Pinus cembra |
Native Region: Central Eastern Europe
Zone Range: 3-8
Preferred Climate: Full to semi sun; well draining soils
Harvest Date: Tuesday 21 September, 2010
Seed count: 20-25
Description:
An extremely hardy 5 needle pine from Europe's mountainous regions. Starts bearing sweet, oil and protein rich edible nuts when 2-3 metres tall. Highly ornamental as well with soft blue green 12 cm long needles. Upright branching makes a narrow pyrimidal form. Undemanding tree. Resistant to White Pine Blister Rust. Prefers clay soils but will do well in sandy loam types as well. The Steiermark (Styria) region of Austria (my paternal origins) makes one memorable liquour from the young tender needles...and quickly soothes an upset tummy.
Notes:
All newly planted pines benefit from soil taken under established pines as an inoculant for stronger, faster growth.
Cultivation:
Soak seed 24 hours. Sow in a baggie (my preferred method for pretty much everything we sprout) containing equal mix of moist sand and peat. Warm stratify 60 days then give 90 days of cold stratification. Germinates promptly when given 15-20C. Either sow fully stratified seed or continue with the baggie and prick out and transplant the kids. Hard seed coat, so you might feel the need to scarify prior to treatment.
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