Winter Sowing Shrubs and Trees

17 years ago

I have been winter sowing for four years. Year number two I winter sowed my first shrubs. I germinated four chaste trees and a crepe Myrtle. I pushed the zones a little for these shrubs. This spring I thought I had lost them. Our winter temperatures were lower this year. They all sprouted from the bottom.

Each year I try winter sowing a new shrub or tree. Year three I successfully germinated Norway spruce trees. This year (on another gardening site) I traded for American Persimmon tree seeds and hardy pecan nut seeds. They started germinating in May and June. I planted into the ground two persimmon trees and five pecan trees on Saturday. The pecans are still sprouting.

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Norway Spruce

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Butterfly bush

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Pecan trees

I stopped at Lowes the other day. I checked the price of the potting mix I use to winter sow. Of course the price went up from early spring.

Don (dem_pa)

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Comments (5)

vera_eastern_wa
17 years ago
Very good :)

I didn't think Pecan trees were hardy past zone 7 and looked it up and low and behold they are hardy to zone 6! Now if only I had a bigger yard LOL!

Another tree I plan to add in honor of my Grandmother is Chokecherry, although I don't think I will have room for it in the memorial garden. It will still bring back fond memories of chokecherry picking with her as a child. Can't wait to start making Chokecherry jam, syrup and pudding (Wojapi)!!! Yummy
I already have the seeds, but didn't around to starting them last winter. They've been in the fridge all this time so hope they kept ok.
proudgm_03
17 years ago
I haven't had much luck with trees and shrubs and I've tried tons. My golden raintree and wisteria died soon after coming up. I have had some luck with apple and mimosa.
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ajpa
17 years ago
Any tips on how to WS the butterfly bush?
I tried this winter and it didn't come up.
My neighbor has white & purple bbs and I'd like to beg her for some seeds and try again.
token28001
17 years ago
ajpa, let me know if you want seeds. I have the same colors. My white actually came true for the three plants that have bloomed.

The key is to making sure the pods are ripe. I cut mine off last November. It takes a LONG time for them to be ready. Otherwise, you're just collecting chaff.

I had good luck with dogwoods, carolina cherry laurels, and calycanthus floridus. BUT, powdery mildew got most of the dogwoods. The cherry laurels are going crazy, and the sweetshrub is doing okay. Only a few of the buddleia bloomed. And some are still so small I'm not sure they'll make it through the winter.

I plan to do lots more this year. I sowed mine in October-Nov last year. Some need a warm wet period before the freeze.
ajpa
17 years ago
That's cool, token!
So I should try WS buddleia in the fall?

I haven't been very good at collecting seeds (guilty confessions), but if you have spare buddleia seeds I wouldn't mind at all. Not right now -- whenever the whole seed mailing madness starts around here. :)

ajpa