The seeds are attached to a wing, it’s best to break the wing
off before storing or planting the seeds. Japanese Maple seeds
have a very hard outer coating as do many ornamental plants.
Under natural conditions the seeds would have to be on the
ground for almost two years before they would germinate. All
that happens the first winter is the moisture softens the hard
outer shell, and the second winter germination is beginning to
take place.

In order for all of this to happen in the proper sequence so
the seedlings actually sprout at a time of the year when
freezing temperatures or hot summer sun doesn’t kill them, takes
a tremendous amount of luck.

You can improve the odds by controlling some of these
conditions, and shorten the cycle. Once you have picked the
seeds and removed the wing just place them in a paper bag and
store them in a cool dry place until you are ready for them. You
don’t want to plant your seeds out in the spring until the
danger of frost has past. Here in the north May 15th is a safe
bet.

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If May 15th is your target date you should count backwards on
the calendar 100 days. That will take you to about February 5th
if my math is correct. On or about the 100th day prior to your
target planting date, take the seeds and place them in a
Styrofoam cup or other container that will withstand some hot
water. Draw warm to hot water from your kitchen faucet and pour
it over the seeds. Most of the seeds will float, just leave them
in the water overnight as the water cools down. 24 hours later
most of the seeds will have settled to the bottom of the cup.

Drain off the water. Place the seeds in a plastic bag with a
mixture of sand and peat or other suitable growing mix. Even
light potting soil will work. The peat or soil should be moist,
but not soaking wet. Poke some holes in the bag so there is some
air circulation, and place the bag in your refrigerator for a
period of 100 days.

After 100 days you can plant the seeds outside. If you have
timed it correctly, you should be at or close to your target
planting date.

To plant the seeds just sow them on top of a bed of well
drained topsoil or sterilized potting soil, and cover with
approximately 3/8″ of soil. Water them thoroughly, but allow the
soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly again. If
you water them frequently, not only do you stand a chance of the
seeds rotting from being too wet, but you will also keep them
cool, which will slow down the germination process.

Once they start to germinate provide about 50% shade to keep
the sun from burning them. Snow fence suspended about 30″ above
the bed will provide about 50% shade. Japanese Maples will
tolerate some shade so it isn’t too important to transplant them
too quickly. Depending on how close together they are, you might
be able to leave them in the same bed for one or two growing
seasons. Don’t transplant until they are completely dormant.

Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article. Visit his
most interesting website, http://www.freeplants.com and sign up
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http://gardening-articles.com

Question by chester: How to care for a very young Red Maple Tree?
My aunt sent me a red maple tree to plant in rememberence of my dog. It is very young (about knee high), and not doing so well.

We live in Florida and it is VERY hot here right now. We built it a little shelter so it gets morning sunlight but not harsh daytime sunlight. It still looks on the verge of death.

I have started letting water flow (a very gentle flow) on it almost all of the time, but I am worried that I will water it too much. The ground around it is moist, but not puddling by any means. Is that too much water?

What can I do to keep this very important tree alive? Also, should I pick off the deed leaves (pretty much all of them)?

We just built the shelter and started letting the water flow on it yesterday, so those things may not have taken effect yet. Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by NY PTK
Just a thought…check the climate zones for maple trees…I don’t think they can survive in Florida…maybe a palm tree would work better.

Give your answer to this question below!

One of the most beloved ingredients included in breakfasts and snacks is maple syrup. With its rich texture and delightfully sweet taste, it has become a staple sweetener in breakfasts such as French toast, cornbread, pancakes, and waffles. Also, maple syrup has been commonly used in snacks such as ice cream, candy, and other kinds of desserts. Furthermore, a more unconventional use of maple syrup is demonstrated in its being a flavoring agent or sugar source for beer. But as you pour that sweet syrup on your bread, do you ever wonder how it is made?

Maple syrup production is indeed an interesting process, and it all starts in a sugar bush, which is a term used to describe a maple syrup farm. In this location, sugar maple trees or black maple trees are cultivated. Producers of maple syrup have chosen the two aforesaid kinds of maple trees as they contain the highest amount of sugar. Usually during February, March, and April, maple trees produce sap, which is collected by plastic pipelines that are attached to specific parts of the trees. The pipes send the maple sap to a large container, which is then transported to a sugarhouse. Once in the sugarhouse, the sap will be placed in a tank that has valves, which lead to a flat pan called an evaporator. The evaporator will boil down the sap so much that a huge amount of water in it is lost and it would turn into a syrupy substance, which is the final product. With regard to its main producers, Canada provides around 80% of the world’s maple syrup, most of it made in the province of Quebec. In the United States, Vermont is the largest maple syrup producer.

Moving on, maple syrup comes in a number of grades. In Canada, maple syrup is divided into three grades, each one containing a number of classes depending on color. First is Canada #1, which includes extra light, light, and medium. Next are Canada #2 which contains amber and Canada #3 which includes dark maple syrup. In the United States, maple syrup is divided into Grade A and Grade B. Grade A is further broken down into light amber, medium amber, and dark amber. Grade B is much darker than Grade dark amber.

Lastly, looking for sources of bottled maple syrup is easy as this product is available in almost all cities. Supermarkets and grocery stores are primary sources of maple syrup. In these establishments, you can find various types, brands, and quantities of maple syrup, and some of them may even let you have a sample of a particular brand before purchasing it. On the other hand, if you plan to start a business related to maple syrup such as a pancake stand, you can find retail outlets in your city that sell maple syrup in bulk. Alternatively, you can also try to browse the Internet for online purchasing sites that sell maple syrup and deliver to your establishment or house the product you ordered.

The O’Brien Family Tradition of Making Maple Syrup
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Question by Jane A: Maple Syrup?
I LOVE maple syrup but I really only eat it on pancakes and waffles which I only have time to eat on the weekends…Does anyone have any suggestions of other ways to incorporate my maple syrup into other meals!? thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by djcapron
You can use it when making frosting. Great on Cinnamon rolls!

What do you think? Answer below!

The October Glory Red Maple is an ideal landscaping tree that demands little maintenance or attention. It is often used to line driveways, streets, parks, golf courses, professional buildings, malls and countless homes as a stately shade tree that beautifies any landscape. It is a hardy and versatile tree that can grow in any terrain from lush grass to swamps and dry soil. In the spring, it yields delicate, tiny red flowers of five petals in dense clusters that stand out against the deep green of the foliage. In the summer, the foliage is a lustrous green that turns to a fiery orange to crimson red in the fall. The October glory red maple is one of the best and one of the most popular of all cultivars. (If you’re not sure what a cultivar is, it is a variety of a plant developed from a natural species and maintained under cultivation.)

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On average, these trees reach heights from 60-80 feet, with the average tree reaching approximately 50 feet. As in anything, there are exceptions and this tree has been known to grow as tall as 150 feet. The height varies along with the conditions in which it grows. The buds form in fall and winter and are green to red in color, with several loose scales. The fruit is an elongated, double samara with wings that are light brown to red in color. A samara is a winged, often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple. These ripen from April through early June. When mature, the seeds are dispersed from April to July, for a week or two.

Most people love maple syrup and Red Maple (A.Rubrum) is often used on a small scale for the maple syrup it produces, as well as for its quality of lumber. This red maple, which is known as the Acer Rubrum is a soft wood and does not produce as much maple syrup as the hard wood maples such as the Acer Saccharum or the Acer Nigrum (known as the black maple, which is closely related to the A. Saccharum). It is not that the Acer Rubrum does not produce much maple syrup, but rather it is the narrow window in which one can harvest maple syrup from this tree. Studies have shown that the red maple is equal in quality, flavor and sweetness as the other maples.

The hindrance and the difference have to do with the budding system of the red maple, as with other soft maples. The buds of this tree come forth much earlier in the spring than the sugar maple (Acer Saccharum). After these buds sprout, a chemical change occurs in the sap, which imparts a most undesirable flavor to the syrup; therefore the tree can only be tapped for syrup before the buds come forth. As a result, the season is very short in which the syrup can be harvested with this particular maple.

The wood of the Acer Rubrum is considered a soft when it comes to the lumber

Red Maple Tree is a well known Red maple tree. This red maple tree will bring excellent fall foliage to any landscape. Watch as the leaves change from green to a bright red. Add this red maple shade tree to your landscape today. www.tytyga.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Question by UK: How to get red leaves on my Japanese Red Maple?
My red japanese maple has only been red, the first month after buying it from the nursery. After that, year after year, the leaves are healthy in every other way, but are light green all year despite sun, watering, and fertilizing with a 7-9-7?

Best answer:

Answer by XYZ
Most Japanese maples that were planted from seedlings usually turn green after a while. That is why grafted trees are way more expensive and valuable.

Sun is a major factor in the red maple’s coloring too, it will remain more red when it gets more sun.

I have about 6 Red Japanese maples, 4 turns some kind of green eventually but 2 remains red all year. If you want to but seedlings, it’s just by luck.

Give your answer to this question below!