I have successfully germinated ginkgo seeds. Protection from vermin (squirrels) is likely number one. Anyway that was a dilemma for me.
Well, one good thing about a female tree is that it won't fruit for many years from now. Not exactly sure how many years, but I thought it was 30 to 35 years.
I always thought the ginkgo was a nice, unique tree anyway, I didn't care if it had nasty fruit. I always liked how it is a living fossil, is resistant to everything, was an only living organism to survive a bombing by a nuclear bomb and was loved by Harry Truman. And hardiness wouldn't be an issue unless one lived way North.
After they germ you can always give them away as seedlings, someone will take them.
Merry Christmas to you too.

I doubt if they'll germinate outside now... that's the problem with starting seeds now - it'll be too cold for them to start and/or 'grow up', so it's best to start them indoors, and turn them into 'outdoor' trees next year (put them out in spring after any chance of frost has passed).

I agree with Shortleaf - they are attractive trees. However, I would plant them at a distance from front doors, walkways or patios/decks/porches, just in case they ARE female - although I understand the stink last only a few weeks, that might be a few weeks too long. I also understand that if you let the local Asian community know that you have fruiting ginkgos, they will come and take all the fruit away to process themselves, so that's something to think about, lo, these 30-35 years down the road. How's your long-term memory?

If you don't plant the seeds now, whether in pots inside or outside, DON'T let the seeds dry out, as they will most likely not germinate after that. Keep them in a small plastic bag in a cool place (crisper drawer in the 'fridge, unheated garage or shed that won't freeze, etc.) with damp sand, sawdust, potting soil, etc.. Keep an eye on them for dryness, mold if too damp, and for sprouting - take the sprouted ones carefully and pot up properly! You might ask over on the Winter Sowing Forum if anyone has had any experience with ginkgo seeds - although I think it's more with flower and veggie seeds, I may be wrong.

I have grown many Ginkos from seed. They are very easy to germinate, and, like shortleaf2002 said, protection from vermin is probably the number one issue. The seeds are sensitive to completely drying out, but I have had no problem growing them from seeds stored dry for a few months.

I would strongly suggest NOT planting them inside and growing them as an "indoor" tree right now. Ginkgos, like almost all other temperate trees, need regular periods of dormancy for good health and should not be grown as tropical trees even as seedlings. Planting them indoors now would give your seedlings an uphill climb later on that they don't need.

You can plant outdoors now and let nature cold stratify them as it has been able to do successfully for millions of years (humans sometimes call this winter sowing) OR stratify them in the refrigerator in a moist media as dibbit described above. In either of these methods, the seeds should be cold and slightly moist during winter. They know when to sprout!

Ginkgos generally fruit within 20 to 35 years. That may seem like a long time right now, but in 20 years it won't have seemed like that long. Good planning now can reduce frustration later. I personally don't think the fruit's smell is all that bad from a little distance. Unless I pick up the fruit and smell it, I rarely even notice it. Like dibbit said, "plant them at a distance from front doors, walkways, or patios/decks/porches."

I live in a new development, so, unfortunately, we don't have much wildlife - yet. Maybe someday squirrels will be a problem.

Once germinated outside, will the young seedlings do better with some sun but mostly shade? I know some of my other seedlings definitely need a break from the Texas summer sun (I'm north of Ft. Worth on the 7B-8A zone border) We have lots of days over 100°F.

Mine germinate well when planted outside in the fall, they just sprout mid to late spring. I put chicken wire over the pots.

I don't feel females deserve the bad name they get. Seems that people are overly paranoid. Seems all anybody knows about ginkgos is their smell. I've smelled them a number of times- and agree to just not plant them close to your front door if you're concerned. If they are terrible in your eyes, rake them up as they drop and compost/bury them. They smell as they rot, not when fresh.

I'm going to let them 'do their thing'. As stated earlier, as a species they've survived the ages, surely I won't be able to kill them all!?!?!
; - )

I seem to recall reading that gingkos produce nuts only after being about 20 years old.

A local arboretum that has a pair of gingkos says that two Asian women come every fall to collect the nuts so there is no problem with the fallen fruit - which as I understand it only smells when left to rot. If you had female trees you might be able to find someone who wants to collect the nuts as well since they are a delicacy in Asian cuisine.

FataMorgana

Morgana-
From some of what I've read about the ginkgo products, maybe this old body needs those seeds!

Female trees are called Stinko biloba.

yuk yuk yuk

I already 'stinko' enougho.

Justin, since squirrels are what would dig the seeds out of pots or the ground, if you do have squirrels, then when you start the seeds, you probably should cover the pots or the planting area with chicken wire, or the like, so the varmints can't dig. Just be sure to take the wire off or tent it up when the seedlings start to grow - removing chicken wire from around the trunk of a tree that has grown through a hole in the mesh is NO fun!

Jays might also be a problem - I know in San Francisco, scrub jays dug up a few pots of stuff I had outside, whether to get at the seeds or not, I don't know - they may have wanted to bury acorns in them - but the end result was a dug-up pot.

Question about starting Ginko Seeds:

Hello all,

Not having grown anything from seed before except for Golden raintrees where I put the seeds in the freezer for several days. They did sprout in pots after freezing but I couldn't get them to sprout before freezing. It worked and the trees are now outside (Golden Raintree).

I've done the same with my Ginko seeds and kept them in the freezer for the last few months. I noticed comments that the seeds should be kept moist. My question is if anyone knows whether I killed my Ginko seeds by keeping them in the freezer and shouldn't bother trying to plant them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Julio

Hello - I own a most handsome tree, and called him my 'Prince' ... for 20 years I saw him grow handsomely into a well bred & behaved young lad ... then into this very considerate gorgeous, young Prince, that never annoyed neighbors, with his golden cloak, that he drops down, just around his foot, when Mama Nature snaps & says "Right now!". I've only come home from a Fall vacation once, to see a sea of gold within my fenced yard & only a handful, perhaps, that have been carried by the angels, to my neighbor's ... certainly, they couldn't mind ... I've raked many different leaves from trees I don't own ... it was a freezing-wind-storm we just had!

Alas ... he turned 21, we had a severe & decimating, ice-storm, that took many a great trees, down on their knees ... it was a disaster area & weeks of clean-up! No, not my Prince Gingko, he stood as tall and proper, though naked, as he was ... perhaps, shook to his core, but that was all ... so I thought! That was 10 years ago ... now at nearly, 30 years of age ... it still breaks my heart to call this beautiful & regal, 30ft (at least) tree a DUCHESS!!!

For years now I have been painfully, doing my PURGATORY TIME each Fall! Â:(
Heaven has spared me, perhaps, a year or two ... a week or so, of late freeze prevented the budding fruits, from clinging to their mom's arms!!! The price I paid for those late freeze, in Spring ... running like crazy, with burlap blankets & cover-ups, to save early bloomers & newly planted annuals!!!

The Universities in our state, have decided to cut down many of theirs, for the students' comfort. When we heard of this, my hubby & I looked at each other & our beautiful tree, that shades our deck & breakfast room ... almost simultaneously "NO"! So here I am facing another bumper-crop year, of Gingko's over-ripe fruits, in a few months!!! Â:(

I'm turning 72 this Fall ... how much longer do I have to do my Purgatory time'? ... I asked myself ... it'll kill me to take this beautiful tree down. I have 3, 'live-in' Squirrels (nested in her arms) that have been digging, young Biloba seeds, but they prefer digging seeds from my young pear fruits! So, no help there!

Last Spring I was thrilled to be sweeping millions of fallen buds ... surely, I thought, I was spared this Fall ... 2 days of sub-freezing nights in April ... not enough ... so I looked up at this magnificent tree full of small, green balls & dream of training monkeys to harvest them, before turning into apricot color -stinky stage ... but mostly, simply lament over the 'Purgatory Time' I face! Â:)

Thank you for reading & perhaps for your feelings of sympathy!!! Â;) It did take 20 years for my 'Prince' to take his mask off!
Ditas

Ginkgo poetry...hmmmm

Thank you Brandon - for reading ... finally, our long awaited rain came & all morning too!!! It gave me time to search & see if there might be some *scientific break-through* ... 'A Gingko Fruit-Control Pill at Last' if you will! No such luck, so I thought to share a love affair of nearly 30 years!!! Â;) & Â:(

Several threads here, that I quickly read through, made me think of the Spring, I was pulling gzillion seedlings from a retaining wall, of Baltic Ivy, as well as from my Gingko tree canopy-patch, of Pachysandra - both plants have foliage that look so much, like the beautiful Gingko leaves - I had to wait for seedlings to be, at least a ft tall, before I attempted the daily chore ... I still find seedlings now & again!

My grand dau & friends enjoy slipping & sliding on silky fallen Gingko leaves ... In case you're curious here's a link, click to peek closely ... I have photos of 'fallen golden fruits' as well, but unfortunately, not taken with this digital cam. - certainly this Fall!

Again, many thanks!!! Â;)

Here is a link that might be useful: A sea of gold