pitch and loblolly from seed inspired by JBP contest

[*tree*]

I have spent a lot of time reading in the JBP from seed contest and I learned a lot, so I sowed seeds, but since I already put my hands on pitch and loblolly pine last year, I sowed a new batch of these. The species should be somewhat similar to JBP.

So far they have been growing happily. I didn't seedling cut them, which was a mistake loblolly has extremely long stems.

The tallest pitch pine is 15-16 cm tall without the needles:



And loblolly:

 

[*tree*]

Don't blame your climate (too much).

The trees are not much smaller than @Ryceman's.

 

[Gabler]

I have a handful of loblolly pines that I'm growing out myself as an experiment. They're more vigorous than Japanese black pine, but they also have much coarser growth. I wouldn't even bother with shohin. Go big or go home.

 

[*tree*]

The trees are now pushing second flush, but the first frost may come in like 3 weeks, what are the chances of hardening of in time?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Hardening in time? Not going to happen. But that doesn't mean they can't resist the cold.
I have a pine that flushes continuously and it's not bothered by any frosts.
Pine resin contains a lot of antifreeze components, since a lot of the resin is filled with hydrocarbons instead of just plain water and sugar.

The antifreeze component in your windshield wiper fluid is originally based off of plant based glycerole.

 

[InstilledChaos]

Nice project! Where did you get pitch pine seeds? I’ve been looking for them with no luck for a few years.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Nice project! Where did you get pitch pine seeds? I’ve been looking for them with no luck for a few years.

RJG2 is a solid collector of pinus rigida seeds. I got a bunch from him, with decent germination rates after two years in the freezer too.
@RJG2

 

[*tree*]

Nice project! Where did you get pitch pine seeds? I’ve been looking for them with no luck for a few years.

I got these in an arboretum here, but last years batch is from seeds from here: https://organicseeds.top/shop/3667/desc/organic-pitch-pine-seeds-pinus-rigida. These had 85-90% germination rate.

 

[RJG2]

RJG2 is a solid collector of pinus rigida seeds. I got a bunch from him, with decent germination rates after two years in the freezer too.
@RJG2

@InstilledChaos there are some decent mature trees around here - PM me and I can grab some cones for you.

I did a decent batch this year, and a small batch a couple yours ago (but only kept a few, gave away the rest).

 

[*tree*]

After a 100-year flood, I could finally move the trees from apartment to the garden. We had almost 2 meters of water here and averything is covered with a thin layer of dry mud.
I cold be looking forever at the contrast between the fresh green needles and the wasteland.
But it doesn't look as appealing on the photo:

 

[*tree*]

Juvenile needles are falling, which shouldn't be a bad sign.

 

[*tree*]

Potted up into individiual pots, they look like 2 year old already, the larger ones.

 

[Thomas J.]

About 5 1/2 yrs ago I had a little pine seedling sprout in one of my Chinese elm tree pot. Not sure why it sprouted there, and for most of that time I had assumed it was a JBP tree since I do have a few of those. It wasn't until recently that what I have looks to be a Loblolly Pine instead. Up until this years repotting it was living in a pond basket which is where I put all my seedlings to bulk them up fast.

 

[*tree*]

How long should I wait till first fertilizer after repotin, when they are seedlings?

 

[bwaynef]

2 weeks should be plenty. Assuming they were already growing in the sun, no need to shade them after repotting. (You didn't ask, but its another common question after repotting.)

 

[*tree*]

Growing happily, the unfinished second flush of the last year is now growing, with buds already forming at the top.



I am trying some replicas, at least aproximatelly:


Edit: I will cut into the needles probably next year to get all the necessary branches.

 

[*tree*]

Could they make second flush? The buds look nice and green.

 

[*tree*]

How much do their trunks straighten? I am not sure if my bends are sharp enough.

 

[MaciekA]

Do you mean to ask how well bends "set" into position or are you asking how much the thickening "erases" the movement from the early trunk line design?

If the first question: make sure wire is a big enough gauge, remains in contact, and wait for some wire bite-in to get more "fully committed" bending. Also, add incremental bending the next year/etc. Consider shari lines too , your inspo tree has them and they can help thicken the live vein faster on the side opposite of the shari.

If the second question: if you grow very tall sacrificial leaders and do a lot of thickening, you'll erase/soften a lot more of the movement if it is subtle. So if planning a large tree, big/dramatic movement. If planning on a smaller size or less agressive thickening, then you can get away with more subtle movement that survives to the later tree, but then again, very detailed movement also survives better in tiny trees.

 

[*tree*]

Currently they're getting 40ml of 17:8:13 mineral fertilizer to 10 litres every week. Isn't that too much? They are growing well above soil but maybe the roots don't.