Gingko biloba Growth
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Mike
Posted on: October 15, 2001

I had purchased Gingko biloba seeds from you in the early spring and actually had a good success rate getting them to germinate 7 out of 11 the first year. (However I did force germinate them-cracking the shell slightly – the other four rotted on me.) They sprouted pretty well for the first 6 - 8 weeks then they seemed to have stopped growing for most of the summer. (We had a good warm, humid summer and were kept moist, so I figured they would do well). Do these trees go dormant? Or is this a way of getting back at me for force germinating them :).

I would assume they went dormant ... your thoughts and expectations for the return of growing activity?

During the first year after germinating, ginkgos have only one growth spurt during which they grow 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) tall. they will not grow again until they have had their cold rest. During their next and subsequent growth cycles they put in two growth spurts per season- if conditions are favourable enough.

You might have had a better rate of germination, if you had just filed a hole into the nut cover. Breaking the cover may have injured the seed and caused rot organisms to have a chance to kill the weakened seed.

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