After a trip to Yosemite in Summer of 2012, I caught a "sequoia bug". I am attempting to grow my own sequoia from seeds. These sequoias (Sequoiadendron Giganteum) will be grown in Iowa, which is Zone 5, a harsh environment for sequoia.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Quick update on color
Here is a picture showing two varieties of sequoia side by side.
The two on the left are standard sequoiadendron from seeds. The one on the right is “exceptionally blue” clone from Crowfoot Nursery. The difference in color is pretty striking.
How did get a blue clone Crowfoot Nursery - by growing roots from cuttings or grafting, or in vitro ? Do you use fertilizers? Blue clone show nice grow .
This is your blog and I don't think it's right to turn it into a forum. But I'm interested in talking in more detail. If you provide your e-mail, I will subscribe on this topic.
You can create a mailbox for this blog and this topic ... Unless, of course, you aim to keep up to date only. I'm doing something similar to your project, so I'm following this blog.
I will be happy to answer as many questions here as anyone would post. No issue with turning this into a forum. Post a link to your experiments and will connect for more discussions if interested. Thanks.
Have you noticed growth/development differences between sequoias planted in the spring and those planted in the fall? I have several 2-3 years old that will be planted next year in their definitive spot.
I did not notice any differences in development between spring/fall planting. My preference is to plant seedlings into permanent spots in the spring right after the ground thaws off, but honestly I saw examples where they either perished or are doing great in both cases. If I did some statistics I probably would have found a difference but without it I’d say it’s the same.
That’s a nice looking tree! Are you planning on planting all 130 on your land? That’s quite a project if so. Can you post a picture of all 130 in one shot? A friend of mine from Belgium posted a majestic picture once with I think close to 800 of them in one spot. That was a sight to see.
I have planted 30 giants and 5 Dawn redwoods this year on my property in the country side where we have a house and 2 acres plot of land (this is where I keep the giant in the huge 90 l pot). These were and are still small, but made it against the summer heat. Only 3 or 4 perished.
Eventually all of the 130+ will be planted in their final spot, on my land and in parks around the city. Every year I'm propagating new seedlings to keep the numbers high, but they're becoming a pita to care for. They need larger and larger pots every year. I guess I'll have to plant them if I don't want to lose them.
Sure A., I will. I have posted pictures with some of them last year and I've been commenting on and off on your blog for several years now, but now I'll stick to this alias as I don't like to use my main google account.
BTW, I got the "bug" from you.
Alongside Giant sequoias, I grow and propagate Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn redwood) and Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) too.
The Dawns I'll overwinter them in a mulched bed of leaves like I've overwintered the giants. All of the Giants survived the last winter, I'm sure the Dawns will too.
The Sempervirens (few less of them) need temps above zero Celsius, but I'll use a shed to protect them.
Most of the giants are from 2018 and 2019 and I've up-potted almost all of them this summer in 10 L pots, as it was very labor demanding and it took me two whole days. Some were left in 5 L pots.
Here are some pictures with them being up-potted:
https://imgur.com/a/ewUGa49
As for the picture with all 130+ of them, I'll ask as friend to take some aerial shots with a drone, but only next spring as I don't have access to them.
I guess I'm in a zone equivalent to USA hardiness zone 8 where I keep them. But some parts of the country have a warmer climate i.e. zone 9 and some harsher i.e. zone 4. Temperate-continental climate, E. Europe.
Zone 8 is way better suited for Giant sequoias. Hope you will have better long term success than me.
Sempervirens should also be fine. Dawn obviously grows in much colder climates and actually quite common in Iowa as well. Maybe I should plant a couple anyway.
Glad you're still updating. Nice to see the growth and struggle. Was wondering how they would fare here.
ReplyDeleteHow did get a blue clone Crowfoot Nursery - by growing roots from cuttings or grafting, or in vitro ? Do you use fertilizers? Blue clone show nice grow .
ReplyDeleteGrafting. Yes, I do use same fertilizer on all sequoias:
DeleteOsmocote 274850 Smart-Release Plant Food Plus Outdoor & Indoor, 8 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GTDGMHC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_IKbDI4GKzZADf
The majority of the sequoias had a good growing season. Blue varieties did well but some of the strongest growth occurred with the regular green ones.
This is your blog and I don't think it's right to turn it into a forum. But I'm interested in talking in more detail.
DeleteIf you provide your e-mail, I will subscribe on this topic.
Why should he provide his email for you to subscribe to this topic?!?!?!?
DeleteYou can create a mailbox for this blog and this topic ... Unless, of course, you aim to keep up to date only. I'm doing something similar to your project, so I'm following this blog.
DeleteI will be happy to answer as many questions here as anyone would post. No issue with turning this into a forum. Post a link to your experiments and will connect for more discussions if interested. Thanks.
DeleteHave you noticed growth/development differences between sequoias planted in the spring and those planted in the fall? I have several 2-3 years old that will be planted next year in their definitive spot.
ReplyDeleteI'll post some updates as promised. :)
I did not notice any differences in development between spring/fall planting. My preference is to plant seedlings into permanent spots in the spring right after the ground thaws off, but honestly I saw examples where they either perished or are doing great in both cases. If I did some statistics I probably would have found a difference but without it I’d say it’s the same.
DeleteAs promised. One of my 130+ giant sequoias.
Deletehttps://imgur.com/a/1kjN16j
It will be planted next two springs. I've just moved it in a 90 L pot. Age: 2,6 years old.
That’s a nice looking tree! Are you planning on planting all 130 on your land? That’s quite a project if so. Can you post a picture of all 130 in one shot? A friend of mine from Belgium posted a majestic picture once with I think close to 800 of them in one spot. That was a sight to see.
DeleteI will do a drone shot soon of my “plantation”
I have planted 30 giants and 5 Dawn redwoods this year on my property in the country side where we have a house and 2 acres plot of land (this is where I keep the giant in the huge 90 l pot). These were and are still small, but made it against the summer heat. Only 3 or 4 perished.
DeleteEventually all of the 130+ will be planted in their final spot, on my land and in parks around the city. Every year I'm propagating new seedlings to keep the numbers high, but they're becoming a pita to care for. They need larger and larger pots every year. I guess I'll have to plant them if I don't want to lose them.
DeleteSure A., I will. I have posted pictures with some of them last year and I've been commenting on and off on your blog for several years now, but now I'll stick to this alias as I don't like to use my main google account.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I got the "bug" from you.
Alongside Giant sequoias, I grow and propagate Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn redwood) and Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) too.
The Dawns I'll overwinter them in a mulched bed of leaves like I've overwintered the giants. All of the Giants survived the last winter, I'm sure the Dawns will too.
The Sempervirens (few less of them) need temps above zero Celsius, but I'll use a shed to protect them.
Most of the giants are from 2018 and 2019 and I've up-potted almost all of them this summer in 10 L pots, as it was very labor demanding and it took me two whole days. Some were left in 5 L pots.
Here are some pictures with them being up-potted:
https://imgur.com/a/ewUGa49
As for the picture with all 130+ of them, I'll ask as friend to take some aerial shots with a drone, but only next spring as I don't have access to them.
Cheers
That’s awesome. Yeah, those babies look like they need some re-potting for sure. What is your growing Zone or equivalent if not in USA?
DeleteI guess I'm in a zone equivalent to USA hardiness zone 8 where I keep them. But some parts of the country have a warmer climate i.e. zone 9 and some harsher i.e. zone 4. Temperate-continental climate, E. Europe.
ReplyDeleteZone 8 is way better suited for Giant sequoias. Hope you will have better long term success than me.
DeleteSempervirens should also be fine. Dawn obviously grows in much colder climates and actually quite common in Iowa as well. Maybe I should plant a couple anyway.