giant sequoia growing zone

Lincoln, ON (zone 7a) Grew from seed five years ago. The seeds need to be in (intense) contact with the moist soil, so you need to press them softly into the compost. The answer is: yes you can, provided you're living in a temperate climate zone. Small germinated sequoias die rather easy because of overwatering. Growth rates in some areas of Europe are remarkable. But you have to keep in mind that giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are not fit for small city gardens. The seeds germinate at the earliest a couple of days after sowing, but still can after months. The height is about 2 cm (an inch). So you want to grow a Giant Sequoia… Q. I would like to grow a Giant Sequoia in my backyard. Giant sequoias are primarily used for shelter. When you sow them at last and place them in a warm place (like on the radiator of your heating system), the seeds "think" winter's over and the time to germinate has come. Later, I realized that there actually were some of t… Invest in the millennium. First you can buy them from nurseries/seed companies. The poet Wendell Berry said: “Ask the questions that have no answers. I have tried the seeds at different depths and had the most success when I did not put them in the (ordinary) compost, but on the soil, not to only very slighty covered. It can take only a couple of years to a number of decades before a giant redwood starts producing cones. 25'-35' spread. Do you want to plant one anyway? The giant sequoia grows to a height of 60–200' and a spread of 25–35' at maturity. It prefers moist conditions, with no flooding and only slight drought tolerance. Of course I knew that it would not be easy to grow a giant sequoia in Zone 5, so all is good. The giant sequoia grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. So, it looks like it took a little more than 2 weeks for the seeds to germinate – which is a week or two less than expected. Well, first of all it should be said that giant sequoia seeds have a very low chance of germinating. Took cuttings from it and most rooted easily. You see four seed leaves, although there can be three or five (like on the image below). The image above shows a cone of a Belgian redwood, the giant sequoia of Esneux, which is largely bigger than the cones of trees with a girth below 6 to 7 m (about 20 feet). View Map. Sequoia seedlings require a wet but well drained soil. However, too much water and the base of the seedling will rot and the plant will fall to the ground. Mature cones are collected and stored by Douglas squirrels (chickarees), and the sequoia seedlings are eaten by chipmunks, sparrows and finches. More about growing the two other sequoia species: the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), and the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). Embryos develop during the next summer and reach maturity at the end of the second growing season. None of the California Redwood seeds have sprouted yet, but will keep my fingers crossed. Sowing The biggest cones also produce the biggest seeds. The two other sequoia species, the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), can be grown from seed more easily (more than half of the seeds germinate). On the left you can see some seeds from the Belgian giant sequoias of Oostmalle, on the right those of the one of Esneux, mentioned above. Other portions of the tree were left behind because they were simply too large to haul out of the forest. View Map. The seeds are quite susceptible to drought. Hardiness Zones The giant sequoia can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 6–8. The giant sequoia is monoecious, which means that the male and female parts are located on the same tree. The name sequoia came from the Cherokee Chief Sequoyah, who was also famed for framing the alphabet of his Native American tongue. After a couple of days the plant erects itself and the dried seed skin falls of (if it does not look like it's going to do that by itself, you could help a little bit). It is now 16" tall and 18" wide. For those who do not have the patience to experiment with seeds or cuttings, giant sequoias are also available in most of the tree nurseries. Humidity is a key factor to the success of growing your seedlings. Also known as sierra redwood trees, sequoias make useful trees in windbreaks and screens. Coast Redwood Tree On The Guide At Arborday Org. In early spring, new growth will brown if subjected to the freezing temperatures. Once in a while I see them in European garden shops with prices varying from 7 euro to 25 euro (8 to 30 dollars) for a tree 30 cm (1 ft) tall. The different horticultural varieties or cultivars are all propagated by grafting. In contrast to the giant sequoia, these cuttings root easily to very easily. This might not come as a surprise but I have seen this tree planted very often in locations that were not well suited, as this species is a vigorous grower and can reach a height of 10 m (30 ft) after 10 years, and reaches a height of 30 m (100 ft) to 40 m (130 ft) after 50 years. Specialized tree nurseries have larger trees available, but those can be very expensive. Still, supplying Winter protection does not hurt when growing the Giant Sequoias either. Prefers a deep, rich soil with plenty of moisture, but it can withstand drier conditions than Sequoia sempervirens. These big trees, native to California, thrive in moist, well-drained soils. You can grow giant sequoias by either sowing, striking cuttings or buying a little tree. Giant Sequoia Seedlings (Sequoiadendron giganteum) Currently, there are about 5 Giant Sequoia seedlings that are alive and well. Features bluish-green needles, spirally arranged on the terminal leader and approximately ¼" in length. Its rich reddish-brown trunk stands out in any landscape. There are two ways to do that. When a seed germinates, the first thing you see is a tiny, rhubarb colored stem, loop shaped. Northern Europe. As a kid, I considered sequoias as the giant trees from California and I would often recognize them in documentaries. A giant sequoia tree is a commitment. Fallen green cones are also ideal to collect: when they open after a couple of weeks in a dry place, they are loaded with small, winged seeds. Please go ahead and think about the next generations, that will hopefully be able to see this tree as a true giant. Should be watered during dry periods for better growth and health. A giant sequoia is not fit to plant as a small ornamental tree, but reaches its full potential as a landmark tree that can grown without restraints. For the Europeans amongst you, there are a number of good British or German nurseries that offer Sequoiadendron seeds (the tree is sometimes called Wellingtonia in British English and Mammutbaum in German). Produces reddish-brown cones that are somewhat egg- or barrel-shaped and 2–3½" long with pitted scales. The two other redwood species If you ever let the soil dry a little too much, the seedlings will almost surely die. To keep the ground moist but not wet, it's ideal to use a garden sprayer instead of a watering can. This majestic columnar evergreen has bluish green needles that vary in length with 1 and 1/2" to 3" reddish-brown cones. Probably they are forced to produce cones after a stress period, such as a long period of drought, as survival mechanism. Grows in a pyramidal shape when young, shifting to a more columnar shape with age. Probably they also need light to germinate. Sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) grow to approximately 300 feet. At that time I ordered 1 oz of seeds, which was about 6,000 of them. Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Seeds that germinated here (Belgium) around Christmas, have not grown noticeably until spring. A single egg-shaped mature reddish-brown cone, 5-9 cm long, yields an average of 200 seeds. Tree Type Mature Size The giant sequoia grows to a height of 60–200' and a spread of 25–35' at maturity. There's a distinguishable difference in size (scale in cm). When you'll be, hopefully, an elderly person, your giant sequoia will only have grown through his first toddler years. world regions where giant sequoias have been planted successfully, Trees planted in Europe, Eastern US, Asia, and South America, Photo diary of the little giant redwood shown above, Bought seeds should originate from mature trees in the.