How to Grow a Tree from an Acorn Seed

With proper care, a small acorn will develop into a mighty oak tree.

The mighty oak tree can live to be over 100 years old, reaching a height and width of more than 100 feet. This majestic tree grows from proper care and attention to a small acorn seed. Oak trees take time to grow, but develop into an heirloom tree that stands tall for generations.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Acorns
• Baggie
• Vermiculite
• Shovel

1. Shake an oak tree branch (gently) in the fall when the acorns begin to ripen. Any acorns that are ready to be used for seed will fall to the ground. Alternately, collect acorns from the ground near an oak tree as long as they show no signs of being exposed to pests.

2. Twist the acorn caps to remove them from the acorn. The caps come off easily when the acorn is ready for planting. If the caps are difficult to remove, the acorn seed is not mature.

3. Examine the acorn once the cap is removed to verify that there are no holes, cracks or other signs of damage to the acorn.

4. Place the acorns in a jar of cold water, in the refrigerator, for 24 hours. Acorns that are viable seed will sink to the bottom of the jar. Any acorns that float to the top cannot develop into a seedling.

5. Remove viable acorns from the jar and place them on a paper towel so the outer shell can dry. Discard any acorns that floated to the top. If you cannot plant the acorns immediately, place them in a plastic baggie and refrigerate them until planting time. Acorns should be kept in cold storage for at least three months, with a damp piece of vermiculite in the plastic baggie with them.

6. Plant your acorns as a group in a sunny location that is protected from acorn-loving pests such as deer, moles and squirrels.

7. Loosen the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Plant the acorn, top end up, at a depth of 1 inch below the surface if the acorn is small. Larger acorns should be planted at a depth of three times the depth of the seed. So if your acorn is 1/2 inch tall, plant the acorn at a depth of 1-1/2 inches.

8. Pat soil down and water well. Keep planting site moist but not wet. Seedlings should emerge after three weeks.

9. Transplant seedlings to their final planting destination by digging a hole 12 inches wide by 24 inches deep. Fill the hole back in until the soil is 1 inch above the seedling's root line. Tap soil down well and keep moist, particularly in dry spells.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect and plant more acorns than you actually desire, as some of the seeds may not develop into seedlings.

• Do not allow the acorns to remain too wet when stored in the refrigerator, as this may cause the acorns to mold and rot.

References

• National Seed Laboratory: USDA: Collection and Care of Acorns
• Mississippi State University Extension: Growing Your Own Oak Seedlings