Linden from seed?

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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Aug 20, 2009

We have a very nice young Linden 'Redmond' in front of the house, and I would like to try to start a couple from seed. Since I've never started a tree or shrub from seed, I have a lot of questions. First, should I even bother? PlantFiles says it will not come true, but if it's another Linden I guess that would be ok. Most of the "whirlygigs" have dried up and blown off, but there are many left with tiny green fruit. Do I leave the fruit on til it "ripens", and how do I know when that is? Would winter sowing be a good idea?

This is a pic from last winter, when we were trying to decide whether to prune it yet (we haven't).

Thumbnail by grrrlgeek
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Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) Aug 20, 2009

Leave it on the tree till it ripens, likely late September or early October.

Sow the seeds outdoors, and cover with mesh to stop rodents from digging them up.

You may well need to wait 18 months for the seeds to germinate, that is normal for Tilia seeds, i.e., seeds sown this autumn will germinate in spring 2011. If you're lucky, some might come up next spring, but don't rely on it.

Resin

Post #6969655
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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Aug 20, 2009

Thanks for the info Resin. Do you think I could safely sow in gallon pots or would there be too much freezing and thawing (as opposed to in the ground)? I was afraid it wouldn't hold onto any seeds but the ones that have swelled haven't come off and it lives in a wind tunnel.

Rodents? You mean like my chipzillas? http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1024010/ I'll have to use screening of some sort; the dumb little chipmunks get their heads caught in the bird mesh. I used it on a couple of things in spring and got tired of getting nipped while trying to rescue a rodent from strangling itself.

Post #6969729
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Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) Aug 20, 2009

No idea how big a 'gallon' pot is (pots here are measured in centimetres diameter), but probably OK, as the seeds are very cold-tolerant.

Yep, like your "chipzillas"! Anything from mice up to squirrels.

Resin

Post #6969815
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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Sep 12, 2009

How will I know when the seeds are ripe? They're starting to turn kind of a tan color and are still very firm.

The pots I call gallon were sold as "#1 nursery pots" and range from 16 to 19cm across.

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Sep 13, 2009

That's ripe for Tilia americana. Harvest and plant them now, before they drop and are lost.

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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Sep 13, 2009

I'm on it!

Thank you!

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