Would you like to grow your own pine tree? Admittedly, growing the conifer yourself from seeds right from the start requires effort and patience. Cultivation is not always successful. An alternative are cuttings from specialist retailers. But if you take your time to germinate the pine seeds, you will be even more proud of your own little pine tree later. The following guide will give you helpful tips on how to germinate pine seeds.
How do I germinate pine seeds?
To germinate pine seeds, collect mature cones, extract and test the seeds for germination. Stratify the seeds at 5°C in the refrigerator and then place germinating seeds in the soil.
Where are pine seeds available?
Seeds are of course essential for growing your own. There are two options for procurement:
- Acquisition from the nursery
- independent collection of pine cones
Tip
Pine cones ripen in late August. It's best to go looking on a dry autumn day. Since the fruits only open when it is dry and warm, you should then place your harvest directly in the sun to get to the seeds.
Separating the wheat from the chaff
Unfortunately, not all pine seeds germinate reliably. To find out which seeds are suitable for planting in the ground, perform the following test:
- fill a large glass with lukewarm water
- put the seeds in
- the usable seeds sink to the bottom, the empty seeds float on the surface of the water
- make a test by cutting open some probably empty seeds
- If these are still full, wait a while until all the full seeds have sunk to the ground
Stratifying pine seeds
You can actually plant your pine seeds in the ground straight away. However, to speed up the germination process, stratification is recommended. How to proceed:
- find out about the stratification time of your chosen pine species
- wet a cloth
- wrap the seeds in it
- put the cloth in a plastic bag
- keep this in the fridge at 5°C
- A straw in a plastic bag ensures sufficient oxygen supply to the seeds
Characteristics of the onset of germination
If you have followed the instructions carefully up to this point, the seeds will soon begin to germinate. Check progress regularly. You can tell that your work is bearing fruit by the following characteristics:
- the seed tears open
- the beginning of a root becomes clear
If there are no results after several weeks, you can try again to germinate the seed by drying it and repeating the procedure. You can finally plant germinating seeds in the soil.
