North Red Chinese Toon Seeds - Toona Sinensis, 30 seeds

Quantity: 30 Seeds / pack

North Red Chinese Toon (Toona sinensis) is a fast-growing deciduous tree grown as a vegetable for its aromatic young spring leaves, which have a distinctive onion-like flavor prized in Chinese cooking. The tender shoots are harvested each spring; gardeners keep the tree small by cutting it back so the shoots stay within easy reach. This packet contains 30 seeds.

Seed Information

• Type: Vegetable Seeds
• Common Name: North Red Chinese Toon
• Botanical Name: Toona sinensis
• Life Cycle: Deciduous perennial tree
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Watering: Moderate; consistent moisture in the first season
• Growth Habit: Fast-growing tree, can reach 25 feet or more if unpruned
• Soil Type: Adaptable; well-draining, moderately fertile soil
• Planting Time: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost; transplant after frost

Growing Instructions

• When to Plant: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, then move outdoors after all frost danger has passed.
• Soil: Adaptable to most soils as long as they drain well; moderately fertile soil is best for young trees.
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
• Watering: Keep young trees consistently watered in their first season; established trees are more tolerant.
• Spacing: Plant young trees where they have room to grow; for shoot production, coppice (cut back hard) to keep them small.
• Germination: Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing, 1/4 inch deep. A 2-4 week cold stratification in the refrigerator improves germination. Sprouts appear in 10-21 days at 68-77°F (20-25°C).
• Harvest: Harvest the tender young shoots each spring, leaving the plant to regrow. Vigorous shoot production builds from the second year onward.
• Tips: Fresh seed germinates most reliably. Protect young trees from harsh wind in the first season. Toona sinensis is cold-tolerant down to about USDA zone 6.