Planting Red Oaks
For this year's Giving Day, we will send stratified acorns to donors who give $25 or more to the Ohio University Sustainability Fund. These acorns are from one of the iconic Northern Red Oak trees on Ohio University's College Green in Athens, Ohio.
Planting Your Acorn
The Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) is a native oak tree of the Midwest that exhibits vibrant red colored leaves during the fall and is considered one of the fastest growing oak species in North America!
The acorns you have received were collected on the College Green by the Office of Sustainability in October 2023, tested for viability and then stored in a refrigerator in soil for 6 months to mimic the natural stratification cycle when the acorns release their tap roots.
Use a pot that is at least 4-6 inches deep that provides enough "wiggle room" for taproot development. Make sure the bottom of the pot has a drainage hole to air out the roots. Water once or twice a week (dependent on rainfall).
Fill the pot within an inch to the top with a mixture of half potting mix (compost works too) and half topsoil from your local environment (e.g., backyard, garden, etc.).
Submerge 1 acorn at least an inch below the soil and cover the acorn with potting mixture. The acorns should be buried with the tap root stretching downward.
Note: The taproot of the acorn is fragile! Use gentle care when transplanting to the pot.
Seedlings can be grown indoors (with full sun exposure or grow lights) or outdoors (placed in partially shaded areas). However, timing is important! Growing seedlings should be exposed to outdoor settings (following the last spring frost) to acclimate to the surrounding environment (approx. April-September).
When transitioned to an outdoor setting, be sure to cover the pot with protection such as chicken wire to keep hungry outdoor critters out!
Once the seedlings have grown to 12-18 inches they can be carefully removed from their pot and planted in the ground, however they will still need to be protected from wildlife.
Please send pictures of your seedlings to sustainability@ohio.edu!
Please see videos below or this video for more detailed information.