pine cone and the right time to pick it

 

we have not too far from us a little pine tree which has just produced this
cone. (see photo)

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2dqm5wp&s=3

we would like to try to grow the seeds.  someone told us to plant the cone
in a pot before it opens?

but what would be the right time to do it, and how crucial is the timing?
since it might open quickly and we cannot visit it every day.

 


That doesn't sound like good advice

but it won't be ripe for a long time yet.

"You cannot grow pine trees by planting pine cones.
Pine seed are contained within the cones and must be
taken out before planting. Collect ripe pine cones in the
fall before they open, because most seed are shed soon
afterward."

http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1408.pdf
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

 



 Bad idea. It's not what happens in nature. The cones open, stay on the
tree, releasing many seeds which drift away on the breeze



   It's a bit soon to pick it yet. I'd give it a few more weeks to reach
maturity  then pick it still closed, bring it home and put it in a bowl
in a warm room.. It will open
and let the seeds drop out. Plant them shallowly in a pot, cover with
grit, and put them outside for winter to let the rain and frost do their
work. You should get a good germination in spring.

  Janet

 


john royce;855019 Wrote:

which has just produced

We brought home a large pine cone from Spain, probable P. pinaster or
something,
that was still closed. We put it on a windowsill. Then a few
days later the wife
heard a large bang that sounded like some terrible
disaster, but it was the pine
cone opening. We could take the seeds out
then. But they weren't big enough to
eat.




--
echinosum

 


echinosum;855115 Wrote:

down for a couple of

 Loadsaweeds

stuff on it. Use roundup as they say.

Thanks for the replies and helpful advice.
I will forget the overkill with the sodium chlorate then and go for the
suggested gentler option.
The plants Im trying to persuade to leave from this bit of ground are
monbretia,
brambles, rampant honeysuckle and ivy, 99 percent of which
has invaded from the
old bat next door (bless her cotton socks).
Reference the conifers. Im afraid it wasnt my idea to remove them and
its the
end result of a fearsome battle that has been raging between
myself and my
neighbour for the last 3 years.
The good news is that I did manage to save three of the conifers
because one I
put bat boxes in them three years ago and the bats
obliged and two the collared
doves have nested in the trees now for the
last 8 years and are considerably
more tame than my old budgie.
I fought long ,hard and dirty for those trees lol.




--
Buzzard