainage and moistness since Nov and i am fearing they may have rotted but its only Feb and not quite spring yet im praying they sprout ! arggh the anticipation
Patience will reward you.
Mike,
Thank you for making these video's I love them. I have followed your directions exactly, and collected hundreds of beautiful Japanese Red Maple seeds from a spectacular blood Red Maple , and Japanese Maple seeds that came from a beautiful bright shaded orange Japanese maple, Sugar Maple seeds, and yellow maples.....I put them all in their own seperate little plastic bags at the end of October, and put them moist in the fridge for the last 3 months. Each few weeks a burped the bags, and So I just looked again yesterday and I have many many seeds all sprouting roots out for all of the different kinds of maples in all of the bags. I have bought a few plastic totes like you said, and drilled holes in the bottom, and have bought the fir bark, and have it ready to add the seeds, but was curious about something. I don't own a green house. Or a hoop house and i live in NY state where it is still winter and while the temperatures are currently range in the high 30's to high 40's, but we could easily still get a winter snow storm in march or April and I don't want to lose the seeds that have started growing. So I am curious if I can just place the seeds in the tote, and leave them in my kitchen by a window with the temperature is 70-72 degrees? Would the seeds grow and be ok inside until i am sure that the temperature outside gets more stable? Will these trees survive if we go from the refrigerator to a room temperature near a window.....Please let me know because if not, I could always put them in the back of my SUV outside if they need to still stay in the lower temperatures. Thanks again for all your video's. I love them.
I've created a monster, lol. You can do several things, put them in a tote on your back porch where the snow won't pile up on them, if you have an extra fridge you can plant them and then slide the totes back in the fridge and they'll slowly grow more roots until spring, or you could bring them inside but that would be my last option. If you bring them indoors, make sure you have good lighting and are ready to care for them and fertilize until spring. I suppose you could also leave them in their bags and plant in a few months, it shouldn't hurt anything and they will just grow more roots slowly.
Thank you for the reply. I will keep you updated. I had never really been interested in trees and growing things myself until I came across your video's searching for a Japanese maple. I have new a found passion now, and my girlfriend laughs at how excited I got when the seeds finally sprouted. It really did give me a weird sense of elation. Thanks for the video's. Im actually thinking of building a small hoop house in my side yard. Id love to eventually try that garden as well. Let me see if I can keep these trees alive through the winter first...lol
great video man thank you great advice when there is so much info out there!!!
Hey no problem! Glad you enjoyed it. This is really the best method I've ever found and you can get massive amounts of seeds going this way. Great germination rate.
@@MikeKincaid79 I've just done a load of Korean fir and Lebanese cedar in the soil tray fridge method.... do you think this method will work for most seeds I've but some exotic seeds and they have different stratification techniques....
@@MikeKincaid79 Do you think I should leave them in the fridge till I see them start to germinate?
Hi Mike Kincaid, thank you for sharing your flower gardening tips,its really awesome, I love it.
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
And btw your way of explaining is amazing and fruitful. Appreciate it
Thank you for your support!
Every time you burp the bag, pull a couple out and plant them. See how long it takes to get them ready to go.
This worked perfectly for me I got like 30 trees thank you for the tip 👍👌
I did Apple seeds like this as Well ☺
Yeah, it's a simple method that works every time. I laugh now at all the different time consuming techniques I use to try.
With regards stratification, I’ve chucked them in a zip lock bag in the fridge, they seem to have a bit of mould starting.. is this likely to affect their viability or is a little mould ok? Also, seen elsewhere about soaking them for a couple of minutes in 10-1 water & bleach solution to stop the growth of mould.. would rather avoid bleach if possible, but if it’s the difference between success or failure I might submit 🤔 thanks in advance! Great videos 🙏🏻
I don't think a little bleach would harm them but I've never personally tried it.
I love how your rooster tries to steal the show. 😂
He's a ham........I mean a chicken, lol.
Mike - You are my ONLY subscription on youtube - thanks, really enjoy your videos.
Wow, I appreciate the leap of faith and glad you enjoy the videos!
Hey, nice video! I have a question. If u germinate some palmatum atropurpureum seeds, will u get maples with similar caracteristics? I mean, with red leaves? Or they will just be normal green? Thank u!
Yes, you'll get some with very similar characteristics and some that are further from the parents.
When he used his daughters old snack bag to get them seeds!!😍 yass recycle that bag!! 😂😫
It's all I could find at the time, lol
I have a question is late october too early to get them?
Depends on your climate but you should be able to start collecting now in most parts of the country.
Hi Mike, I live in Salem Oregon, today I collected 35 or so seeds off this 60 year old Japanese Maple. They over wintered on the tree I would love to grow some babies from this amazing old Maple. What should I do since its now spring and they over wintered on the tree? The seeds are full, plump and firm they look very viable.
They're probably going to work out just fine. Follow the same rules of stratification that we practiced in this video. It's still early so I'd give them about 3 months in the fridge, which would put us at the middle of June, and then plant them. Still plenty of summer to grow them.
With this new method you use, do you let them dry before you put them in bag and refrigerate? Or have they just fallen?.. Im in the UK and my maples are dropping seeds now (mid-summer) so do i refrigerate now until next spring or should i store them until November?
Wait until the fall to collect them. They have to be fully mature first. Don't dry them, just put them straight into a plastic bag and in the fridge.
Hola Mike!! Muchisimas gracias for your helpful videos about growing Japanese maples from seeds. I am a Spanish teacher at JMU here in Virginia. I am originally from Uruguay, and when I go home I always take some Japanese seeds with me to grow there. After going through the stratification stage the seeds sprouted very well. Then, when they were about 4 cms. tall, they were attacked by the damping decease and died. I really felt distressed and sad. Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent or fumigate to keep them out from getting the fungus? I watched all your videos very closely, the only thing different was that I kept all the seedlings inside of the house. I do have a large house though... Muchas gracias, and ..Dios le bendiga!!
Growing plants indoors during the winter can be difficult. They're subject to getting all kinds of disease like fungus, gnats, spider mites, etc. I really don't recommend growing these plants indoors and they can take the cold outside. My seeds even start germinating in the fridge.
Hi Mike. I tried your technique
And it WORKED! Thanks. I have a question. The size the container I used is 9.6(L)x14.3(D)x5.5(H) in inches -internal space measurements. I have 40 trees growing and they’re all about the same height, 3 to 4 inches tall.. Is that too many? Should I cull them back? Looking forward to you’re reply.
Great! Leave them to grow together until they go dormant next winter and then pull them apart and pot up.
Mike Kincaid 😃 Thanks, Mike!!
Great videos and channel. I live in tropical weather, so there is no danger of freeze. Do you know if it is necessary to cold stratify the seeds in the fridge for a few months?
Yes, they require a period of cold stratification.
Hi there. Will the bit of moisture potentially cause any mold in the plastic bag after it’s been in the fridge?
No, it's too cold for mold to take over.
Great info I ma exhausted from reading and now I will try this Thanks
Thanks, it will work for you if you work it!
Mike, how can you tell when seeds are ready to be harvested? What signs do you look for to indicate readiness? (leaves falling? seed color?) I live in Zone 7..
Also, what percentage of your harvested seeds will end up germinating?
Thanks for your time!
Spencer
Hey Spencer, thanks for asking. The seeds are ready to harvest when they start falling from the tree. In my area of 8a-8b this usually happens in November. I start looking for leaves falling and when I see the first seeds on the ground I harvest. I'm not sure of the exact percentage because I've never counted before and after but as you can see in the videos, a very large amount sprout.
Yeah I noticed in the subsequent videos that at minimum it appears that 50% and more of your seeds are sprouting and if I were to collect even 100 seeds, that would give me enough as a hobbyist.. Thanks for the advice! I'll keep my eyes open; leaves should start dropping here this month.
Yeah, the method is great, pretty much foolproof but as with anything in nature you never get 100% viable seeds so you'll never get 100% germination but like you said, 50% will give you more than you can handle, especially if you gather 1000 or more.
Hi Mike. I just collected seeds that were all dry. Should I just dip each one in water and then put the in dry peat moss, or should I just make the peat moss slightly damp?
Yep, make the peat slightly damp and store that way. You can soak them in water for a few hours to get them to start re-hydrating before putting them in peat.
@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks for the quick replies to my questions! Have a great Thanksgiving!
I just started to do gardening. And today i noticed that there is some maple japanese tree- about 1-2 inches height now -growing in my front yard, it is obviously from my neighbor’s tree. Will i be able to dig it and replant it in my backyard? Will it continue to grow?
Or if i will leave it there, will it continue to grow?
Thank u!!!
Sounds like it's growing well now. If you want to transplant it, wait until winter after it goes dormant.
Great video. If I were to order seeds online would I be doing your method? Place them in fridge until ready or do you know if I can germinate them and get them going before winter?(I have a place inside I can place them for winter)
I made a video about my opinion on seeds purchased online: ua-cam.com/video/gH2PnHa_39M/v-deo.html
Hi Mike. Will this work on seeds harvested in late summer? We have a beautiful Japanese maple that sadly has to be cut down very soon due to septic system issues in our yard. Can we harvest the seeds now and put them in the fridge until spring? We also found a couple of tiny saplings too that my little boys and I are trying to grow (we put them in some potting soil but beyond that we aren't sure what to do). Any tips on keeping this tree "alive" would be very appreciated : )
The seeds really do need time to fully mature, just like apples or any other fruit on a tree. If it's getting cut down anyway then it doesn't hurt to try, but wait until the latest you can.
What about the seeds that grow in the spring? Are the worth harvesting? Do you do the same with them if they are?
Japanese maple seeds need to remain on the tree all summer until fully ripe in the fall.
@@MikeKincaid79 in Toronto where I am they are growing and falling off the trees already... I picked a bunch off the ground this afternoon.
Can you germinate seeds in late summer and keep indoors until spring and still have success ?
The seeds that started growing in the spring won't be fully ripened until later in the fall, so I would wait.
what a nice guy! thanks for sharing!
You're welcome!
Thank you for sharing. How did you know they were ready to be harvested?
experience. Harvest them when the leaves just start falling from the tree.
Do I have to wait till spring to plant the tree is seeding now I want to take them to Florida it’s a very special tree to my family can I pick them off the buds thank you
You have to wait until fall to harvest them. They aren't ripe yet.
Hey Mike! Messaged you a few months ago about my Japanese Maples (thanks again for your response!). We are heading into fall here in upstate New York and I was curious about how to care for the seedlings during fall/winter. Currently they are in a tote but I do not have any cover over them. Do they need sun or can I keep them in a dark shed? Also what's the deal with watering in the winter? I appreciate your feedback!
Wait until they go dormant and then you can put them in a shed or garage. Keep the soil lightly moist through the winter, don't overwater. You may only need to water a couple times through the whole winter. When spring arrives and you see the buds start swelling, you can bring them back out. Alternatively, you can leave them in the tote and just place it on your back porch under a cover. They will be fine there all winter long.
Mike Kincaid Awesome thank you!
Mike, I threw a bag of maple seeds off etsy in the fridge as you instructed. I knew the expectation - but I DID end up having one sprout 6 months later. The issue I am having is that the seed sprouted and its October 10th. Should I leave it in the bag in the fridge? I don't want to leave the sprout in the bag if it is detrimental but I also don't want to throw the seedling off by moving it into a small pot next to the window. What should I do?
I'd plant it and grow it indoors all winter.
I live in Oklahoma and it’s cooling down. My house faces south and windows do not get a lot of light. Should I look into a grow light? I am worried it won’t survive winter in a window sill and don’t want to keep it outside at this time of year.
Hello. I live in southern california where the risk of frost is not much of a problem. Is there a minimum amount of time i should keep the seeds refrigerated before planting them? thanks.
They have a hard outer shell so they'll still need some stratification to help break down that shell. I would keep in the fridge for a minimum of 2 months.
Hello, I was wondering if I could collect the seeds in October? I worry about the snow here in Michigan lol
Hello Mike, I did exactly as you said to do and I have noticed mine are starting to mold. What did I do wrong? Do I need to let them dry out some before putting in the fridge?
No, you want to keep them moist. You may need more air flow to the seeds. Also, mine usually get a little mold in the winter but it doesn't grow fast enough to cause a problem while they're in the fridge.
@@MikeKincaid79 Thank you so much! I love your videos.
I just got 2, they are so pretty I want to make them.
Just follow the steps!
Mike, I did it with redAmerican acer and was a success, the are now going on one year, can I transplant them now to a gallon pot, or better wait for next winter. I live in Spain
I like to transplant plants in the late winter/early spring so that they've got all summer to get re-established in their new home.
@@MikeKincaid79 thanks a lot Mike, your videos are truly helpful. Keep safe
Hey Mike, last November I collected seeds. I planted them in late march after they sat in the fridge all winter. So far I have over 60 (4 inch) seedlings, all very healthy. My container is smaller than yours and the seedlings are very densely populated. I'm curious if re-potting is premature at this point.
Great job! Just leave them in the pot right now and give some slow release fertilizer. Keep watered through the summer. They will be crowded but it won't hurt them at all. I like to wait until the next winter after the roots have hardened off and everything is dormant. Then they are really easy to pull apart and pot up. Do this in late winter/early spring before the new growth starts.
@@MikeKincaid79 Awesome, thank you so much for the info, and for getting back to me so quickly. I really enjoy your videos, I had put this off for years, and I am so stoked I followed through with it. Your guidance is appreciated.
When do you know the seeds are ready to be picked? Do you wait until they fall off or pick them directly from the tree. Sorry, total rookie here!
I wait until I see some start to fall and then I know they're ready and pick the rest off.
Hi man how you’re doing? I hope you’re ok, in the video you mentioned that collected these seeds on September? Im in Michigan and seeds are falling but we get them seeds falling in May, is it because you are in different state or what’s up, im confused?
Those seeds aren't ready to germinate yet. The trees always lose a few seeds in the late spring but they aren't fully mature until fall.
now i know, thanks for the information 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
How long does it usually take after u put the maple seeds in the big bucket to come up
5 to days, some take a little longer, and some sprout a month later.
Excellent! Gonna give it a try....Thanks!
Sweet! Let us know how it goes.
I'm in East Texas. My Japanese maple is leafed out and there are seeds hanging on it now.....what do I do with these seeds? should I baggie them up until next Spring? or can I plant them now...if now....what is the procedure for doing that?
Don't pick them yet. They need to ripen on the tree all summer. Pick them in the fall when the tree is going dormant.
You need to send that rooster on a trip when you make videos. :D
You're right about that! Sucker need a trip to the moon.
Nick Doe No way he’s just doing what roosters are supposed to do.
@@rosalindaguerrero254 yeah, if the worst part of your day is dealing with a rooster, being a rooster, that's a good life.
Noodle soup it
I have seeds, but it's in the middle of summer here now. Do they need the "winter period" in the fridge?
If they're maples they should be cold stratified.
My Japanese maples have germinated and are small seedlings now, I’m protecting them from frost etc. They are growing really tall, fast and flopping over. Should I stake them to support? I don’t want to damage them when they are so small but want them to develop a strong straight stem! I’m excited as I have at least 5 different varieties growing!
Do you have them under grow lights? If so, that may be why they're growing tall and flopping over. Especially if they are fluorescent tubes. Get the light closer to the plants so they don't grow leggy. As soon as it warms enough in your area, start transitioning to more outdoor light.
By the way, great job on getting them to germinate!
@@MikeKincaid79 Thank you so much! To be fair more by luck than judgement! They are outside already but bring them in at night 😊
Great vid, I'm on it!
Hi Mike I just received dawn redwood seeds. Could you tell me how to plant them and when to plant them?
Never tried. I'll have to look into it.
Ok thanks Mike
Down here in the south, all the seeds and leaves don’t fall to the ground. In spring, the dead leaves and a few maple seeds come down. If these seeds are planted in the spring, will they grow?
They may. Depends on how much moisture they were able to take in during the winter.
Hi Mike, great videos! I've got a question: how long does it take from the moment you plant the seeds of acer palmatum dissectum untill they start to sprouting? I stratified 4 different types of japanese maples, 3 of them sprouted in 4-10 days (62 new little japanese maples!), however the dissectum( I've got about 200 of seeds, stratified in same conditions as the others) doesn't show any activity after 10 days. I'm a bit frustrated...
It's different every year and depends on the variety. Sometimes they sprout in a week and sometimes it's a month.
palmatum dissectum could be several types of Japanese maples and some are sterile , palmatum dissectum is a classification not a name. palmatum I think means hand shaped, and dissectum I think is small serrated leafs. they also have like 3 difference classifications for color of leafs and a few classifications for the color of the bark. 1 classification for weeping. think japanese maples have like 17 different classifications. and almost every one adds palmatum but not all are palmatums, so going to a japanese maple society page and learning how classifications work will help you realize when a japanese maple isnt labeled right. which happens alot. Basically learning the classifications, you can tell a japanese maple grower, size color type leafs, varigated, none varigated, full leafs, serrated leafs. weeping, ground cover. without even having the name of the tree type or color of the tree your looking at. And yes if some japanese maples arent straped their first few years they will make ground cover.
@3:43 to skip the intro
Hi Mike, in my area I have searched for & been unsuccessful in finding a Japanese maple that's close to the color of Dan's. Do you now sell the seeds and/or saplings of Dan's Japanese Maple??
I don't have anything to sell. The tree I have was the only seedling that germinated from the seeds that he sent me and I just planted it out a week ago. It will be a few years before I can get seeds off of it and germinate them.
I collected maybe 500 seeds. I put them in the frig at 40 degrees and got maybe 20 plants. Is that about normal? I did turn the frig down a couple of times to get the beer cold, could that effect them? Thanks for the video.
Turning the fridge down shouldn't do any harm as they usually freeze in nature. You should be able to get a bigger percentage to sprout but sometimes that's the way nature goes.
Thanks Mike I know your time is valuable. You have helped me a lot. It is funny because I started 2 years ago digging these maples out of the ground when they came up from the 15 year old tree and have got around 20 plants every year. I love nature.
Hi Mike, I've collected a lot of fallen Japanese maple seeds from my in-laws' tree. Given that it's only late-spring/early summer here (am in the northeast), will these seeds be viable if I toss them in the fridge or should I just throw them all out? Thanks in advance!
Japanese maple seeds aren't viable at this time of year. They need the summer to fully mature and ripen, just like fruit. They will usually drop a few seeds this time of year based on moisture and heat but the tree is just self pruning off the excess. You'll want to wait until fall to collect the viable seeds and start germinating them.
My JM seeds are already falling off the tree - will there still be some left in the fall? Can I collect the seeds that are falling or are they still too green?
The seeds that are falling are either not viable or the tree is dropping them because it doesn't have a good supply of water and can't maintain them. Either way, the seeds won't sprout because they never fully ripened on the tree. Mine does this a little bit every spring but there are always way more seeds still attached by fall.
Thank you for the information!! I am going to try this out :)
So how long does it take for germination, when you take them out of the fridge and plant them?
I use a similar method... but I sandwich my seeds inside of a moist paper towel placed inside a ziplock bag and then put them at the bottom of the fridge. They start to germinate within 3 months right inside the fridge. The moistened paper towel helps to break down and soften the thick outer shell.
Curious how long germination takes with your method, from the time of sowing them in soil?
Mine start germinating in the fridge too. The leaves pop out within a few days to a week after planting.
Ok cool. Thanks.
I have spruce seeds and I am not sure if I must put them in the fridge like you did with your Japanese Maple. We are in Montreal in beginning of August. Can you help me, Please. Thanks.
I've never germinated them but I'm guessing they will need a stratification period.
Hi Mike! Will fresh seed germinate easy at this time? Summer here will start in 1 month...
As long as the seed was gathered when it was ripe in the fall and then kept moist and cool through the winter, you should have no problem at all.
Hi Mike. The seeds were collected 5 days ago...
I'm trying to understand. Did you collect seeds that were already laying on the ground all winter, or seeds that were new from this year and attached to the tree? From your first comment, I'm guessing they were new seeds that were still attached to the tree and if that's the case then they are not viable. The seeds have to grow and fully ripen on the tree all summer and fall before they are ready to germinate. Next fall when the seeds start falling from the tree is the perfect time to collect them. I hope that helps.
ok! Thank you..!!!
How long exactly did you keep it in the fridge?
A little over 4 months.
Can u grow any Japanese maple trees from seed meaning get the seeds in November and get them out and plant them in the hot part of the year
Yes
Hey Mike, I’ve watched all your Japanese maple videos and they’ve been very helpful. I still have a few more questions. Some background... I’m from MI and my grandparents had to move into assisted living in July. At that time I went all through their yard and collected as many sprouts of their Japanese and Full Moon Maple that I could find and put them in small pots (started out with about 20). About half have died which I expected since I transplanted then in the summer when they weren’t dormant. I just went back this Friday (Oct. 25th) and collected as many seeds off the ground or trees that I could find. Put them in a smaller ziplock bag and misted each bag with one squirt of my squirt bottle.
Should I use a gallon size bag or does it really matter? The bag of seeds I collected in August (likely too early but I didn’t know when their house was going to sell) have mold on them because I forgot to burp the bag but I’m keeping them just in case.
The ones in small pots I have on a covered porch. It has frosted once and I got really nervous it would kill them. They seem okay but I’m anxious to get them to my moms garage since I still live in an apartment. I’m wondering if she should water them once in awhile in the garage if they’re dormant? Also am I moving them into the garage too early since they have all their leaves still or too late since we had a little frost on the ground last week?
Also, what kind of fertilizer should I use next spring?
Sorry for the long winded post. I’m just so scared they’ll all die and I’ll be left without a tree to plant in my house to remember them by. My grandfather passed only one month after moving into assisted living and it meant so much to him that I gathered sprouts and wanted seeds.
Sounds like you you've got plenty of trees to work with. They should be just fine through the winter as maples can freeze hard as a rock and take rally cold temps. If you have them in the garage then you will need to make sure to keep the soil moist through the winter or the trees will die. That probably means only watering once every month or 2, it doesn't take much in the winter. I think you'll be fine with all the trees you have.
Thank you for the speedy response. What fertilizer do you use in the spring?
I have a video about the fertilizer. Just type in my name and fertilizer and you should find it.
I haven't tried this with Japanese maples, as I don't have luck with them. So I focused on other maple spices, with witch I have success. I tried several spices to stratify. First in sand, and nothing happened. Then I tried in coconut peat, and all the seeds got molded or disintegrated. Same result with sphagnum moss. I tried also to change the time of collecting seeds, even tried with seeds still on the trees, and nothing. One day I stumbled on this video, purely accidental. It is so weird, at first look, that the logic tells it will never work, as it doesn't work for other spices. As I have tried everything I know about, I decided to try your method. What can I lose, if I give it one more time? After all, maple is a maple. It was this autumn when I tried this method, and today, the first days of 2023. , I can say that it's applicable to other maples. I tried with Norway maple and Sycamore maple. So far, Sycamore have few with roots, while 1/3 Norway. And it's all almost 20 days before the scheduled time for stratification ends.
Really glad to hear that. Thanks for giving it one more try and putting this to the test. Good luck!
@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks.
Hi Mike,
I collected maple seeds 2 weeks ago, and follow your steps.. put them in the zip bag, but them in the fridge.
I check them today, and unfortunately I see start of mold on some seeds!!! How to proceed now?
They'll be OK
My seedlings are appearing now in (May) in Maryland. Can I go straight to ground or fridge?
No! Watch this video first: ua-cam.com/video/bCPGjHijNOg/v-deo.htmlsi=q5zyCotSIOtbUxFh
Ok I started growing outside in pots they are 5 in tall .what should I do once it's winter ? Bring them in , garage,our let them get the full Ohio winter?
Will they still grow if they completely Germinate in the plastic ziplock bag
Not if left in the fridge. The roots will grow slowly and be almost in a state of suspended animation.
Nice, & simple. Good job!
I just bought seeds in one of these classic bags from a nursery that they have from companie's,, can i skip with these the fridge process, and just start sowing in small pots?
I guess it depends on how they handled them. Japanese maples should go through a stratification period so you may still want to put them in the fridge with moisture for a few months.
Getting ready to germinate mine.
Thanks
Yeah, it's getting close. I was just looking for signs of germination in mine the other day.
hi mike what is the ideal temperature range for most tree seeds to germinate? ive been trying to germinate in my greenhouse temp 95 at the highest with no succes, do you think that is my problem?
Sounds like you don't have viable seeds or your methods are not working. The temp is a little high but they should at least germinate if it's viable seed. There's a broad range they'll germinate in, from just above freezing all the way up into the 100's
I know this is an old video but if my seeds are dry? Do I need to add a little moisture to them before I stick them in the fridge or leave them dry?
Add a little moisture
Hi Mike, sorry about another question,
As i bought the seeds online they are dried. The site says to soak them for 72 hours and then follow basically your method. Im not sure about the 72 hours thing, it seems a bit long.
Hard to give a recommendation as I've always had poor results with dry seeds. My advice would be to follow whatever instructions they gave you based on the fact that they must have their system figured out (hopefully). I personally only soaked them for about 24 hours when I did it that way.
@@MikeKincaid79 ill try some for 36 hours and then some for 72 hours and see what happens. Thanks for the advice!
Hi, when is the best time to harvest seeds? Wich are the better, fresh or dried seeds? Thanks
The seeds are ready to harvest when they start falling from the tree. In my area of 8a-8b this usually happens in November. I start looking for leaves falling and when I see the first seeds on the ground I harvest. Fresh seeds are the best for germination.
Thanks. The thing is that I´m in Argentina, it´s springtime and I´m in a 9 zone. Growing maples as long as Rhodos like I do is quite a chllenge for me. I have some maples in containers and they are showing some seeds right now and I don´t want to lose it. So, I don´t know when is the earliest time to harvest. Thank you so much.
Don't pick the seeds now or they won't sprout. You have to wait until they fully ripen which will probably be around the middle of May for you.
Hello, dear friend! Tell me. Fresh seeds acer palmatum dissectum (not dried, fresh) before stratification in the refrigerator should it be soaked in warm water or not?
No, just put them in the refrigerator.
Mike did your grafts take?
I have a question, where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before stratification? Where can I store them? I cannot store them in hot temperatures is because hot temperatures may kill all of the seeds, they will no longer be viable after storing them in hot temperatures. When hot temperatures kill seeds, it will not germinate at all. Please tell me where can I store Japanese Maple seeds before cold stratifying them. Please tell me.
Store them in a fridge.
@@MikeKincaid79 Got it! Thanks! :D
I gathered seeds from a neighbor's tree. Do you think it's necessary to wait for all danger of frost to pass before pulling them from fridge? I'm thinking of planting them in a tote like you suggest , but putting them out once everything freezes and letting them germinate naturally (weatherwise, I don't have a greenhouse)
More like the winter sowing method.
Nevermind, I just found parts 2 and 3 of your series...
Great! If you have anymore questions, just ask.
My red maple after pruning & cutting the roots 30%, branches & twigs dry immediately. how to handle red maple after pruning & root cutting? does it have to be covered?
No, just continue watering well and it should be fine.
@@MikeKincaid79 do you sell red maple?
Hi Mike! I have both purple ghost japanese maple and sakura cherry seeds I am attempting to germinate, will this method work for both??
I have twenty seeds, do you think a tiny bag is big enough for them to stay in the fridge?
Sure, something about the size of a sandwich bag.
What if I ordered the seeds online, should I also put them in the refrigerator or I can use them right away?
And how do I store the rest of the seeds I have ?
Online seeds are dried and typically don't have a good germination rate. I recommend collecting seeds fresh or finding a source for fresh seeds.
Can I skip the refrigerator for two or three months if I am germinating and keeping them growing indoors until the spring? or do they need to go through that cold refrigerator cycle before germinating into seedlings?
Never tried germinating them immediately but it would be a good experiment. I have a feeling that they need that cold stratification to do well but it's worth a shot.
Thanks. I collected a bunch last weekend and will keep most in the fridge but I will see what happens with a few I'll try right away.
can this work to seed that i bought from online shop ?
because your seed is fresh, is there any different method to germinate seed that i bought from online ?
really need your answer
This video should help you: ua-cam.com/video/gH2PnHa_39M/v-deo.html
Mike plz help me with the process of storing japanese red maple seeds.. Thank You
Just pick them when fresh and moist and store in a plastic bag or container in the fridge.
Hey Mike, I've been waiting to gather some seed pods from the Japanese Maple at church and I'm not seeing any! 🤷🏻♀️ Do some varieties of Japanese Maples not make seeds?
Some years they don't make seeds. There are probably others around your area that do have them.
I have a question for you 🙋♂️ , do Japanese Maple seeds need Scarification in order to germinate? Do they need Scarification? Do they need it? Yes or no? Do Japanese Maple seeds need to be scratched? I hope you can answer my questions.
No
Acrorns will immediately root after falling to the ground like in a week same thing with watermelon seeds fresh out of a watermelon .. just lay those maple seed in a try on clay or potting soil as soon as you gather them. Now that would be a worthy experiment acrons lay on hard bare ground and split open sending down a green and white root in the hard ground you can still move the acrons nut a little bit Are you sure about this three month cold weather or refrigerator deal
Yes, they will germinate without help but I mimic nature as much as possible while placing them in the fridge. The reason for the fridge and not leaving them outside is that the weather outside is unpredictable and all the germinated seeds could be killed by a bad winter.
Okay, so I purchased (supposedly) A Japanese Blue Maple on line. I was sent seeds. Do I need to wait for Spring here in Orlando, FL to attempt to germinate them to have successful seedlings? And does a 'Blue' exist?
I've heard that the blue is a hoax but I don't know enough about it for sure to say one way or the other. I personally can't think of any plant that has true blue leaves but I haven't seen it all yet, lol. You can germinate them anytime you want, and in Florida, I don't think you'll have any problems with freezing weather killing your seedlings.