Organic Tree of Heaven Seeds (Ailanthus Altissima)
1.14 €
Tree of Heaven seeds are relatively easy to germinate and grow. The dormancy within the seed is short and easily broken. The seeds first need to be soaked in water for between 48-72 hours. The water should then be fully drained and the seeds mixed.
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Organic Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus Altissima)
Tree of Heaven seeds are relatively easy to germinate and grow. The dormancy within the seed is short and easily broken. The seeds first need to be soaked in water for between 48-72 hours.
The water should then be fully drained and the seeds mixed with a little damp sand and placed into a plastic freezer or zip-lock bag and placed into the fridge for at least 4 days. This period of cold will greatly increase the number of seedlings that germinate compared to untreated seeds and will also enable faster seedling emergence. Please note that sometimes seed lots require a longer period of cold pretreatment, occasionally as long as 8 weeks.
Fill your chosen container with a good quality general potting compost. Suitable containers could be plant pots, seed trays or plug trays or even improvised containers with drainage holes. Firm the compost gently and sow the seeds on the surface and cover with just the slightest sprinkle of compost -it is though that the presence of light is beneficial for germination. Follow this with a gentle watering.
To maintain enough humidity around the seeds they can be covered with something transparent, such as a clear plastic bag secured with an elastic band for seeds sown in plant pots or could be a sheet of glass or a layer of plastic film (cling film) held off the compost surface.
Usually after a week or so kept at room temperature signs of germination are evident and is wise to gradually remove any covering that was used to raise humidity levels.
Developing seedlings should be fine in full sun, keep them well watered and free of competing weeds. Growth is quite fast will accelerate greatly during the second and subsequent years Developing young trees should be re-potted as necessary preferably during the dormant season. After perhaps 2 years they are ready to be planted in their permanent position