THE PINE PROJECT

[shibui]

My JBP seeds were planted quite early and it seemed to be later than usual but they started to appear a few weeks ago. Germination appears to be more about ambient temp than time in the soil.

[Ryceman3]

My JBP seeds were planted quite early and it seemed to be later than usual but they started to appear a few weeks ago. Germination appears to be more about ambient temp than time in the soil.

Maybe… I don’t bother with the science as much as results in terms of temperature or whatever. The last 4 lots of JBP I planted out (with 50+ seeds in each lot) I had seedlings popping out after 3 weeks for all. 2 of these planted in July, 1 planted in August, the other planted in October. All about the same in terms of time between sowing and noticeable germination, and ambient temps between July and October I think are pretty different, but perhaps that is relative. Like I said though, as long as they germinate I’m happy.

[Daluke]

How do you capture cones before they open?

[Ryceman3]

How do you capture cones before they open?

Remove them from the tree when they have matured and turned a purplish colour (early autumn generally) and put them in a paper bag in a warm, dry place. They will open and release the seeds into the bag. Some you might have to extract from the cones manually so look through the cone before you chuck it out.

I posted a pic of a cone before I harvested it somewhere in this thread… probably 1-2 pages back.

[Daluke]

Aight - so now is too early or late. I have maybe 10 or so. Don’t want to waste the seed

[tgooboon]

I planted 20 seeds on 24/10/2019 (under advice from shibui). 95% success rate for germination.

Later I figured out they were more likely radiata pine. Still a very nice pine.

Make sure to hit them with some form of fungicide (mancozeb or copper sulfate fungicide) within a week of them popping up, as this seems to be the time they are most at risk.

[SuperBonSaiyan]

Is there a simple / easy way to fertilise the cones?

I've just missed the window to collect pollen this year, but I was thinking to just mush the pollen against the cones next year and see what happens.

[terryb]

Is there a simple / easy way to fertilise the cones?

I've just missed the window to collect pollen this year, but I was thinking to just mush the pollen against the cones next year and see what happens.

You've just described the process exactly

[shibui]

It6's probably way too late to pollinate pines now. The female cones are receptive when the pollen is being released from the male cones - amazing how things work out isn't it - Here that was a few weeks ago so it is unlikely the cones will still pollinate now.
When you notice clouds of pollen releasing when you brush past a tree that's the time.
If your male is in a pot carefully move it close to the female cone then shake or tap to release a cloud of pollen over the female cone.
If you just have one tree sometimes I can bend a branch with male cones up close to the female cone or bring the female down close to the male pollen cones. Again tap or shake to release pollen.
For my seed trees out in the paddock I carefully cut a branch with ripe male flowers and take it to the female cones and shake/wipe/tap close to the female cones to release pollen.
It probably doesn't take much pollen to fertilise the female cones so no need to drown them in the stuff.

Remove them from the tree when they have matured and turned a purplish colour (early autumn generally) and put them in a paper bag in a warm, dry place. They will open and release the seeds into the bag. Some you might have to extract from the cones manually so look through the cone before you chuck it out.

I have problems with black cockatoos eating the seed before it is ripe so I cover cones with a fine mesh bag. That also means I can allow the cones to fully ripen and even begin opening on the tree. Any seed that is released stays inside the bag.

Aight - so now is too early or late. I have maybe 10 or so. Don’t want to waste the seed

Too late/early for what Daluke?
Too late to pollinate. Too late to collect last year's seeds but way too early for the coming crop.

[Daluke]

Aight - so now is too early or late. I have maybe 10 or so. Don’t want to waste the seed

Too late/early for what Daluke?
Too late to pollinate. Too late to collect last year's seeds but way too early for the coming crop.
[/quote]

I guess it was a question knowing if I should rip off the cones (as in it’s too late - cones will have nothing). Or too early (cones aren’t ready).

What is this mesh bag you speak of?

[shibui]

There's always a chance your cone will have been pollinated and may have fertile see when it matures. Note that cones from this spring (2022) will not be ripe until March 2024.
The cone may or may not have fertile seed inside. All the cones I have collected from pot grown pines have had infertile seeds but others have said they get fertile seeds from potted trees.
While you are waiting for the cones to mature you won't be able to trim that shoot. You need to decide if that's worth it.

Mesh bags:
Here's the first page I found:
https://aussiegardener.com.au/products/ ... ction-bags
Or you can sew up your own from fibreglass insect screen (hardware store) or from tulle or similar mesh fabric from fabric supplier such as Spotlight.
Mesh allows air movement so less fungal problems and good cone development, keeps birds at bay but mesh is small enough to hold any seeds that fall when the cones open.

[Ryceman3]

All the cones I have collected from pot grown pines have had infertile seeds but others have said they get fertile seeds from potted trees.

Yep… 100%… see posts above.
Not sure what else to add to the pictures and progress updates, maybe it’s an integrity issue on my part but whatever it may be my experience is pretty decent with pot grown cones/seeds and fertility. Could be just lucky I guess…

[Ryceman3]

Decandling time for double flush pines.
I have done a few that are from the original seed batches that are ready for it, I'm fairly happy with trunk size on these so it's time to get the branching/foliage organised to how I would like it. Here's where a couple of them are at.

JBP-6YC IG_02.jpg

JBP-6YC IG_01.jpg

JBP-6YC IG_04.jpg

JBP-6YC IG_03.jpg

[melbrackstone]

You've really gotten good trunks with your seedlings Ryan, grats!

[SuperBonSaiyan]

Would you mind sharing what R/C means?

Also - what do you use as the bottom screen for your shallow pots? I'm using fibreglass flyscreen mesh at the moment but I don't like how it doesn't form easily without folding. I've also tried shadecloth as well but I don't like the little bits of plastic that come about from the frayed edges.

Open to suggestions on what others use.