Seller:seedsandherbs✉️(695)100%,
Location:istanbul, default, TR,
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Item:252124812714Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair tree) 5 Seeds(#004).
Germination Instructions for Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is a tree whose leaves increase circulation in the brain.
It is a popular herb in Chinese medicine and has been linked to
improving memory and cognitive functions. The unique fan-shaped leaves
of the ginkgo tree make it a popular ornamental as well. It is even
grown as a bonsai.
The germination of ginkgo is a little tricky, but there are a few tips
that will increase your success. Freshly picked seeds are covered in a
malodorous fruit. The ginkgo fruit contains small levels of urushiol, a
skin irritant that is found in poison ivy and poison oak. To avoid this,
obtaining cleaned seeds from a seed company is recommended.
Ginkgo biloba seeds have a long germination period and a tendency to
pick up mold on the outer shell. The presence of mold on the outer shell
does not automatically indicate that the seed is dead. It will be fine
so long as the mold does not reach the embryo. To ward off mold while
waiting for germination, sterilize the ginkgo seeds in a mild bleach
solution (1:8, Bleach: Water) for a few minutes and rinse well. It might
seem counterproductive to introduce bleach to a living seed. However,
the solution is diluted, and the seeds should only be soaked long enough
that the bleach soaks into the outer shell and not beyond.
The next goal is to allow moisture and air to reach past the shell. Nick
the sides of the shell along the rim or that goes around the
circumference of the seed. Do not damage the embryo. (There's a very
thin brown membrane around the embryo too, which does not have to be
penetrated).
Ginkgo trees grow in areas where freezing is normal. Ginko seeds are,
therefore, used to these temperatures and have adapted to respond to
seasonal changes. The change from cool to warm temperatures after the
winter lets the seed know it can begin growing. If you are not planting
your seeds outside during the cooler weather, you will have to
artificially create this experience for the seed. The process is known a
moist cold stratification. Cold stratification is easily accomplished
by storing the seeds in the fridge for a month. If your seeds have not
been pre-stratified, you should do this before exposing them to the warm
temperatures needed for sprouting. This can be done before or after
nicking.
Assuming your gingko biloba seeds have been cold stratified, they are
now ready for germination. Place the nicked seeds in moist, preferably
sterile sand and place them in a zipper baggie. Situate them so that the
seeds just barely stick up through the sand. Adding a small amount of
hydrogen peroxide to the water used to moisten the sand is another
option to prevent mold. Keep the planted ginkgo seeds at temps of about 70-75 degrees. When the
seeds sprout you will see the green stems press up against the bag. When
you see leaf development, transplant your ginkgo seedlings to a mix of
more sand than soil. Keep the soil moisture equal to that of the sand in
the bag and keep out of direct sun and heavy water.
Condition:just collected from a botanical garden, perfect time to plant
Tree Type:shade and ornamental
Sunlight:Full Sun
Climate:Sub-tropical, Temperate, Tropical
Foliage:Deciduous
Soil Type:Loam, Sand, Silt
USDA Hardiness Zone (°F):3 (-40 to -30 °F) to 8 (10 to 20 °F)