How to grow Sessile oak
How to grow Sessile oak
Sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) is a semi-deciduous oak of the Fagaceae family, native to western and central-southern Europe. It forms woods that are hardly pure oak anyway.
This species differs from the downy oak due to the larger size of the stem and the underside of the leaf which is glabrous.
It is a monoecious plant with unisexual flowers; the fruit is a classic acorn whose dome covers is made up of very close lanceolate scales. The mature pericarp is oblong, yellow-brown, shiny.
Cultivation –
Sessile oak is a plant that, in order to grow well, must be planted in stony and well-drained places, with a slight preference for acidic substrates. The plant tolerates drought thanks to its deep root system, unlike the English oak, which tolerates water stagnation for 100 consecutive days. Instead, it fears late frosts.
Like all oaks, it loves sunny exposures, which are used for the maturation of acorns. The young plant, on the other hand, needs partial shade exposure to develop.
As for the climate, the ideal one for growing the shrub is temperate and humid. The ideal would be that of a season with rains distributed regularly throughout the year, especially during the growing season. The tree also resists low temperatures and has truly exemplary drought resistance. In fact, thanks to its very long and robust root system, it is able to penetrate deeply into the soil and absorb the water from the underground water table.
The multiplication of Quercus petraea occurs with the sowing of acorns. These, within two months of harvesting, must be planted on pots to be placed outdoors, with sowing in autumn or spring. The seedlings are then transplanted into the ground and after two or three years they can be permanently planted. If planted in a sheltered area, the new seedlings remain green even in winter. The planting of the plant can always take place in spring or autumn, but on soils excavated at eighty or one hundred centimeters deep and with good drainage.
For the growth of the plant with straight stems and without defects, the so-called breeding pruning is carried out which consists in the defoliation of the plants with defects. In the meantime, the soil must be weeding, an operation which consists in cutting and mixing the surface layer of the soil to facilitate the aeration of the roots. The adult tree, on the other hand, should be pruned to limit the expansion of the crown. This, extending too far, tends to block light from nearby plants and trees.
Uses –
Quercus petraea is a plant that has one of the most precious woods of all; wood is used for flooring, furniture, wine and spirits aging barrels, etc.
The oak wood is very similar to that of the English oak, from which it is not distinguishable.
In addition to the manufacture of furniture, in construction, for beams, parquet, in shipyards, it is used in the construction of staves for barrels for the aging of wines and other alcoholic beverages, and also for the construction of coffins. Excellent fuel, it is also used for the production of coal.