My new husband and I went to Sunapee this week and walked the Artists Festival. We came across a couple who carve wonderful items out of wood and were giving away Butternut Tree Seeds. So we have now returned home to Hudson NH and would love to plant our 6 walnut sized seeds and need help in doing so. Any help would be great. Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Paradise.
Very doubtful they'll still be viable now - they don't keep well, unless refrigerated. It's also rather late in the summer to start sowing now, so I'd put them in the fridge until early next spring, in slightly moist sterilised sand and keep at +1°C.
If they haven't gone bad, designate a patch of ground for them and plant immediately, or plant in pots. You might want to check on how the species is doing in your area, if in or near native range - there is a disease problem now. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/butternut/butternut.htm
So I would like to plant in pots so I dont lose a whole winter....Any suggestions.....size pot....soil light factors and heat factors......Id really like to try to grow these trees. Thanks Mrs.P
Advantage of pots only knowing where each seed is, as opposed to bed. Otherwise bed much easier (unless you have aggressive weeds that have to be kept out of it). Either way would be exposed to cool temperatures coming winter, if current season's crop this would be right on schedule. If last year's crop probably spoiled and no good, unless having been kept in damp cold storage before being distributed. Exposing to cold in pots harder to manage, as must get cold enough to overcome dormancy yet not freeze up so hard as to be killed.
