Collecting Acorns

• Collect acorns in the fall when they drop naturally to the ground. Select ones that feel heavy and appear free of blemishes, blights and damage. Collect acorns directly from the tree. Shake a branch gently and collect the ones that fall easily, or knock the branch with a stick to dislodge any ripe acorns. Remove the cap by twisting it gently. Fill a zip-top bag with damp peat moss. Place the acorns between the peat moss and seal the bag.
  
  

Chilling Period

• Acorns require a period of chilling before they break dormancy and germinate. Imitate the natural chilling of winter weather by storing acorns, packed in damp peat moss, in the refrigerator for 30 to 40 days. Keep the temperature 32 and 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and the acorns freeze, too warm and the chilling requirements won't get met. Check the peat moss in the bag every week. If it starts to dry out, mist the bag with water to keep it damp.
  
  

Planting

• Plant acorns in spring after the required chilling period. Use seed-starting mix or a combination of peat, perlite and sand to germinate acorns. Start the seed in a 2- to 4-inch pot or in an 8 oz. coffee cup with holes punched in the bottom. Scoop out a shallow pit in the center of the seed-starting mix. Place the acorn, on its side, in the center of the hole and cover it with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil.
  
  

Germination and Care

• Water every day to keep the soil consistently damp around the developing acorn. Place the cup or pot in an area that gets filtered sunlight. Keep the acorns in a greenhouse or indoors in filtered light. A temperature range of 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit provides a suitable environment for germination. Look for young shoots one to two weeks after planting. Acorn seeds germinate and grow rapidly in the early stages. Seedlings commonly grow 5 to 6 inches tall in the first three weeks after germination.