Please note:  The same techniques apply to Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut) and Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)

Most Quercus species are not significantly dormant.  Seed does not need any pre-treatment and any dormancy at harvest will have disappeared naturally by the Spring.

Insect or mould damaged acorns that will not germinate can be separated by simple floatation in water.  Significant insect damage will result in air spaces, and mould attack reduces the density of the acorns.  Damaged seed will therefore float and should be discarded.  If the seed is fresh this separation can take place immediately.  Drier stored seed must first be soaked in nets underwater for 24 hours for the healthy viable seed to be imbibed, i.e. swell and fill the shells.

In order to ensure that the maximum number of Rootrainer cells are productive, it is advisable to prechit the seed before sowing.  For Quercus species it is known that the size of seedling is directly related to the size of the acorn.  Thus to add uniformity in the crop it is necessary to grade the seed by size.  This can be achieved by simple sieves and four grades should be enough from any given sample.

Seeds of Quercus and Castanea do not store well, particularly if harvest conditions are damp.  In order to prevent  the spread of lethal storage fungi in bulks of the seed, it is advisable to keep them at as near as possible 0C.  If cold storage facilities are not available, spread of fungi can be hindered by mixing the seed with peat.  Another possibility is to sow the good seed, as soon as the seed is available.  Under cold conditions the moisture level of the peat is critical.  Excessive moisture can lead to the spread of surface moulds and rotting of germinating  roots .  The peat should be only slightly damp i.e it should not produce a drop of water when a handful is squeezed tightly.  It should be friable and only damp enough to prevent the acorn or nut from drying out.

Batches of graded seed should be mixed with damp peat and laid out in shallow well drained trays.  The trays may be stacked, but must be stored to allow some ventilation and the temperature must not be allowed to fall below 0C.

The Rootrainers are filled with compost to within 2" of the top of each cell.  Once the acorns have begun to chit they are placed in the cells with the radical pointing downwards.  If the radical is pointing upwards a hook related plant will result,  The cells are then filled with compost to within 1/4" of the top.  Overfilling may result in cross rooting between cells.  The trays can then be stacked and should be protected from frost until the first shoots begin to appear in February/March.  At this time the trays should be laid out in the greenhouse/polytunnels where the temperature should not be allowed to fall below 0C.

The smallest Rootrainers for Quercus species is the Sherwood .  This is ideal for producing plants with a good shoot to root ratio in the range of 30-45cm.  Some larger plants may be produced if a uniform crop of larger size is required and then a Fleet container would be the most appropriate.