Monkey Puzzle trees

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Tattyanne456

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Monkey Puzzle trees
« on: March 26, 2009, 17:09 »
On my regular walks to school, I picked up some seeds from a monkey puzzle tree. They are a huge seed, anyone ever tried growing them? I did have some in compost in a heated propagator, but nothing happened. Do they need a period of extreme heating/ freezing like some seeds do?

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mrs.ploppy

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2009, 18:12 »
I would think they take some time to germinate as trees do.  We had a huge one out side a house in our town that has been in photos for over 100 years.  Then someone bought the town house and turned it into flats and cut it down.  What a disgrace!!  It was taller than the 3 story house.  Really beautiful.  Now sadly gone.  Not seen many in my lifetime (42) so if you get one plant it somewhere perminant and enjoy.  They are such strange, but beautiful trees.
mrs.ploppy

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Stripey_cat

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2009, 18:34 »
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcpg018.pdf/$FILE/fcpg018.pdf

Is a good article on germinating various types of tree seed.  Monkey puzzle seem to need to be sown fresh (the seed deteriorates fast), and have a couple of weeks in the fridge before they germinate, kept damp and with plenty of air (so don't cover them).

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poultrygeist

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2009, 19:41 »
We bought some off ebay as seedlings. Not expensive.

Planted 3 but only 1 has made it to its 2nd year. Seems to be surviving. It's about 6" high so you need to be patient  :)

Hoping to find a spot for it where it won't be in the way and it can grow away to its heart's content. There were a few round west London where I grew up. All in pre-war gardens and about 20-40ft high I should think. Probably grown another 10ft by now. ::)

Rob 8)

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mrs.ploppy

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2009, 19:54 »
Yes you rarely see them about these days.  I think they may have been ver fashionable in the early 1900's thats why you see them in that type of garden.

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Paul Plots

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2009, 22:55 »
We've got one in the school grounds... it was given to us as a 2 metre high tree so we arranged for a lorry and hoist to move it complete with massive root ball. Some parents are so helpful :)

Tree is now huge... and will continue to survive for years despite our school being demolished once the new one is built in the middle of our once lovely playing fields.

Corsican pine?
Never keep your wish-bone where your back-bone ought to be.

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FRUITFULL

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2009, 12:54 »
We have a monkey puzzle in our front garden.It was about a foot high when we got it but now its 4ft.Very slow growing but we love it.
It started off with 3 side shoots then the next lot were 4 and the next.Now it has 5 shoots if you know what i mean!
OH was working at a building site where they had to cut a huge one down to build on,he bought a piece home but we couldnt get it to grow roots so we bought our own to sort of replace the poor tree that was chopped down.They are lovely trees and fun to watch them grow  :D

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sunshineband

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2009, 23:21 »
We've got one in the school grounds... it was given to us as a 2 metre high tree so we arranged for a lorry and hoist to move it complete with massive root ball. Some parents are so helpful :)

Tree is now huge... and will continue to survive for years despite our school being demolished once the new one is built in the middle of our once lovely playing fields.

Corsican pine?
:D Chilean Stone Pine  :D

We have one in a pot at home, it's about two foot high and beautiful.
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Paul Plots

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2009, 10:32 »
Corsicn pine?  ??? No.... I was wrong!!  ::)

Chilean Pine is what it is... I learn something new everyday  :tongue2:

Araucaria araucana to be precise.... 'cause I looked it up.  8)

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sunshineband

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2009, 13:27 »
Now you're just showing off, Learner 'cos you've got a posh book  :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Paul Plots

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2009, 02:15 »
Now you're just showing off, Learner 'cos you've got a posh book  :lol: :lol: :lol:

Not true... I googled! ;)

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digalotty

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Re: Monkey Puzzle trees
« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2009, 22:31 »
its my favorite tree   ....beautifull
when im with my 9yr old she's the sensible one



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