How do I grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

Pine tree seeds are found inside of the cones on the upper surface of each scale. Open pine cones have already dropped their seeds, so you'll want to look for and collect cones that are still closed. They are usually dark purplish or brown in color. When seeds inside the cones are ripe, they will be full and plump. The type of pine you're growing will determine the best time of the year to look for ripe cones, but the cones of most species are ready for collection sometime in the summer or early fall. Squirrels will often cut down ripe cones, so don't forget to look on the ground around trees.

After you collect the ripe cones, lay them out in the sun for drying. You can also dry them in the oven on very low heat (not above 120Fº). Once dry, the cones will open. Then lay them on a screen or place them in a paper bag and shake the cones to release the seeds.

You can plant your seeds in the fall (when nature does) or wait until spring. How you store the seeds will depend on the type of pines you're planting. Red, Jack and White Cedar seeds need to be kept dry in an airtight container and stored in a cool place. Balsam Fir, Spruce or White Pine seeds should be mixed with 3 parts moist sand to 1 part seed and stored at 36-38Fº. Plant seeds in moist, loamy or sandy soil at a depth 4 times the size of the seed. Make sure the dirt underneath the seed has been turned to a depth of at least 12 inches to give the roots plenty of room grow. To plant hundreds of seeds at once, plant each about 6 inches apart in 4 foot wide rows.

Once the seedlings sprout, give them a little shade (just like they would get from the tree towering over them in nature) and some water. Watch them for damping off and be prepared to dust them with a fungicide. Once the seedlings reach 10-12 inches, transplant them into their permanent spot.

The pine cone contains the pine seeds. These are located inside under each of the "bracts", or little shelf like coverings that open when the cone is "ripe". The problem is, if you just picked up a cone from the ground, and the bracts have all opened, the seed may already have fallen out and cone will be "empty".  Try shaking it over a piece of paper and see if any seeds will fall out.  If they do, next step is to put them in an envelope and place it in the refrigerator for two weeks.  Then plant about 6 -8 of the seeds in a pot filled with a commercial planting mix, and set it in a location in the house that gets sun part of the day. Water often enough to keep the soil just damp but not wet (water logged). It may take them a week or more to germinate.  As the seedlings grow, thin out the weaker ones over a period of several weeks until you have the strongest one left.