Ginkgo biloba

The seeds are sown into open gritty compost in the spring. Germination takes place in a cool greenhouse, kept frost free (at a minimum of 5 °C), in natural light. The seedlings are generally free from pests and diseases. They can be planted out in the field when large enough. This is usually the following spring. After two years the plants can be as tall as 1.5 m, at which point they are planted out into their final positions in the garden.

All Ginkgos should be planted with care. They can live to well over one hundred years, so it is worth taking some care in selecting and planting your tree. Preparation and planting is straightforward: Dig a hole at least twice as wide and a little deeper than the root ball. Break up the bottom of the hole and add a 50mm or 2 inch layer of planting compost and grit mixture and chop into the bottom of the hole. Carefully remove the plant from the pot. If it is any way dry, water it before planting, ideally by soaking in a bucket of water until all of the air bubbles have disappeared. The surface of the root ball should be about 25mm or 1 inch below the soil surface. Mix the soil you have removed from the hole half and half with the same planting compost and grit mixture and use it to fill in around the root ball. Water well. There is no need to add fertiliser as Ginkgos do well on low nutrient levels. Finish the job with a bark mulch and keep it moist but not waterlogged through the first growing season.