How to Plant White Pine Tree Seeds
- 1). Look for pine cones before they open. White pine cones ripen in the fall, usually in September or October. Lift open a couple of scales and determine that the seeds inside are plump and firm, not milky. Ripe pine cones are often found on the ground, but can be picked off the tree with a twist.
- 2). Dry the cones in the sun for a day or two until the scales open. The seeds are now easily removed by hand. If you are seeding a lot of pine cones, place the cones in a box and shake. Then, remove the cones; seeds will collect at the bottom of the box.
- 3). Plant white pine trees soon after seed collection in the fall, or store them until spring in moist sand in an area between 36 and 38 degrees F.
- 4). Plant seeds in seed trays with a rich, high quality potting soil, sold in nurseries and mix in about 50 percent sand. Plant seeds about 4 inches deeper than the depth of the seeds. Plant one seed per seed tray and keep the soil moist. Place in a sunny, but cool area of your home.
- 5). Transplant the healthiest-looking seedlings when they reach about 6 to 8 inches high into a 4- to 6-inch pot with potting soil mixed with 1/2 sand.
- 6). Remove the seedlings from the pots in the spring and transplant outdoors with the soil from the containers still intact. If you remove the soil, keep the roots moist at all times and get the seedlings into the ground as soon as possible. White pine seedlings will not survive long when the roots are exposed and dry.
- 7). Loosen the soil to a depth and width of at least a foot first to aerate the soil. Mix in sand, if necessary, to create a sandy and loamy soil bed.
- 8). Plant the young white pine trees to the same depth they were planted in the containers in partial sun and plant at least 10 feet apart. If the roots are loose, make sure the holes are big enough to accommodate them without bunching or pointing them upward.
- 9). Pack the soil around the seedling so they're secure, but not too much; otherwise, the roots can't grow. Then, water with approximately 1 inch of water.
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