I just picked some seed pods off some Redbuds growing in the woods behind me. Is there anything special I need to do to get the seeds to sprout, or I can I just plant 'em??

Thanks,

Rudy

-- Rudy (rbakker@wcrtc.net), April 17, 2002

Answers

We've had good luck sprouting redbud seeds, but they have an impermeable seed coat that needs to be penetrated. A 30-min. soak in sulfuric acid is recommended, or you can try soaking them in hot (190 degrees) water. Then put them in damp peat moss in a baggie in the refrigerator for 3 months. Usually you harvest the seed in the fall, and winter provides the cold stratification. Good luck.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

Some of the redbud seeds I collected last year were small. I kept the largest for starting.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), April 17, 2002.

I seem to remember they needed to be filed in a certain area so that you didn't have to do the soak. Anyone remember that trick?

-- Dennis Enyart (cowboy405@yahoo.com), April 18, 2002.

Rebud seedlings transplant easily. You may be able to just go back to where the tree is and collect seedlings instead of growing in place.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 18, 2002.

If you don't want to use the sulfuric acid and want to scairify the seed rub with a nail file AMOST all the way through the seed coat. Of course you could always do it the natural way and run the seeds through a turkey or chicken. Hot water works fine. The cold treatment is necessary, two months min., three is probably better.

-- John in Mn. (nospam@mywork.com), April 18, 2002.