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Conifer growing guide
Deodar, the Himalayan cedar that gives Deodar Seeds its name, is a majestic conifer of the western Himalaya. Its oily seed is short-lived but needs only a short chill, so sow it fresh, about 1 cm deep, and protect the seedlings from damping-off.
Deodar seed is large for a conifer (about 13.7 mm long in a Central Himalayan study; roughly 8,150 cleaned seeds per kg), winged and very oily. Although orthodox, it does not keep well: over-dried seed cannot take up water properly, and even sealed seed below 10% moisture at -1 to -5 °C (23-30 °F) stays viable for only about 3-6 years. Sow fresh seed, and keep it sealed and cold until sowing.
Not needed. The seed coat is thin.
Recommended for uniform germination. The USDA manual gives 2 weeks at 3-5 °C (37-41 °F); in one trial 30 days at 4 °C (39 °F) in moist sand raised germination to 45% against 11% without it, and another study found 9 °C (48 °F) a better chilling temperature than 3 °C (37 °F). Mix seed with damp sand in a bag in the refrigerator.
Not needed. Moist stratification hydrates the seed; do not leave it soaking for days, as oily seed can rot.
Standard tests use 20 °C (68 °F) after stratification, or alternating 20 °C (68 °F) nights and 30 °C (86 °F) days. In the hills sow in spring or autumn; on the plains sow only in the cool season, as deodar is a temperate mountain tree.
About 1 cm (0.4 in). Nursery research cited by the USDA manual found that deeper sowing reduces germination.
A clean, free-draining nursery soil or sandy seed mix. In nursery beds sow in drills 10-15 cm (4-6 in) apart at about 200-250 seeds per m2.
Keep the bed evenly moist but not soggy; wet, crowded beds encourage damping-off.
Germination happens under the soil cover. Shade the seedbeds through the first summer; nurseries keep container seedlings in shaded beds.
About three to four weeks. Unstratified deodar seed has germinated anywhere from 16% to 69%, depending on the seed lot, so stratification and fresh seed make a clear difference.
Container-grown seedlings are transplanted in winter, while dormant. Move them into deep pots so the taproot is not bent.
Keep young seedlings in shaded beds during summer. Nurseries grow deodar on for several years: planting stock ranges from 2 to 12 years old.
Young deodars are prone to injury from frost and cold winds. Mulch autumn-sown beds and cover seedlings on frosty spring nights.
Deodar is native from north-eastern Afghanistan through northern Pakistan and north-western India to western Nepal. It grows best in temperate hill climates; the USDA manual rates it hardy in USDA zones 7-8.
Pick cones from the tree in autumn before they turn brown. Dry them only until the scales loosen, because over-drying can kill the seed; soaking cones in warm water for 48 hours helps them fall apart.
Trees raised from seed take decades to produce good seed crops, so plant deodar for its form and shade rather than for seed.
Deodar becomes a very large tree. Plant it in open ground well away from buildings and overhead lines.
Sow fresh deodar cedar seeds about 1 cm deep after a short chill to raise the Himalaya's classic cedar.
Not strictly, but a short cold, moist stratification of 2-4 weeks makes germination far more even. In one trial it raised germination from 11% to 45%.
Not long at room temperature, because the seed is very oily. Sow as soon as possible; sealed, dry and frozen seed lasts only a few years.
No. Edible 'cedar nuts' come from Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica), which is a pine. Deodar seeds are small, winged and not eaten.
It is a temperate Himalayan tree and grows best in the hills. On the plains, sow only in the cool season and expect slow, difficult growth in hot summers.
