A “corny” experiment:

Sprout and plant an oak seedling!

Oak trees are the most common trees in Arkansas. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, there are 32 different kinds of oaks growing in our forests and fields. They support many types of life, and provide food to many birds, mammals, insects, and humans by producing acorns. Their branches, bark, trunks, and hollows provide habitats for many creatures. When their leaves fall, they protect creatures in the soil and provide shelter for small animals in winter.

Their large canopies of leaves and root systems help to keep soil temperatures down and moisture levels up during hot, dry seasons. Their roots also help to prevent soil erosion to protect our watersheds.

Oak trees grow from acorns, which are nuts that the trees produce either in fall or spring, depending on the species. Acorns are comprised of a cupule (the little cap on the top of the nut), a pericarp (a hard outer wall), a seed coat, with the seed embryo inside.

With so many animals interested in eating acorns, finding an undamaged one with the potential to sprout is tricky. Nonviable acorns (acorns that won’t sprout) float in water, which indicates that the new plant inside has been exposed to the elements and won’t probably germinate or grow. Viable acorns (ones that will sprout and grow) will sink in water, indicating that they are solid and healthy and will likely sprout into a sapling.

Here’s how to sprout and grow an oak tree! Materials

• Collected acorns

• Water

• Container for holding water

Instructions

1. Gather acorns from a nearby oak tree. Any species works for this experiment. Choose ripe acorns that are brown and glossy, and make sure to gather both from beneath the tree and from the tree branches.

2. Remove the acorn caps and examine the acorns. Acorns with small holes or cracks in them, those that are wrinkled, have signs of mold, or that rattle when shaken are most likely nonviable— they probably won’t sprout. Acorns that are unblemished, do not rattle, and feel solid are probably viable. Put the acorns in two separate piles.

3. Fill a container with water and put a few acorns at a time into the water. See which ones sink or float. Remove all the floating acorns (the ones that won’t sprout) into one pile and all those that sink (the ones that will sprout) into another pile.

4. Keep the good “sinkers” if you want to propagate and grow an oak tree. Return all the other acorns back beneath the tree where you found them so they can be useful to the many animals that rely on them.

5. If you decide to plant them, remember that acorns from some oaks can be planted right away, but others require cold stratification for several months before sprouting. This mimics what happens in nature when acorns go through the winter. If you’re unsure what type of acorn you have, try storing them between damp paper towels in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Check acorns every week to make sure they don’t dry out and to see if they’ve sprouted. Some acorns will start showing roots after about a week or so, while those requiring stratification will start rooting after about two to three months.

6. Once roots have grown longer than an inch, plant the germinated acorns in containers or in a location where they can receive care for the first 1-2 years before being planted in their permanent location. Acorns should be planted on their sides, with roots facing downward about an inch into the soil. With sun and regular watering, a seedling should grow! Remember that oak trees grow to be very large, so choose a permanent location for your tree with plenty of space.