How to Germinate Maple Tree Seeds
Try this for most maple seeds., Fill a plastic bag with growing material., Add a little water., Apply a little fungicide (optional)., Add the seeds and close the bag., Store in the refrigerator., Leave them for 40–120 days, checking every week or...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Try this for most maple seeds.
Sugar maples, bigleaf maples, boxelder maples, Japanese maples, Norway maples, and some red maples lie dormant over the winter, then germinate as soon as temperatures warm.
The cold stratification approach produces very high germination rates in these species.All of these species drop their seeds in autumn or early winter.
If your red maple trees drop their seeds in spring or early summer, see germinating in the soil instead.
If you're going to plant the seeds outdoors, start this method 90–120 days before the last winter frost. -
Step 2: Fill a plastic bag with growing material.
Place a handful of peat moss, vermiculite , or germination paper in a small, plastic, zip-locked bag.For best results, use sterile material and handle it with disposable gloves to avoid introducing fungus.
Tiny "snack sized" bags work best.
Larger bags trap more air with the seeds, which can lead to fungal problems.Red maple seeds are unusually sensitive to acidity.For this species, choose vermiculite (a neutral or basic substance) rather than peat moss (acidic)., Add a couple drops of water to the growing material to dampen the material slightly.
If you see standing water, or if you can squeeze out water from the material, it is too wet. , Fungicide can prevent mold from destroying your seeds, but it is not always necessary, and may damage the plant if overused.
Add only in tiny quantities, following manufacturer's instructions.
Some growers rinse the seeds in very diluted bleach solutions instead. , Place up to 20 or 30 seeds in each bag.
Starting from the base, roll the bag to expel most of the air.
Zip it closed., Now it's time to "stratify" the seeds, or expose them to temperatures that trigger germination.
For most species, the ideal temperature is usually around 1–5ºC (33.8–41ºF).The crisper drawer of a refrigerator is usually about this temperature.Ideally, use a thermometer to confirm the correct temperature.
Some seeds may fail to germinate if the temperature is just a couple degrees off.
If possible, keep boxelder and Norway maple seeds at exactly 5ºC (41ºF), and red maple seeds at exactly 3ºC (37.4ºF).Other species are not as picky. , Most of these species take 90–120 days to germinate, but the bigleaf maple and a few others can sprout in as few as
40.Every week or two, check on the bag and make adjustments as needed:
If you notice condensation, pick up the bag and gently tap it to knock the water droplets off.
Lay the bag back down on the opposite side, so the wet seeds have a chance to dry off.If the growing material has dried out, add a drop or two of water.
If you notice any mold or black spots, remove that seed and throw it away. (If the whole batch is molding, try a little fungicide.) If the seeds have begun to sprout, remove them from the refrigerator. , Once the seeds have germinated, plant them
0.6–1.2cm (¼–½ inch) under moist soil.Most maples do well in partial shade, but look up the exact species if possible for more info on planting.
To increase the odds of survival, start the seedlings in an indoor seed tray instead.
Fill the tray with
7.6–10 cm (3–4 inches) of well draining seed starter, or an even mix of peat moss, rotted compost, vermiculite and coarse sand.
Water whenever the soil becomes completely dry.
Transfer to planter pots once the second set of leaves appear. -
Step 3: Add a little water.
-
Step 4: Apply a little fungicide (optional).
-
Step 5: Add the seeds and close the bag.
-
Step 6: Store in the refrigerator.
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Step 7: Leave them for 40–120 days
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Step 8: checking every week or two.
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Step 9: Plant the seeds.
Detailed Guide
Sugar maples, bigleaf maples, boxelder maples, Japanese maples, Norway maples, and some red maples lie dormant over the winter, then germinate as soon as temperatures warm.
The cold stratification approach produces very high germination rates in these species.All of these species drop their seeds in autumn or early winter.
If your red maple trees drop their seeds in spring or early summer, see germinating in the soil instead.
If you're going to plant the seeds outdoors, start this method 90–120 days before the last winter frost.
Place a handful of peat moss, vermiculite , or germination paper in a small, plastic, zip-locked bag.For best results, use sterile material and handle it with disposable gloves to avoid introducing fungus.
Tiny "snack sized" bags work best.
Larger bags trap more air with the seeds, which can lead to fungal problems.Red maple seeds are unusually sensitive to acidity.For this species, choose vermiculite (a neutral or basic substance) rather than peat moss (acidic)., Add a couple drops of water to the growing material to dampen the material slightly.
If you see standing water, or if you can squeeze out water from the material, it is too wet. , Fungicide can prevent mold from destroying your seeds, but it is not always necessary, and may damage the plant if overused.
Add only in tiny quantities, following manufacturer's instructions.
Some growers rinse the seeds in very diluted bleach solutions instead. , Place up to 20 or 30 seeds in each bag.
Starting from the base, roll the bag to expel most of the air.
Zip it closed., Now it's time to "stratify" the seeds, or expose them to temperatures that trigger germination.
For most species, the ideal temperature is usually around 1–5ºC (33.8–41ºF).The crisper drawer of a refrigerator is usually about this temperature.Ideally, use a thermometer to confirm the correct temperature.
Some seeds may fail to germinate if the temperature is just a couple degrees off.
If possible, keep boxelder and Norway maple seeds at exactly 5ºC (41ºF), and red maple seeds at exactly 3ºC (37.4ºF).Other species are not as picky. , Most of these species take 90–120 days to germinate, but the bigleaf maple and a few others can sprout in as few as
40.Every week or two, check on the bag and make adjustments as needed:
If you notice condensation, pick up the bag and gently tap it to knock the water droplets off.
Lay the bag back down on the opposite side, so the wet seeds have a chance to dry off.If the growing material has dried out, add a drop or two of water.
If you notice any mold or black spots, remove that seed and throw it away. (If the whole batch is molding, try a little fungicide.) If the seeds have begun to sprout, remove them from the refrigerator. , Once the seeds have germinated, plant them
0.6–1.2cm (¼–½ inch) under moist soil.Most maples do well in partial shade, but look up the exact species if possible for more info on planting.
To increase the odds of survival, start the seedlings in an indoor seed tray instead.
Fill the tray with
7.6–10 cm (3–4 inches) of well draining seed starter, or an even mix of peat moss, rotted compost, vermiculite and coarse sand.
Water whenever the soil becomes completely dry.
Transfer to planter pots once the second set of leaves appear.
About the Author
Kimberly Miller
Creates helpful guides on DIY projects to inspire and educate readers.
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