Overview. Seed nursery work is the first decision shaping the next 20–30 years of cinnamon plantation quality. Good seed plus a sound nursery protocol lifts germination from 55% to over 90%.

Seed selection

Collect seed only from mother trees 15–25 years old, vigorous, disease-free, with thick bark and oil content above 3%. Harvest fruits when the husk turns dark brown, then extract and wash the seed within the day.

“Cinnamon seed loses viability much faster than other forestry seed once it sits more than seven days post-harvest.”
— Dr. Nguyễn Văn Hải, Forestry Research Institute

Seed treatment

  1. Soak seed in 40°C warm water for 6 hours.
  2. Drain and bed in moist sand (70%) at room temperature for 3–4 days.
  3. When over 30% of seeds split, sow immediately into bags.

Bagging and aftercare

  • Bags 9×14 cm, B-horizon soil + 20% well-rotted compost.
  • 50% black shade-net for the first 60 days; water twice daily, morning and late afternoon.
  • Apply Trichoderma drench against damping-off at day 30.

Field results in Văn Bàn

The protocol delivered 92.4% germination and 88% of seedlings field-ready after 8 months. Seedling cost fell 30% versus market-purchased stock.

See the full guide on the Technical Handbook page or contact the Association's technical team.