Toona sinensis, commonly called Chinese toon or Chinese cedar, is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to eastern and southeastern Asia, highly valued for its aromatic young leaves used as a nutritious vegetable in Asian cuisine. Seeds require warm water soaking and preferably cold stratification to germinate successfully, with optimal germination occurring at 25°C in moist, well-draining substrate.
Before sowing
Cold stratification for 30-60 days followed by 24-hour warm water soaking significantly improves germination
Sowing
What to expect
Tips
Keep seedlings in bright, filtered light away from direct sunlight to prevent drying. Maintain consistently moist but not waterlogged soil throughout germination. Germination may be erratic and variable; expect 7-42 days depending on seed freshness and conditions. Transfer seedlings carefully when 10-15 cm tall with established roots. Harden off for 4-8 weeks before final transplanting on cloudy days. Fresh seeds germinate more reliably than old seed stock. Provide protection from extreme heat during early growth.
Sources: PFAF Plant Database, ScienceDirect, Seed-Nursery, Wikipedia, Seeds companies (MySeeds, DharaSeds), Seed Germination Studies
