How to Plant Acorn Seeds

Planting acorn seeds is a fun and environmentally worthwhile project that costs practically nothing. Acorns propagate quickly in the right soil with plenty of water and drainage. You can gather acorns off the ground for free by exploring almost any stretch of forest in the fall. Plant the acorns in April and you'll have seedlings 6 inches tall within a month. Your oak trees will be ready for planting outdoors within 2 months.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potting soil
• Sphagnum moss
• 8 oz. Styrofoam cups
• Pencil

1. Mix equal amounts of potting soil and sphagnum moss until you have a loose, spongy planting medium.

2. Punch three to four holes in the sides of Styrofoam cups near the bottom using a pencil.

3. Fill the cups with the planting mixture and tap down to compress the soil lightly.

4. Place an acorn on its side just below the surface of the soil.

5. Water each cup until the water flows through the holes in the bottom, then drain the cups in a sink.

6. Set the cups in a windowsill where each will receive daily sunlight.

7. Water the cups daily, allow them to drain in the sink, then put them back in the windowsill.

8. Look for the first leaves on the stalk to appear in about three to four weeks.

9. Set the seedling cups outside on a patio or deck during the day once they are about 6 inches tall, then bring them indoors at night.

10. Remove the stalks and rootballs (clumps of roots and soil) from each cup and plant outdoors in late May at least 10 feet apart.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't wait too late to gather fall acorns or insects and squirrels will beat you to them. Look for acorns from October to mid-November. Plant only whole, uncracked acorns with no visible signs of damage. You can begin growing acorns at any time of year, but the seedlings should not be planted outdoors until mid- to late May after the final threat of frost has passed.

References

• Oak varieties and acorn planting techniques
• Growing oak trees from acorns