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Off Topic: Anyone Growing Pines for Nut Production?

I was just curious if anyone has any pines that they grow for pignoli nuts. I always wanted to plant some pines that I could get pine nuts from. Not sure how hard or easy it is. I did find a great site to purchase trees, but it is in Canada,
http://www.nuttrees.com/index.htm

Knowing us fig lovers usually have other eidbles they grow, I thought I would see if anyone had any experience with nut producing pines?

To make this on topic, I have had several recipes that were yummy that had figs and pignoli nuts together in them! (Does that help?)

I have several seeds currently stratifying in the fridge now.  They got soaked for 24 hours, and are now wrapped in a damp paper towel, with cinnamon to prevent mold, and will stay in the fridge for about 45 days.  Then I'll try em in root riot, direct in ground, and in pots.  Experimenting here.  We have a good climate for them, and have pine groves established, so they'll be planted with the other pines.

We are purchasing pistachio trees soon, and have an established macadamia.

Suzi

Where do you get seeds for trees? Curious.and how old till they produce?

as much as i hate pine trees, i love pine nuts. 

I live on a freshwater lake that is on the border of the NJ Pine Barrens (no, there are no dead bodies hidden and floating in the lake! LOL!)
However, the soil here stinks, and the only trees that seem to survive well are pines and cedars. And since I have tried to plant many stone fruit trees, most with not much luck, thought maybe if the only trees I can plant that will thrive are pine trees, maybe I could plant some that are nut bearing.

I got my seeds on Ebay.  The generic name is Pinus cebroides adulis, aka Pinion Pine.  They came from here via Ebay.  There may be other varieties, but the one I referenced is the one in my zone.

Not sure how long they take to produce, but probably many years.  All I know is, I was happy that they do grow in my zone, and we have a lot of property where they can grow.  They are a small tree and that is good. 
I Googled how to germinate.

Suzi

Good sources for seeds in the USA:

F.W. Schumacher, Co. Inc.
Jim Harrington Seeds
Sheffield's Seeds
Lawyer Nursery-Seed Dept.
J.L. Hudson-Seedsmen

Try: Itasca Greenhouse for seedlings/plugs ?


Frank

Thanks for the recommendations! I would like to get an actual tree over seeds. I wish I could find a nursery to actual buy a larger tree to plant, but since that does not seem likely, I was looking to at least get some seedlings.

Pine nuts are native around here, basically desert, 15 inches rain a yr and calcareous soil. Are you sure they will even grow in NJ especially on wet acidic soil?

Quote:
Originally Posted by fignutty
Pine nuts are native around here, basically desert, 15 inches rain a yr and calcareous soil. Are you sure they will even grow in NJ especially on wet acidic soil?


Actually, no I am not sure they will grow here. However, at that Candian site, they have several varieties that are able to grow in cold zones, and knowing that pines trees thrive here, I thought I would try it. Again, I am not sure, I cannot find much specific information on them.

Christy, you might want to check out seedrack.com for a piñon variety that is supposedly hardy to zone 3.
Doesn't like much water, though. Pinus cembroides edulis
Piñon Pine, grows very slowly, but stays small. A seedling will literally look like a seedling for 5 years, and it takes 10-15 years to start producing.

Pinon pine nuts have a hard seed coat.  It's hard to break the shell and leave the nut intact.  Sugar pine nuts are much easier but I doubt they grow outside of mountains.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0453e/x0453e12.htm  Species list

http://pinenutsyndrome.wordpress.com/pine-nut-species/  Other info

http://pinenut.com/growing-pine-nuts/how-to-grow-pine-nuts-nursery.shtml

I'm the purchasing manager for a large landscaping company. When it comes to sourcing green goods, I can usually find it. Try here.
http://www.nuttrees.com/edible.htm

If you need a truckload of mature size trees, I can probably find those as well. Lol

Thanks everyone for the info! That one site that sells trees I think is in Canada, I am not sure if they can ship out to the US?

Rcantor, interesting links!

Ruuting, thanks!

Adelmanto, I see you are in NJ, where in NJ? Non pine nut related, I lost a bunch of trees the last couple of years, and am looking to find a tree to replace where a large old cedar was (darn, I miss that tree), so I would like to get a tree that is large. Would be great to get a tree purple leaves, I was thinking of a flowering plum, but. Not necessary. Wondering if you are in my area?

We have pine trees everywhere around here and they grow in all sorts of soil. 
They are slow growers like all nut trees and they need some basic drainage. 

About sugar pines...  The seeds are very good but

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinlam/all.html

Sugar pine does not become a good cone producer until it has attained a 
diameter of about 30 inches (75 cm) or is about 150 years old [2,16].



I am happy to see this thread! I plan on planting some for privacy between my yard and the neighbors. We left a 12' space between fences for that purpose. I think pine trees that grow yummy nuts are a fun idea!

If Christy is by a lake, is it possible that the ground might be too wet for pines?  They love dry sandy soil.  Like figs, they don't like wet feet.

The varieties of pines that don't like long chill hours do well here.  We have some 80-100' drought resistant pine trees that must be about 30 years old in two groves.  The pine straw beneath is thick and creates an amazing mulch for the pines.  I just planted a Douglas Fir seedling in one grove.  It was just a 8" stick with pine needles and roots in a baggie of soil when it arrived.  After 5 weeks, it has grown to 10" and has 1" branches with green tips, and is becoming a miniature Christmas tree.  It's so cute!!  We intend to keep it shaped for many of it's years so we can bring in Christmas pine smelling branches and cones for holiday decor and ambiance.  None of our pines have edible cones, but I use the cones to dip in wax and make fire starters.  The wind through the pines is an incredible sound! I am stratifying Pacific White Fir seeds also for a front yard Christmas tree.  Something about Christmas lights on a real tree is just good!  Christmas lights on a friggin Palm don't do it!!

Christy, I'm sure you'll find some answers.  Try the conifer forum over at Garden Web.  They might have some help for you there also.

Suzi

I actually as looking at pines because nothing else seems to grow well here except them. Otherwise, I would have all sort of fruit trees all over the yard. I have planted several fruit trees over the years, with no success except one peach that is thriving and a couple of cedar resistant apples. I even did an experiment, I bought 2 of the same variety cherry dwarf trees, put one in the ground, one in a large container, now 3 years later, the one in the container is huge while the one in the ground has not grown at all.
Btw, here is my backyard. You can see the beginning of the pine barren across the lake.

 photo 000_0464.jpg

 photo 000_0546.jpg

Lovely photos. 

Really? No one sleeping with the fish there?

Nope, no bodies came up yet ( I would assume they tied cement blocks to their legs so they do not float up to the surface!) ;)



Adelmanto, where in NJ is you business located?

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