You can plant Acorn seeds and grow an Oak tree. The two most popular species of Oak trees to plant or the Red Oak Tree and the White Oak Tree. All you need to plant Oak trees is acorns (acorn seeds) An acorn seed is the actual acorn, nut. The acorn is a living organism whether it is still attached to the tree, on the ground, or not connected to the cap.
Your acorns need to be not dried out or heated in order to germinate. It is best to keep acorns in a shady area or in a refridgerator. If your storing acorns in your fridge make sure the temperature is at 40 degrees for Red Oak Acorns. White Oak Acorns can still sprout at temps of between 36 and 39 degrees. Red Oak Acorns need about 1,000 hours of cold or 42 days while White Oak Acorns need less. White Oak Acorns mature in 1 season, the season of collection. It is best to wait to the following spring for Red Oak Acorns. Red Oak Acorns mature in 2 seasons. Keep your Red Oak Acorns outdoors in the winter or in the fridge to allow stratification (cooling).
You will want to plant your acorn seeds in April or after the last frost. Make sure you find acorn seeds free of holes and insects. Plump and rot-free acorns are the best to use for planting Oak trees. Place the acorn seeds in a loose potting soil in one gallon pots. The root will grow quickly to the bottom of the containers. Your containers should have holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Place your acorns on their sides at a depth of one half to one times the width of the acorn. Keep the pots from freezing. Keep the soil moist.
How to transplant your acorn seeds:
Don’t allow an oak seedlings tap root to grow out of the container bottom and into the soil below. This will break the tap root. If possible, seedlings should be transplanted as soon as the first leaves open and become firm but before extensive root development works. Take the root ball and place it in the planting hole. The planting hole should be twice as wide and deep as the pot and root ball. Fill the hole with soil and soak. Check back often to make sure animals and critters don’t attack your Oak tree.
