From Little Acorns
There’s something quietly wonderful about holding an acorn in your hand and realising it carries the beginnings of a mighty oak.
With a little care — and a bit of patience — you can sprout an acorn at home and watch it grow into a young tree.
The idea for our Acorn Sprouter grew from conversations about hope — and the courage it sometimes takes to hold onto it, even in the darkest days.
Simple and heartfelt, our Acorn Sprouter is a small symbol of support for growth, bravery, and big dreams.
As the saying goes, “Tall oaks from little acorns grow.”
Here’s our simple guide to get you started...
A Guide to Growing an Oak Tree from an Acorn
1. Find an Acorn / Oak Tree
Start by finding your nearest oak. You’ll know them by their rugged trunks and familiar lobed leaves. In autumn, you’ll see acorns scattered beneath their branches.
2. Choose the Right Acorn
Not every acorn will grow, so take a moment to choose carefully. Pick acorns that are plump, firm, and free from cracks. Avoid any with holes (usually caused by insects) or that feel light and empty. A healthy acorn should feel solid in your hand.
3. Storing Your Acorn
If you’re not ready to sprout it straight away, store your acorns somewhere cool and slightly damp. A box of moist sand or sawdust in the fridge works well. Another idea is to used a small plastic bag with a sheet of damp kitchen paper. The key is to keep them cool and stop them from drying out.
Acorns naturally sprout in late autumn and winter. That’s the perfect time to encourage them along. Place your acorn in the Superfolk Acorn Sprouter, root side down, and keep it moist.
Place the glass and sprouter on a windowsill or sunny spot that gets plenty of daylight.
Before long, you’ll see it begin to stir into life.
5. Watching It Grow
Once your acorn has sprouted, it’s just a matter of time. Roots deepen, leaves unfurl, and your oakling begins to take shape.
Check in regularly, but don’t be tempted to fuss too much—nature knows what it’s doing. Our sprouter is designed to hold your acorn securely while giving you a clear view of what’s happening.
You’ll see the first white root reaching downwards, followed by the shoot pushing upwards towards the light.
7. Transplanting Your Oakling
When the roots and leaves are well developed, it’s time to give your young oak more space.
Lift it the small sapling roots out carefully taking care not to damage them.
Plant it into a pot with soil or plant it in a sheltered spot outdoors. With care and time, it will grow into a sturdy sapling.
If you plant into a small pot remember that the following autumn (once the leaves have fallen off), they will most likely need to be transplanted into larger pots again. The oak tree in the pots below is one from our own little "nursery" and was planted about 3 years old.
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago... the next best time is right now”
What Is a Mast Year?
Oaks don’t produce the same amount of acorns every year. Some years, the trees go all out and produce huge numbers—this is called a mast year. Other years, they take a break and produce far fewer. Mast years help oaks ensure that, at least sometimes, more acorns escape hungry animals and get the chance to grow.
What time of year do acorns fall?
Acorns begin to drop in Autumn, usually from September to November. That’s when you’ll find them scattered beneath oak trees, freshly fallen.
How do acorns spread in the wild ?
In the forest, acorns don’t often sprout exactly where they fall. The ground beneath an oak tree can be dry from the roots above and shaded from the canopy overhead.
Jays, squirrels, and mice help out by gathering and hiding acorns for food, burying them in the soil. Some are forgotten, and these hidden acorns have the best chance of growing into young trees.
Today, though, many oak seedlings are eaten by deer and livestock before they can take hold. That’s why plants like brambles and gorse are so important — they act as prickly protectors, giving young oaks shelter while they get established.
Which ones to choose?
Acorn can be green or brown when collected. Look for acorns that are plump, firm, and free from cracks or holes. An acorn that is ready to sprout should be nice and brown all over with a lovely weight to it.
When to sprout them?
Acorns naturally start to sprout in late autumn and winter. Keep them cool and damp, and they’ll soon begin to stir into life.
When to plant up my sapling?
Once your acorn has grown strong roots and its first little leaves have opened, it’s ready for more space. Move it into soil, either in a pot or a sheltered spot outdoors.
Words: Gearoid Muldowney
Photography: Jo Anne Butler and Gearoid Muldowney