How to collect seeds from trees – native tree planting

This month is the perfect time to start your seed collecting. I have specifically started with native and non-native tree species.

 

Follow my instructions below for success!

 

1) Identify what plants you want and how many

It is quite easy to get carried away with numbers, one sprig of berries can be 5 plants! The hunt is usually the most fun. Making sure you don’t pick too many will control how many you’ll end up with.

 

If you want to have a go at Guerrilla Gardening, do your research as you don’t want to disturb the environment you visit. Its best the collect from your chosen area, then the same species in other local areas as this will increase the diversity in genetics.

 

 

2) Pick your berries

You want to make sure that you don’t choose berries/seeds from other people’s garden, anything un-ripe, from diseased or pest ridden plants, or anything misshapen as the seeds might not be the best.

Very important note: be very careful and don’t pick anything poisonous, especially if you are with children. Always take necessary safety precautions and wash your hands!

 

 

3) Extract your seeds

Simply squeeze the fruit to take the seeds out, making sure that you remove as much flesh as possible. Keep a note of what seeds are what if you're extracting different ones at the same time

 

Again, please keep your hands clean and be safe!

 

4) Plant in pots

Chuck them into pots and sprinkle a small amount of soil on top. Label them and keep them somewhere safe – away from squirrels.

 

I haven’t named mine, but I will not be growing these to sell so I don’t need to keep track.

 

 

And that’s all! This year I have collected seeds from Korean pine, Spindle, Holly, Snowberry, Yew, Dogwood, and more.

 

Let me know if you collect any seeds and if you have done this before.

 

 ----> Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, Nate.