I'm interested in propagating Linden trees for bee forage. I have a bunch of Linden seeds I would like to plant but have been met with minimal success in the past, even though I nicked the outer shell completely through to the kernel last time.
The textbooks recommend soaking in ascorbic acid; however, I do not have any access to the acid.
Layering is out of the question too, as I do not have any trees nearby, nor any access to any trees.
Does anyone have a successful method of starting Linden from seeds?
Most Linden seeds are notorious for bad germination results their first year.Most will require a full year before they sprout. Cold stratification alone won't do the trick, it's the application of cold and warm treatment that should help. I would sow the seeds, protect them from rodents and keep them outside where they are exposed to the elements for a year. You should have good germination rates next spring.
I would love some seeds! I can pay for shipping, at least. I think gredn seeds are best, well before shaking makes them fall off tree. I have bought seeds twice. Very frustrating but it is an edible tree, leaves tender and good as lettuce substitute. Really want to grow a lot of trees to line my driveway. I had azaleas, but boring. Except for one week a year, anyway. I will send DM, too since old thread.
I have many Basswoods on my property. Have seen all the seeds they drop. If they require stratification, read up on how gingeng seed is stratified. I know a little about it. The seed is collected and placed in something like a coffee can with sandy, or loose soil to overwinter. The seeds are collected one summer, stratified over that winter and the next summer and ready to plant in the fall.
Jonathan Hofer=
I did not have any success with sprouting any basswood seeds myself, have tried several times and figured maybe I would try digging up some small ones. This year I found a six footer and transplanted it before leaf out, it seems to be doing okay so far as the leaves are just beginning to come out.
I only tried stratifying with wet paper towels enveloping seeds in a ziploc bag in freezer and some seeds planted in huge flower pots over winter--no success here.
I used to work in a large wholesale nursery. Although we didn't propagate basswood, we did grow some trees from seeds that required stratification. These were started outside.
We had raised beds in frames. The soil mixture was about 60-70 % organic and was steam pasteurized to eliminate weed seed. The seeds were broadcast on the soil surface in the fall and then the entire surface of the beds were covered with 1/2" of fine sand. The following year, the beds were irrigated as needed, and the seedlings were allowed to grow and then over winter in the beds. In early spring (before the buds start to swell), the one year seedlings were transplanted into "liner pots", and then grown another year before being sold as "liners".
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