osage orage seed and seedling advice

[Catahoula]

Hi,

Last year I got a box of hedge apples and folowed the directions but obviously have a brown thumb rather than a green one!!  We are in the sand hills of SC.  Sandy soil and rain off and on depending on the mood of mother nature.  I would love to grow some osage trees on our farm for my kids to enjoy one day.  I was thinking of ordering some seedlings and trying to plant them instead of trying to grow from seeds since I can't seem to grow anything!  Any advice about what time of year to plant seedlings or growing from seeds?

Rand

[Badger]

Rand, osage is one of the easiest trees to start from seeds. I planted 100 seeds and I think I had close to 90% grmination and about 70% survival after about 3 months of growth. Nothing wrong with good drainage but you need to make sure they don't dry out until firmly rooted, maybe 2 years or so. If you decide to keep them in pots for a couple of years be aggressive about repotting to larger pots and the growth of the tree really depends on the roots having plenty of room. I grew one tree up to 6ft in one year using a 15 gallon pot while most of the others which were in 1 gallon pots lagged far behind at maybe 2 feet. Use a good basic fertilizer but not in excess. My next batch I will raise in 15 gallon pots and transplant to soil after 1 year.

[Gus]

Hi Y'all,

This topic has been on my mine of late.

Badger, do you collect your seeds locally, or buy seed/seedlings?

Thanks,

-gus

[fishfinder401]

ive been wanting to try this, anyone know where to get seeds from, its not a local tree here so i would probably have to order it unless someone has some seeds available in the woods around their house that they could part with?, i want to try growing the perfect bow stave
thanks
noel
Ps: what is the largest growth rings you can get from osage?

[Badger]

   I bought my seeds, I may still have the address, I will check. Steve

[gstoneberg]

If all you want are some of the hedge apple fruit, my neighbor across the street has an osage tree in his back yard and I highly doubt he'd mind a few disappearing.   I'm sure it'd be cheaper to ship seeds, but I don't know where you'd get them.

George

[mullet]

They'll grow in sandy soil. It doesen't get much sandier than Florida and I have two growing that I planted from seedlingsin my front yard. It will give the neighbors something to cuss me about when I'm dead n' gone.

[Catahoula]

Badger,

Ok...gonna try the seeds again if you can tell us where you got yours.  I will try the pots and will dillegent this time!  By golly!  Guess I could start them inside any time and get them going?

Rand

[JackCrafty]

Osage growing in direct sunlight gets bushy and gnarly.  If it grows under the shade of tall trees it tends to grow straighter.  I havent had any luck with seeds but I have kept my eyes on some existing small trees that are growing pretty straight.

[Badger]

   I covered my seeds with a wet towel until they developed little tails then transferred them to small pots. I think it took about two weeks. I still haven't found the address but type in osage seeds on e ebay and you will fins some. I paid 20.00 per 100 seeds.

[Eric Krewson]

My friends have bought osage seedlings from the Missouri forestry department in the past. The sell for $8 for 25 bare root seedlings, a pretty good deal. They shipped to my friends in Alabama so I suspect they would ship anywhere in the US but don't know for sure.

http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/landowners-and-farmers/seedling-orders

Here is the seedling catalog.

http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/04/11_12seedlingorderform.pdf

[Badger]

I grow the osage to train into bonsai trees, the knarly natural tendencies it has lends it to this art very well.

[JW_Halverson]

This I gotta see, Badger!!!  Post some pics of your bonsai 'sage please!

[fishfinder401]

george, if i cant find any seeds i might take you up on the offer for the hedge apple fruit, do you ave to dry the seeds before planting?

[YosemiteBen]

Osage orange was brought west by settlers and you can still find a few older trees. They are still producing fruit and are found mostly in gold country.