How do I germinate hickory nuts?
How do I germinate hickory nuts?
Hickory nuts need to be exposed to cold temperatures and moist conditions before they will germinate. (The cold-moist requirement is referred to as stratification.) The cold-moist requirement can be met by planting the nuts in the ground in fall. Plant the nuts .75 to 1.5 inches deep.
The cold-moist requirement can also be accomplished by placing the nuts in a moist mixture of sand and sphagnum peat moss and then storing them in a cold, 33 to 40 degree Fahrenheit location. Suitable containers include coffee cans, small plastic buckets, and food storage bags. The refrigerator is a good storage location. The nuts must remain in the refrigerator for 90 to 120 days. After the nuts have been properly stratified, they can be removed from the refrigerator and planted outdoors in spring.
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