Question
Gello, I am wondering if there IS anything special I have to do to grown jack pine seeds. I collected cones and heated the cones in the oven St two hundred degrees to fake a forest fire. I then left them in damp paper towel to see if anything will happen. Will they germinate?

Answer
Hi Sharon,
Thanx for your question.  You are correct that jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seeds benefit from the replicated effects of a forest fire.  In the wild, the cone can survive temperatures up to 800 F. which is well above forest fire average temperatures.  The cone opens up in the heat and when the fire dissipates seeds fall to the ground.  The seeds require light to germinate but first, place the seeds in a damp paper towel and place in the fridge for 3 months.  After that, bring the seeds out in to the warmth and plant in a seed flat or pot and keep it room temperature.  Germination should begin within a few weeks.  When the seedlings are of manageable size, gently prick them out and plant in separate pots.  After the last frost, take them outdoors and place in a sheltered, shade place for ten days.  After that, plant in full sun, they don't like shade.  They can grow up to 14 inches each year.  I hope this helps.
Tom