CompuServe Thread

Hello John, In nature, the sprouting process begins as soon as the acorn gets water after dropping on the ground. The germinating acorns go dormant and need several months of chilling to sprout. Stratifying acorns is one method of duplicating that process. If you didn't have luck stratifying – you might try another method (providing you have the refrigerator space!) Soak acorns in water for 24-48 hours (change the water once or twice). Drain acorns and store in the refrigerator in a covered container. Once a week check acorns for mildew and rinse with water. If you find acorns with mildew, throw them away. Make sure all water is drained from container, cover it and return it to the refrigerator. Turn can over every other day. Gradually acorns will swell and in a couple of months you will see roots cracking through. Plant acorns before the tap root gets too long. If you are going to plant in a container, you may want to trim the taproot when it reaches 2-3 inches, removing the bottom 1/2 inch. This encourages a branching root system. Taproots are hard to manage in containers. Plant acorn sideways or pointing down. You can start by planting in a 4-inch pot, but it should be potted in at least a gallon size container by spring to give the roots room to flourish. Hope you have good luck with this batch of acorns! Alison