Since the ginkgo is considered to be very easy to care for, it can be assumed that propagation is easy. However, this is a fallacy. Both the cultivation from offshoots or cuttings is tedious, as is the sowing.
Ginkgo seeds should be better bought
Where can I get viable seeds from?
A ginkgo is only sexually mature at around 20 to 35 years of age, there are male and female trees. Only the female trees bear fruit and fertilization is necessary for viable seeds. So it is better not to wait for seeds from your own garden, but contact a seed shop.
What is the best way to sow?
The seeds are nutty and relatively hard. It is therefore often recommended that you roughen up the seeds a bit (e.g. with sandpaper or a file) and carefully score them with a sharp knife. Then put the seeds prepared in this way in a vessel with lukewarm water. There you let the seeds soak for 24 hours, which speeds up germination a little.
A loose mixture of soil and sand is suitable as a substrate, the seeds should only be covered very thinly with it. Ginkgo has a fairly long germination period. It is at least three to four weeks, but sometimes the seeds only germinate after six or more weeks. Above all, darkness and excessively cool temperatures prolong the germination time.
Keep the seed constantly moist and warm during this time. Choose a large enough pot for sowing so that you don't have to transplant the seedlings so soon, they have quite sensitive roots.
The essentials in brief:
- Rough up and carve the seeds
- Soak in lukewarm water for 24 hours
- Place individually in pots with a soil-sand mixture
- cover thinly with soil
- water lightly
- put in a warm, bright place
- keep evenly moist and warm
- Germination time: at least 3 to 4 weeks, but can also take longer
- Darkness and cold prolong the germination period
tips
The sowing of ginkgo is relatively promising, but also takes a lot of time.