Quercus gambelii

Seed

1999  Gambel oak do not put out acorns every year. This year, the gambel oak produced copious amounts of acorns. It was late in the season so I put the acorns that I gathered in a plastic bowl and placed them in the bottom of my refrigerator.

2000  In late spring, when I removed the stored acorns from my refrigerator, I discovered that they had mostly sprouted. My guess was the moisture in the refrigerator softened the outer shells and the cold kept them from rotting or molding.

I planted some acorns in my vegi garden and some on the hillside where I wanted them to grow. They sprouted sporadically in both places in spite of being pre-germinated. Unfortunately, the ones I planted on the hillside were promptly eaten.

Cutting

No experience.

Transplant

2001  The above image, taken in late spring, shows the gambel oak in my vegi garden where they were protected last year. As I dug them up, I noticed they did not have very long tap roots. I planted them on the hillside and protected them with plastic mesh. Most survived for two years but eventually, the critters figured how to move the plastic mesh and ate the plants.

2008  As I was walking on the hillside this year, I noticed a gambel oak had germinated in a pile of branches. The image at the top of this page is that plant. It remained well protected under the branches throughout the summer and it still there. Maybe this is the secret to getting gambel oak established.

Future Plans

When the gambel oak put out acorns again, I will collect some and try sprouting them again. And, this time protect the little plants with branches.