How to Plant Ginkgo Seeds for Successful Propagation

November 17, 2024 by Robby

Ginkgo trees are ancient, unique deciduous trees that make an excellent addition to landscapes and gardens. Their fan-shaped leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow in fall. Ginkgos are either male or female, and only females produce the fleshy fruits containing the seeds. With some patience and the right conditions, you can grow ginkgo trees from seed at home.

Gathering Ginkgo Seeds

The first step is to collect ripe ginkgo fruit in autumn. Look for fruit that has ripened and dropped on the ground beneath a female ginkgo tree. The fruit looks similar to a small plum, about 1-2 inches long. Wear gloves when handling, as the pulp can cause skin irritation. Scoop up fallen fruit and place in bags. The number of seeds you’ll need depends on how many trees you want to grow. The more seeds collected, the better your chances for germination.

Extracting the Ovule Seeds

Once you’ve gathered fallen ginkgo fruit, remove the pulpy orange exterior to get to the inner seed. This is called the ovule. Rinse the pulp off under water and pick out the oval ovule nut. Discard any ovules that are shriveled or damaged. Place cleaned ovules in a plastic bag with a bit of moist peat moss.

Stratifying the Seeds

Ginkgo seeds require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy before they will germinate Store bagged seeds somewhere cool (40-50°F) for 4-6 weeks Then move to the refrigerator for at least 3 months, This cold mimics winter and readies seeds to sprout when warm conditions return,

Scarifying and Disinfecting

After the required stratification time, remove seeds from the fridge. Gently rub each ovule with sandpaper or an emery board to lightly abrade the outer coating. Then soak in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for 2-3 minutes to kill any fungus or bacteria, and rinse clean.

Planting Ginkgo Seeds

Fill sterile pots with a well-draining sowing medium like horticultural sand, perlite, vermiculite or a sand/peat mixture. Moisten the mixture before planting seeds just below the surface. Place 3-4 seeds in each pot, spaced out. Cover pots with plastic to retain moisture and provide a greenhouse effect.

Caring for Seedlings

Keep planted pots in a warm place with temperatures around 70-75°F. Check moisture levels regularly and water just enough to keep the medium barely moist not soggy. Remove the plastic covering once sprouts emerge. Seedlings should appear in 4-8 weeks. Thin to leave the strongest seedling.

When they have 2 sets of leaves, transplant carefully into individual containers filled with potting soil. Place in partial sun. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.

Transplanting Outdoors

Let seedlings grow indoors for 2-3 years until they are 2-3 feet tall. Harden off and transplant into the garden in spring after the last frost. Select a spot with full to partial sun and well-draining soil. Space at least 15 feet apart. Water deeply after transplanting and provide supplemental water during dry periods until established.

With careful harvesting, processing stratifying planting and growing on, ginkgo trees can successfully be propagated from seeds at home. In 10-20 years, you’ll have a majestic, golden-leafed ginkgo to enjoy for generations to come.

How to grow a Ginkgo tree from seed (Maidenhair tree)

FAQ

Can I grow a Ginko tree from a seed?

Alternatively, you can sow your ginkgo “nuts” in the fall directly in the ground or in containers buried in the soil, to stratify them naturally. Only fertilized ovules will germinate. Artificial stratification is intended to reproduce the natural conditions the seeds need in order to germinate.

Is ginkgo hard to grow?

Ginkgo trees require minimal care to flourish once they mature. When choosing a ginkgo tree variety, you need to con- sider the fact that mature female ginkgo trees produce fruit- actually a seed ball. The fruit starts developing after about 20 years and it can get very messy; the smell is somewhat irritating.

How do you start a ginkgo tree?

Start with Ginkgo seeds from an existing tree dropped fruit, or a gardening supplies store seed starting packet. Seeds need exposure to cold temperatures before planting so germination can occur—Place seeds in a refrigerator or moist, sandy container pots outside during the winter.

Can you grow ginkgo in the US?

Ginkgo was introduced into North America in 1784 and has generally been successful on good sites in the moist temperate zone of the midwestern and eastern United States and along the St. Lawrence River in Canada (Bailey 1947; Rehder 1940).

How to plant Ginkgo tree seeds?

Follow these steps to prepare your Ginkgo tree seeds for planting: Timing: The best time to collect Ginkgo tree seeds is in the late fall when they naturally fall from the tree. Keep an eye on your tree to determine when the seeds start dropping. Safety Precautions: Before handling the seeds, it’s important to wear gloves.

How do ginkgo trees grow?

In fact, their ecology is a bit of a mystery. Remember, the town has around 10,000 ginkgo trees. But only about 100 of them are male! Male trees sprout flowers in April. Wind carries their pollen across a wide area until it lands on female flowers. Once it settles down, a five-month process begins. Finally, sperm is formed.

Can Ginkgo biloba be grown from seed?

One of our oldest plant species, Ginkgo biloba can be propagated from cuttings, grafting, or seed. The first two methods result in plants much quicker, but the process of growing ginkgo trees from seed is an experience not to be missed. The trees don’t technically produce a seed, but females develop fruit which are pollinated by male trees.

How do you grow Ginkgo biloba?

Plant ginkgo biloba in an area that receives full sun to part shade. The ginkgo is not fussy about soil type or most soil conditions and will tolerate both acidic and alkaline soil as well as compacted soil. It prefers well-drained sandy soil or loam with a pH in the 5.0 to 8.0 range.

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