AusBonsai

I collected about 1500 Japanese maple seeds, and about half that were viable so got a couple of bags in the fridge at the moment. They'll come out of the fridge next month i suspect so i'll see how quick they are to respond

Mmm ... been over a year. My maple seeds not popped up yet, thinking if they haven't sprung by spring, time to give up on them?

I would not hold out much hope after a whole year I have occasionally had a few seedlings sprout after a year but usually give up after the first spring. Hard to say whether yours did not grow because the seed had dried out, wasn't ready/fertile or lack of stratification.

Raging Bull - oaks do not seem to need stratification. I've been picking up acorns under the trees. many that have been a bit damp already have roots growing even though it is mid winter and quite cold down here. I've been told that acorns will not grow if the seed dries out too much so best to sow soon after collecting or store damp so they can germinate.

I've posted before about my experience, as have others. FRESH maple seed does not need stratification. When I got fresh seed I have found that stratification actually created weaker seedlings than what germinated without stratification. As has been mentioned before, dry seed, or seed from previous seasons, may need stratification, but fresh seed does not. I live in a warm temperate/sub tropical climate with only rare frosts (none of significance for over 15 years) with nights rarely below 5degC and had nearly 100% germination with fresh seed sowed about this time of year 2 years in a row. Others may have had different experiences, but for my there is no advantage to stratification with fresh seed.

Thanks for the clarification Symon, that's exactly what we need to know.

Seeds arrived on June 15, planted a day or two later, and already some of the trident maples are shooting.

Thanks Neil!