I have been growing ginkgo trees for 10 years, not long by some standards but I have learned much about them in that time.
I currently have a ginkgo in my backyard planted as a seedling 10 years ago. It’s grown to be about 16 feet tall and has grown a double trunk as well, its spread is roughly 10 feet across, perhaps more.
I also have a ginkgo in front of my house that was 5feet tall when planted 7 years ago, bare root, and is now only 14-15 feet tall and is not as vigorous as the seed planted one in my backyard (I got it for free). It could be that the backyard tree is more sheltered than the one in the front, which is why the front tree has not done as well, but I believe it’s because it was planted from a seedling is why it has grown so well and relatively quickly.
I can’t really make a judgment one this one example but, I can’t argue the results.
Every year I grow at least 30 new trees from seed that I give away to friends and colleagues and plant on my property farther north.
I find it is an incredibly easy tree to grow from seed, with high germination rates.
I also gather seeds from female trees and I find that while the fruit does smell awful, it’s not nearly as bad as many people say and the smell can be neutralized by spreading some sodium bicarbonate on the fruit to get rid of the smell.
Like others have said, it’s an incredibly beautiful tree that suffers no insect damage or disease that I have seen.
