| _. | time of flowers | time of seed collection | interval between good seed crops (years) | sow straight away | prepare/statify | propagate cuttings/layering suckers | comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALDER Alnus glutinosa |
March | September onward | 2-3 y | No | Sow in spring. Store as directed in notes. | Pick when strobiles (sections of cone) are opening on the trees. From September onwards. | |
| ASH Fraxinus excelsior |
April – May | September onwards | 3-5y | Seed collected green in Aug. may be sown immediately, but germination the following spring erratic. | Spring sown seed must be pretreated for 2 winters (18months) before sowing in March/April | Spring sown seed will give more complete germination. | |
| ASPEN Populus tremula |
March | May/June | - | yes | Avoid | Best method 3” root cuttings | Difficult from seed. Collect root cuttings catkins when white down appears. |
| BIRCH , SILVER Betula pendula |
May | September to December | 1-3y | yes | Store in a dry sealed container before sowing March/early April. | Pick catkins shortly before they ripen and when they are still intact. | |
| BIRCH, DOWNY Betula pubescens |
May | August to November | 1-3y | or as Alder | As for Pendula | ||
| CHERRY, BIRD Prunus padus |
May-June | August | 1-3y | Can be sown immediately but protect from mice. | Stratify for 6 months and sow in March/early April. | Collect from the tree when the fruit is black (before the birds!) It is best to clean the seeds of all pulp and juice as soon as possible. |
|
| CHERRY Prunus avium |
May | Late July-August | 1-3y | as Padus | Stratifying can be delayed until October & sowing should be in Feb/Mar. | Collect before the birds! Seeds should be kept in an airtight container in a cool place between the time of extraction and sowing or stratification. | |
| CRAB APPLE Malus sylvestris |
June | October | 2-4y | Extract the seed from the fruit and sow immediately. | Best stratified. Extract the seed and stratify away. Sow in late February. | Seedings vulnerable to frost because they germinate early. | |
| ELM,WYCH Ulmus glabra |
March/ april | June | 1-2 y | Sow immediately after collection, the same day if possible | Avoid storage. | Possible by suckers and some cuttings do strike. | Pick before natural dispersion (when green pigment disappears from wing.) Sow same day |
| HAWTHORN Cratageus monogyna |
May – June | 2 winters ie. 18 months. | |||||
| HAZEL Corylus avellana |
february-March | October | 2-3y | Can be sown in autumn but vulnerable to being eaten by mice/birds. | Best to stratify for 6 months and sow in early April. | Some recommend soaking in water for 2 days before autumn sowing. Best if it has been stored | |
| HOLLY Ilex aquilifolia |
May -June | December/July | 2-4y | Stratify in sand for 16 months perhaps even a third Winter | cuttings/layering | Pick fully ripe berries. Lift plants when roots are actively growing. May be propagated by rooting in heated frames. | |
| OAK, SESSILE Quercus petraea |
May | October | 2-5 y | May be sown in autumn if soil well drained and seeds are protected from predation. Cover with 3-4 extra soil and remove in March. |
Alternatively spring sow. Moulds if damp, dies if dry. Store in a cool well ventilated place. Keep a close watch for shrivelling. |
Pick from the ground after the first frost. Laying down taurpaulins can be helpful. | |
| OAK, ENGLISH Quercus robur |
May | October | 2-5 y | as petraea | as petraea | as petraea | |
| ROWAN Sorbus aucuparia |
May | Early September | 2-3 y | Macerate berries and separate seed from fruit. Stratify for one winter if extracted, for 2 winters if not extracted. | Pick fully ripe berries. If seed not separated from fruit it may remain dormant for an additional year. | ||
| YEW Taxus baccata |
Feb. | October -November | 2-3 winters | Mist propagator for cuttings. | The seeds(not the flesh) and the foliage are deadly poison. | ||
| WHITEBEAM Sorbus aria |
June | September -October | 2-3y | Yes, for I winter sometimes 2. check 1st Feb – March | Pick fully ripe berries |