How to Plant Eastern Red Cedar Seeds
The Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) is a member of the Cypress Famiily. It is a medium-sized evergreen that can grow to be 66-feet tall. The tree is noted for its pyramid shape, its fibrous and shedding brown to grayish bark and its green to blue-green long, needle-like leaves. The tree’s female cones ripen during the months of September and October and each cone will contain between 1 and 3 seeds. The seeds are round, brown and are generally between 2 and 4 mm in diameter.
Plan to collect seeds from Eastern Red Cedar trees in your area from September to early December. You can pick the fleshy cones, sometimes referred to as berries, directly from the trees or you can gather them by laying a tarp or blanket beneath the trees and shaking the tree branches vigorously so the cones fall.
- The Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) is a member of the Cypress Famiily.
- The tree’s female cones ripen during the months of September and October and each cone will contain between 1 and 3 seeds.
Remove any debris such as leaves and twigs from your collection. You can do this by hand or by placing a fan on medium speed and allowing it to blow over your collection.
Mix one gallon of water and one teaspoon of lye together in a bucket. Place the cones into the lye solution and allow them to soak for two days. After two days, rinse the cones well with water. If they are still sticky, repeat the process until they are no longer sticky to the touch. When the cones are no longer sticky, place them in a single layer on newspaper and let them air dry for two to three days.
- Remove any debris such as leaves and twigs from your collection.
- Place the cones into the lye solution and allow them to soak for two days.
Rub the dried cones on a stiff piece of screen. This will separate the seeds from the pulp. Be advised that some pulp may remain on the seeds.
Place the seeds in a bucket of water and allow them to soak for 24 hours. Empty seeds that are not viable and any pulp that was stuck to your seeds will float to the top. Skim the bad seeds and pulp off of the water and discard them.
Use a large container such as a bucket, jar or a large freezer bag and place your clean seeds in it along with sand or peat moss. Place the container into a refrigerator for 8 to 12 weeks. Check the containers every 14 days and moisten the sand or peat moss if it is drying out.
- Rub the dried cones on a stiff piece of screen.
- Check the containers every 14 days and moisten the sand or peat moss if it is drying out.
Locate a planting spot for your seeds in the spring. Planting areas that work the best will be ones that have good draining soil and partial shade during the afternoons. Red Cedar seeds will have a higher and more successful germination rate in these areas because the soil will remain moist and cool.
Plant the seeds by gently pushing the seeds ¼ inch into the soil. Space your seeds 8 to 12 inches a part. Be sure the seeds are firmly covered by soil and that they are not visible.
Water the area.
- Locate a planting spot for your seeds in the spring.
- Plant the seeds by gently pushing the seeds ¼ inch into the soil.
Apply a 1-inch layer of pine needles or decaying leaves over it.
Thin out the weakest, smallest seedlings when they reach a height of 6-inches. You can discard these seedlings or transplant them to another growing area.
Take your healthiest and largest seedlings and transplant them so they are spaced at least 6-feet apart.
Tip
Hand pick any weeds which may try to intrude into your planting area. Do not use a chemical weed killer on the ground around your seedlings for at least a year. This waiting period will enable your seedlings to mature and withstand the chemical.
Related Articles
References
Resources
Tips
- Hand pick any weeds which may try to intrude into your planting area. Do not use a chemical weed killer on the ground around your seedlings for at least a year. This waiting period will enable your seedlings to mature and withstand the chemical.
Writer Bio
Leigh Walker has been working as a writer since 1995. She serves as a ghostwriter for many online clients creating website content, e-books and newsletters. She works as a title flagger and writer for Demand Studios, primarily writing home and garden pieces for GardenGuides.com and eHow.com. Walker pursued an English major/psychology minor at Pellissippi State.
