The Ginkgo is a total favorite as an ornamental tree, but more and more folks here are starting to grow them for their own tea leaves or even to harvest the seeds for spices. If you’re looking to add more of these “living fossils” to your yard, there are a few ways to go about it, ranging from “easy-peasy” to “takes a bit of patience.”
Growing from Seed
One way to get new Ginkgos started is by seed. Just a heads-up, though: it can take 20 years or more for a tree to even start producing seeds! If you live in a cooler climate, getting seeds that are actually ripe enough to sprout can be a bit of a challenge. You’ll have much better luck if you’re in a warmer spot, like a wine-growing region, where the long summers help the seeds mature.
To get to the seed, you first have to remove the fleshy outer coating. Fair warning: that fruit smells pretty funky (think rancid butter), so you’ll definitely want to wear gloves while cleaning them. Once they’re cleaned, give them a good wash and let them dry.
You can actually plant the seeds right away without drying them out first. If the shell is already soft, it helps the germination process along, and you won’t need to soak them. Since Ginkgos are “dark germinators,” make sure to bury them at least as deep as the seed is thick.
Propagation via Cuttings
If you don’t want to wait decades for seeds, taking cuttings is a great alternative. The best time to do this is in the spring. If you’re already out there doing some pruning, just save a few of those trimmings! You’ll want your cuttings to be at least 6 inches long.
When you plant the cutting, make sure at least two-thirds of it is buried in the soil. Strip off any leaves from the part that’s going underground; you only want a few leaves left at the very top. It usually takes until fall for the cuttings to establish a good root system. The golden rule here is: don’t let them dry out! Keep that soil consistently moist. It also helps to keep them in a lightly shaded spot so the sun doesn’t bake the moisture out of the ground too fast.
