After thin pickings last year, acorns are back.
We’ve waded through armies of green acorns and even been bopped on the head by a few on outdoor wanderings over the last few weeks. It’s a welcome comeback after last year’s no-show crop. But is it a bumper ‘mast’ year?
‘We are noticing a good crop of acorns on our native oaks here at Westonbirt,’ says Rosie Anderson, Forestry England Dendrologist at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. ‘However, we are not seeing the quantities seen in a typical ‘mast year’.’
Thankfully oaks seem to have bounced back this year
‘Masting’, a phenomenon where oaks drastically increase the number of acorns they produce, takes place nationally roughly every four years, with the UK seeing the last mast year in 2020. Having put so much energy into this bumper crop, they were left with scant energy to continue producing while they recover. Hence the acorn-free autumn we witnessed in 2021. Thankfully oaks seem to have bounced back this year, making it a good time to get out and gather a few of your own. ‘The exact mix of factors that trigger a mast year are not entirely understood,’ explains Anderson, ‘but this year’s warm and dry spring will have certainly helped the oak flowers to have ‘set’ into acorns.’
Grow your own oak
Growing your own oak is a rewarding and simple task, and great for kids (especially if you use an Acorn Vase which allows you to witness every stage of growth day to day).
Start by collecting a few acorns – try to resist taking too many; you’ll only need a few. Try to gather healthy looking acorns and avoid those that are cracked, wrinkled, mouldy or contain holes. ‘The best acorns to choose are plump, free of any bug holes, and are starting to turn brown,’ advises Anderson.
Place the acorns in a bowl of water – healthy ones will sink. Discard any that float as they will not mature. Next, sow a fresh acorn into a pot (a 9cm pot with drainage holes is ideal) filled with a layer of gravel and some seed compost mix The acorn should be sown at a depth of 1.5 times its own diameter. Cover with grit and leave outside in sheltered spot that is protected from mice and squirrels. If you sow them in autumn they’ll typically start to germinate in spring the next year. ‘Oak trees have long ‘tap roots’ which like to plunge deeply into the soil, so ensure that you plant out the oak seedling as soon as the first leaves start to emerge,’ adds Anderson.
View through a vase
Another great way to grow an oak is with Ilex’s beautiful Acorn Vase which showcases the growing acorn in all its splendour.
Ilex details how to grow your oak here. First, soak your chosen acorns in water for 48 hours. After soaking, wrap the acorns carefully in a damp paper towel and fold with the acorns tucked inside. Place the folded towel into a ziplock bag and keep it at room temperature. At this point, you are encouraging the acorn to sprout, through a frequently practised method in horticulture called stratification. Stratification is tricking an organism into thinking it has just spent a cold wet winter outside in the ground.
Be patient as the germination can take up time, anywhere from two days to eight weeks. Inspect the ziplock bag every few days to monitor the moisture level and the progress of the acorn. It is important that the towel remains wet. Once the taproot appears, it has germinated. Wait for the root to grow at least 1.5 cm before inserting on the open chamber of the Acorn Vase with root submerged in water. Then sit back and watch it grow.
Get crafty
Collecting a few acorns for nature crafting is a great way to get creative with the kids too.
We love these woodland Acorn Fairies made with foraged finds from nature. Basically a just pine cone body, an acorn head, sycamore seed pod wings, twig arms and a stone to glue it all on to.
How about making one of these tiny acorn cap boats to sail? Sweet and simple, all you’ll need is an acorn cap, a cocktail stick and small piece of material or paper for the flag.
Or, if you don’t mind splashing out on a few wooden peg dolls, try crafting a little family of acorn dolls like these.
Glue the acorn caps on as hats and then let your little one draw or paint faces and clothes.
Tread lightly
Growing your own oak, or crafting with acorns, is a great experience for kids but be sure to limit the number of acorns you take away from the forest or woodland.
‘Please only take one or two with you when you explore this autumn to ensure there are plenty left to germinate, grow and thrive as well as for wildlife to eat,’ urges Anderson. ‘You might be lucky enough to spot a jay flying through the woodland with a beak full of acorns as it’s a favourite food and keeps them going through the winter.’
