The Ginkgo biloba is the world's oldest living tree species, whose existence can be traced back-over 250 million years. The fossil record shows that they were formerly a widespread, abundant and diverse group. A Ginkgo tree can ultimately reach 30 or 40m height and a spread of 8 meters. With the largest specimens the trunk can become about 3 or 4 meters in diameter. A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years. It is straight columnar in shape and sparingly branched. It is also very commonly planted as a street tree, due to its high tolerance for air pollution.
Young trees usually have a dominant central trunk and are pyramidal in shape, with regular, lateral, ascending, asymmetrical branching. The rough bark is brown to a silvery grey in colour and fissures into rough furrows with age.
The leaves of this tree are interesting and unique from any other tree. They are fan-shaped, leathery and smooth. They are often deeply grooved in the middle of the leaf, producing two distinct lobes, hence the Latin name -ginkgo biloba (two lobes) They are bright green during the summer, turning gold before dropping in the Autumn.
Ginkgo nuts have long been regarded as a delicious food by Japanese people, and these can be cooked and served in various ways and are reputed to have many medically beneficial qualities.
The seeds that I sell I collect myself from a magnificent line planting of twelve Ginkgo trees (pictured above) planted in 1864 in the Limousin region of France and are included on the list of 200 remarkable trees in France. The planting consists of four female trees and eight males, so that good pollination of the female flowers is assured.
The seeds are collected during October, November and December each year and immediately processed, cleaned and sterilised and placed into cold storage. In mid December some of the seeds will be mixed together with a 60/40 mix of damp peat and sharp sand and then refrigerated to begin the process of stratification. This is the process that breaks down the dormancy within the seed which will then enable it to begin to germinate.
Without this stratification pre-treatment your seed will not germinate reliably! The germination period of the seeds will be more lengthy and erratic. Always take this into account when buying dry seed.
Young trees usually have a dominant central trunk and are pyramidal in shape, with regular, lateral, ascending, asymmetrical branching. The rough bark is brown to a silvery grey in colour and fissures into rough furrows with age.
The leaves of this tree are interesting and unique from any other tree. They are fan-shaped, leathery and smooth. They are often deeply grooved in the middle of the leaf, producing two distinct lobes, hence the Latin name -ginkgo biloba (two lobes) They are bright green during the summer, turning gold before dropping in the Autumn.
Ginkgo nuts have long been regarded as a delicious food by Japanese people, and these can be cooked and served in various ways and are reputed to have many medically beneficial qualities.
The seeds that I sell I collect myself from a magnificent line planting of twelve Ginkgo trees (pictured above) planted in 1864 in the Limousin region of France and are included on the list of 200 remarkable trees in France. The planting consists of four female trees and eight males, so that good pollination of the female flowers is assured.
The seeds are collected during October, November and December each year and immediately processed, cleaned and sterilised and placed into cold storage. In mid December some of the seeds will be mixed together with a 60/40 mix of damp peat and sharp sand and then refrigerated to begin the process of stratification. This is the process that breaks down the dormancy within the seed which will then enable it to begin to germinate.
Without this stratification pre-treatment your seed will not germinate reliably! The germination period of the seeds will be more lengthy and erratic. Always take this into account when buying dry seed.
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information
for Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree (ginkgo biloba)
To get the best rates of germination these seeds need to undergo a period of pre-treatment. This is not difficult to do. Without pre-treatment your results may be disappointing.
Prepare a mix of approx 60/40 of damp peat and sand. This mix must be moist but not wet enough to be able to squeeze water from it. If the mix is too wet your seeds may drown and die. Mix into the peat/sand your seeds and place into a ziplock freezer bag that has that days date upon it. Close the bag and put into a warm place at 15-20 Celsius (room temperature is fine) for approx 4 weeks.
Next the bag needs to be placed into the fridge (4 Celsius) for 8 weeks. During both the warm and cold pre-treatments it is important that the peat/sand mix does not dry out. If it does the treatment will be ineffective. If it is looking a little dry just add a splash of water and mix up the contents of the bag. At the end of the 12 weeks of pre-treatment the seeds are ready to sow.
When the dormancy has been broken down the seed will begin to split and produce a root. This may begin to happen even at the low temperatures found within a fridge, so please check them regularly.
Sow your seeds in pots that are at least 10 cm deep filled with a good quality potting compost. Cover the seeds with 1 cm or so of loose compost. Keep them at room temperature. Initial growth is quite rapid and they quickly produce a plant 10-25 cm in height. Plants should be placed outdoors in early summer and can be left outside over the following winter.
During periods of hard frost it would be best to protect the pots containing the roots of your young trees. Once they are finally planted in the ground, they are hardy down to at least -35 Celsius.
Place the pots in a cold frame or indoors in a light place but not in full sun. Water only when necessary, aim to keep the soil moist, not wet. Never let the roots dry out or let them stand in water. Put the seedlings outside in early summer (not in full sun initially) Plant them in permanent position after about 2 years or so.
Sowing outside in the ground
The best sowing time is March-May. Seeds should first be pre-treated as outlined above. Protect from squirrels, mice edible dormice etc. Don't sow in the height of summer as a secondary dormancy will be induced and the seeds will not germinate until the following year. Transplant when they are large enough, but only between November and March.
Prepare a mix of approx 60/40 of damp peat and sand. This mix must be moist but not wet enough to be able to squeeze water from it. If the mix is too wet your seeds may drown and die. Mix into the peat/sand your seeds and place into a ziplock freezer bag that has that days date upon it. Close the bag and put into a warm place at 15-20 Celsius (room temperature is fine) for approx 4 weeks.
Next the bag needs to be placed into the fridge (4 Celsius) for 8 weeks. During both the warm and cold pre-treatments it is important that the peat/sand mix does not dry out. If it does the treatment will be ineffective. If it is looking a little dry just add a splash of water and mix up the contents of the bag. At the end of the 12 weeks of pre-treatment the seeds are ready to sow.
When the dormancy has been broken down the seed will begin to split and produce a root. This may begin to happen even at the low temperatures found within a fridge, so please check them regularly.
Sow your seeds in pots that are at least 10 cm deep filled with a good quality potting compost. Cover the seeds with 1 cm or so of loose compost. Keep them at room temperature. Initial growth is quite rapid and they quickly produce a plant 10-25 cm in height. Plants should be placed outdoors in early summer and can be left outside over the following winter.
During periods of hard frost it would be best to protect the pots containing the roots of your young trees. Once they are finally planted in the ground, they are hardy down to at least -35 Celsius.
Place the pots in a cold frame or indoors in a light place but not in full sun. Water only when necessary, aim to keep the soil moist, not wet. Never let the roots dry out or let them stand in water. Put the seedlings outside in early summer (not in full sun initially) Plant them in permanent position after about 2 years or so.
Sowing outside in the ground
The best sowing time is March-May. Seeds should first be pre-treated as outlined above. Protect from squirrels, mice edible dormice etc. Don't sow in the height of summer as a secondary dormancy will be induced and the seeds will not germinate until the following year. Transplant when they are large enough, but only between November and March.
