RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Quercus (tomentella)

Michael Herrera
Nursery Manager
Catalina Island Conservancy
PO Box 2739
Avalon, California 90704
(310) 510-2904
(310) 510-3157 (fax)
mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org
www.catalinaconservancy.org
Family Scientific Name: Fagaceae
Family Common Name: Oak Family
Scientific Name: Quercus tomentella Engelm.
Common Name: Island oak
Species Code: QUETOM
Ecotype: Catalina Island, California
General Distribution: Island oak is endemic to the Channel islands off the coast of California. It is infrequent on Catalina Island. It inhabits deep, moisy canyons on the southeastern portion of the island.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: #1 Treepot (173 cubic inches)
Time To Grow: 1 Years
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seeds are hand collected when they are fully matured. We have collected seeds from early September to late October. Mature acorns are tannish-brown and easily separate from caps.
Propagule Processing: Acorns are hand cleaned from any debris after collection.
White oak acorns cannot be dried and must be kept hydrated at all times. We immediately place moist acorns into ziplock bags to keep them from drying.
Pre-Planting Treatments: We place moist acorns in ziplock bags into the refrigerator at 40 F for a 90 day cold, moist stratification.
With past collections, we have obtained a 44% average germination rate.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum andminimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches.
The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, and an outdoor growing area. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery.
Establishment Phase: Seeds are germinated during January in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Flats are filled with a 1 inch layer of special seed germination mix of 1:1 (v:v) Sunshine Professional Growing Mix and sand on top of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed.
Seeds germinate 4 to 8 weeks after sowing.
Length of Establishment Phase: 2 months
Active Growth Phase: After seedlings are well established and have at least 2 true leaves, they are transplanted into #1 treepot (173 cubic inhes)containers filled with a growing medium of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) is incorporated into the medium at a rate of
of « cup per .75 cubic yards of medium.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 9 months
Hardening Phase: Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2 to 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing compound.
Length of Storage: Variable; depends on out planting date.

Citation:

Serrill, Doug; Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Quercus tomentella Engelm. plants #1 Treepot (173 cubic inches); Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/24). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.