growing japanese maple from seed

HI
wondered if anyone had successfully grown Japanese maples/acers from seed? we have recently bought several established small plants from the garden centre and would love to get more and after investigating on amazon see seeds are available - just wondered if they are easy to grow from seed, and do they need any special soil/conditions/treatment?
thanks in advance for any replies

 

Hi Sue

They are easy, I sow mine about September / November.

I use a soil compost with added grit so I John inns NO 1 , I have had better success than using peaty compost or similar.

Use a seed tray or the modules are handy as you dont need to prick them out , put the compost in then add one or two seeds then cover with grit and then leave out for the frost etc which will help them to germinate and in the spring you should have new plants.

have a look on ebay or ask on here does anyone have fresh seed to offer you only a stamp away.

I will see if mine have set seeds this year and send you some

Spruce

 

I grow many of my maples from seed, and I have seed available every year
This is a pic of last years successful sowings, but you will note that I store all of my seed in the bottom of the fridge where they will germinate for you and guarantee a new plant
If you can't get any seed let me know and I will post you some for the cost of postage. Like Spruce, I also find better success with John Innis seed compost in the initial stages, and I then mix up a free draining soil to transplant them on (they absolutely NEED free draining soil)
Some other ideas here: http://www.fujiyamagarden.com/page19.html
Good luck

 

Now you are the acer seed expert on GC Glad I got the John innis part correct

 

LOL Spruce .... you don't get much wrong

 

ohhh I do I just delete the post

"don't get much wrong"

 

thank you so much for your helpful replies, that's fantastic!!

will let you know how we get on

Sue

 

I sought out some of my germinating seedlings from the bottom of the fridge today in order to show you what they should be like when you sow them out. Most of these have grown rather too large as they have already shed their little samaras, but two are at the stage where I would normally sow them. I have just sown this lot in a little progagator and expect them all to produce a new plant (though heaven knows why I need any more this year )

 

thanks Whis4ey, that's really helpful!

sue