I utterly adore maple trees and have been on the lookout for one (or sixteen) for an age. Unfortunately around these parts they are both quite difficult to find and hideously expensive.

Early on in lockdown I was searching for salady-type seeds on the InformationSuperhighway and found maple tree seeds! Could this be my gateway to affordable maple tree goodness?

The package took some time to arrive because this is the way mail is now. Excitement was high when it finally got here.

But what is this? Seed requires a hot water treatment followed by 90-120 days cold moist stratification.

I recognised these as words but had no idea what they meant when all strung together like that.

After much research I discovered I needed to soak the seeds in boiling water for 24 hours and then put them in a plastic bag in the fridge for 3-4 months, checking every week or so that they remain moist. This is apparently intended to mimic what would happen in nature.

I feel like I now have some insight into why maple trees are so costly. I also feel like I’ve been initiated into secret gardener business.

I’ve set an alarm for the weekly checking and was surprised to discover one of the bags had frozen – oops. I guess more mimicking of nature?

Will report back.