For those who have already built a house, are raising or have raised a son, now is the time to start planting a tree, especially one that will rise fifty meters into the sky and last for hundreds of years. It's about about the ringing cedars of Russia, or more precisely about the Siberian pine pine, which you can grow with your own hands from pine nuts.
Majestic, centuries-old, evergreen pines were planted at one time by nobles on the territory of family estates, and by priests near monasteries. This tree differs from other varieties in its long, bluish-tinged dark green needles, collected in bunches, like human fingers, of five pieces. Every 5-6 years, cedars renew their outfit, and it takes a year and a half for a nut to ripen.
Pine nuts ripen in large cones, slightly elongated into an egg shape, at first purple, as they ripen, they become light brown, and then brown. It is better to collect pine nuts at the end of October or in November, carefully removing the cones from the branches, because those that have fallen to the ground are already empty. Dried cones open up and give very healing and tasty pine nuts, from which, under certain conditions, you can grow new trees.
IN natural conditions, fallen from the cones, will lie all winter on the cold ground under a layer of snow in order to germinate under the spring sun. This circumstance must be taken into account and the preparation of seeds must be brought closer to natural conditions.
Not many people manage to germinate pine nuts, since there are certain subtleties in it. If you follow them, sprouts will definitely appear. About how to germinate pine nut, we'll talk.
You need to start with planting material. Naturally, the best nuts are those that are collected with your own hands, because purchased ones can remain in the warehouse for a long time, and, moreover, be stored incorrectly.
As fast as horticultural crops, cedar pine nuts cannot germinate, since the embryo in them is still underdeveloped. For full development, 5-7 months of rest at low temperatures and high humidity air. These are the conditions that nature creates for nuts when they overwinter in the ground.
And for successful germination at home, stratification is necessary: soaking in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours. During this time they are calcined in the oven. river sand, then plant nuts in it to a depth of 1 cm, water it and place it in the refrigerator for three months, periodically moistening the soil.
After 3 months, the container with the seeds is transferred to a sunny window. By the way, you can and should water with melt water, because under natural conditions plants feed on this kind of water. The sprouts sprout in 2-3 weeks.
In summer, cedar pine seedlings can be taken out into the garden, gradually accustoming them to the sun and fresh air, subsequently planting in loose, nutritious soil.
It's important to know what's fresh organic fertilizer entering is unacceptable.
Young plants are easily tolerated, so you can leave a small distance between seedlings.
At first, a young cedar grows very slowly and needs care. It needs sufficient sunlight, but it is also necessary to protect it from scorching rays. Temperature is not so important, because we are dealing with a native inhabitant of Siberia, but the optimal level of humidity must be strictly observed, because a lack of moisture is just as destructive for a young cedar as its excess.
It is advisable to plant a tree on the site before the age of three, despite the fact that its height barely reaches 10-15 cm. The soil around the tree does not need to be fertilized or even loosened, but it is necessary to mulch. To do this, it is recommended to collect fallen pine needles and cover the ground around the stem with it, or use pine nut shells for the same purpose.
Especially caring owners They water a cedar tree that has just been planted in the ground with warm water, to which an infusion of forest litter and mature mushrooms has been added, knowing about the symbiosis of trees with myceliums and their beneficial mutual influence. If you have the patience to pay attention to a small cedar for the first 10 years, then it will grow much faster and then it will delight you with its first fruits.
Considering the fact that cedars are pollinated by the wind, it makes sense, if possible, to take seed material from different trees, growing in different places.
Despite the assertions that in order to better germinate pine nuts at home, you need to free them from the shell, this should not be done for reasons of natural conformity, because no one carries out this procedure under natural conditions.
But recommendations about saturating the seed with your mental information and your own energy make sense, especially if the cedars are grown for yourself and not for sale. You need to envelop the seeds intended for sowing with the warmth of your body and soul, help them to germinate with your thoughts, picturing their wonderful future in your imagination. A tree grown in this way will preserve for many centuries the memory of the person who planted and raised it.
It so happens that we call Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) cedar. Real cedar - huge evergreen tree from the genus Cedrus, lives in the territories of Asia Minor, North Africa, and the Western Himalayas.
Once upon a time, huge areas of the Eastern Mediterranean were covered with Lebanese cedar. Now even though the tree is present on national flag Lebanon, there is almost no left of it in places where it grows naturally. Currently, only 6 cedar groves have survived.
Fortunately, Siberian cedar, or rather, cedar pine(Pinus sibirica), is still found in nature, despite many years of merciless cutting.
In botany, cedars are classified as monoecious evergreen plants of the oligotypic genus. The height of the tree reaches 50 meters. The tree's needles are collected in bunches and placed in a spiral. The cedar has a shiny, light chocolate-colored cone, the length of which reaches 17 cm. The shape of the cone resembles a barrel. Its seeds, unlike the Siberian cedar pine, are inedible, since they contain a large number of resin
There are 3 types of cedar in nature:
In Cyprus you can find a short-coniferous variety of Lebanese cedar - short-coniferous (lat. Cedrus libani var. brevifolia).
The Himalayan and Lebanese species tolerate frosts well, which allowed them to naturalize in south coast Crimea, where the absolute temperature minimum is -25°C. Atlas cedar is also able to withstand low temperatures, but snow accumulated on the branches often breaks them off.
In most of the territory of our country, the growth of all these species is impossible, but there are coniferous trees that also belong to the genus of pines (Pinus) and thrive in temperate climates. These plants are very close to the cedar species.
In Russia, cedar pine is represented by 4 species:
The most common species in Russia is the Siberian cedar pine (рínus sibírica).
Photo: Cones and needles of cedar pine
It is distinguished by a dense wedge-shaped crown and thick scaly bark. Its main distinguishing feature is large cones with tasty nuts.
Siberian pine is one of the most frost-resistant species. In the conditions of my usual natural environment taiga cedar begins to bear its first fruits only after 50 years of life. The fruiting period of cultivated plants can be significantly reduced.
Spread the cedar garden plot You can purchase seedlings from a special nursery. But when purchasing planting material, no one can give any guarantee that the tree will successfully take root in its new location. And seedlings are not cheap.
Planting a cedar from a nut at home will cost much less, and the likelihood of success is much higher. This method has one drawback - cedar does not grow from a seed as easily as a regular one. garden plant, you will need to spend a lot of time and effort.
Growing cedar from seeds is also complicated in many ways by the fact that it is difficult to find high-quality seed material. Nuts bought at the market or store are not suitable for this, as they are usually roasted.
When buying nuts from hand, there is also no guarantee that the conditions of collection and storage were not violated. Seeds remain viable only for one year; the next year it is reduced by half. In the third year the seed will not germinate at all.
To guarantee germinating pine nuts at home, it is better to collect pine cones yourself in the places where they grow. The cone ripens completely by the end of October; they can be collected for germination no earlier than this time.
Fallen cones with seeds may well be last year's harvest, so picking them directly from the tree will be safer.
The further process of seed preparation consists of the following steps:
The nuts prepared in this way are sown in a film cover. The sowing depth is 2-3 cm. Specially prepared soil should contain: peat, ash and superphosphate in a ratio of 20:2:1.
Before seedlings emerge, crops require regular watering. To prevent fungal diseases, ordinary water can be replaced from time to time with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
For the first two years, the seedlings are kept in closed ground, then the shelter is removed. Replant the tree in open ground possible at the age of 6-8 years.
For normal development The crop requires soil with good drainage. If water stagnation is possible in the area, it is better to fill the bed with sand. Mature tree easily tolerates straight lines Sun rays, but in the first years of life it should be shaded. Rich clay soil is the best option.
Further care of the young tree after planting in open ground consists of regular watering and loosening. If the tree trunk circle is mulched with forest litter made from pine needles or leaves, the frequency of watering and loosening can be reduced, since the mulch layer retains moisture well.
This substrate contains a large amount of fungal mycelium, which provides nutrition with the minerals necessary for the normal development of the tree. Annual mulching with fallen leaves stimulates the formation of adventitious roots.
It is impossible to loosen the soil under the cedar tree near the tree trunk, since its roots are close to the surface of the earth.
In order to further provide cross-pollination to adult trees, it is better to plant them in small groups of 3-4, at a distance of 5 to 8 meters from each other. For rapid growth and proper development, it is recommended to sow lupine between seedlings.
Forming the crown of a tree must begin from the first years of the plant’s life. In the first 15 years, all the lower branches of the seedling are cut off. This is due to the fact that female flower buds are formed mostly in the upper part of the tree. The branches are removed with ordinary pruning shears, and the cut areas are treated with garden varnish.
The process of crown formation will become much easier if, 4-5 years after planting the plant, you break off everything side shoots. Then there is no need for pruning. This operation ensures that all nutrients are supplied to only one central kidney. Thus, the growth of the axial shoot increases noticeably.
Cedar is an evergreen coniferous tree. It represents strength, health, beauty, longevity and purity. Growing cedar is a noble endeavor, but extremely labor-intensive. Of course, the easiest way is to buy ready-made seedlings, because after planting they will require virtually no care other than regular moistening of the soil. But it is much better to grow a cedar from a nut - this way you will be close to your tree from the first minutes, and when after many years it spreads its rich crown above the ground, the pleasure will be incomparable.
How to grow cedar from a nut at home?
Today we will talk about how to grow cedars from pine nuts, because... Many people already know what the CEDAR tree is for our Earth, for humans, and in general for the entire Universe.
It is best to plant cedars in the fall - this is natural for them, because... In the cold winter, they need to go through the so-called stratification - this is when the nuts freeze, fall asleep, and in the spring they awaken and sprout.
Cedars do not like waterlogging, but prefer well-drained soils, i.e. those where water does not stagnate. Therefore, if water may stagnate in the place where you are going to plant pine nuts, we recommend that you sprinkle the bed with sand on top (about 1 cm thick, but then you need to reduce the depth of planting the nuts).
You need to plant nuts to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. It is not necessary to make holes at all - just take a nut and stick it into the ground with your finger, pressing it a little. It is better to plant with the pointed tip down.
If the situation does not allow planting cedars in the fall, then you can plant them in the spring, but to do this, the nuts must lie in the refrigerator or in the cellar all winter to undergo artificial stratification. How we did it: at the beginning of winter, we ordered a lot of pine nuts from Siberia, mixed them with wet sand, put it all in boxes and put it in the refrigerator. There they lay with us until spring, in the spring we planted them in the ground.
The cedars sprout in an unusual and very cute way. From the nut, the root first goes down, and then a sprout begins to hatch from the root, lifting the nut up, i.e. small green sprouts with nuts on top will be visible from the ground. And birds really like it, especially crows. Therefore, in the spring, when the cedars begin to emerge (or even immediately after planting), be sure to cover them with branches, otherwise they will be pecked by their feathered friends.
You need to find it or make it yourself wooden box with a side height of about 25 cm, there must be holes at the bottom for the free passage of water. Sawdust (any kind, but ideally, of course, pine) mixed with pine needles is placed in the box.
Stick in pine nuts at 0.5-1 cm. They can be planted often, at a distance of 1 cm from each other (cedars grow best in this environment, so don’t worry, they will have enough there). We pour peat 1 cm thick on top (you don’t have to do this, but without it you will have to water much more often in the summer).
The box stands outside in winter.
In spring, planting must be protected from birds with something (branches, rigid mosquito netting, etc.).
Cedar trees cannot be replanted in the first year. The transplant is performed at 2-3 years of age. When digging up small cedars using the latter planting method, their roots are not damaged or torn off.
Here's what experienced people advise:
To begin with, cedar seeds need to be saturated with moisture. At the same time, wash the substances that prevent their germination from the nuts. Place pine nuts in a bucket or basin and pour hot water. Not with boiling water, of course. So that it doesn't burn your hand.
After an hour, when the nuts are a little wet, we’ll wash them a little. Just three of them in the water, among themselves.
Some resin and substances that interfere with germination will pass into the water.
We wash the pine nuts, fill them with warm water again and leave for a couple of hours. Then, wash the nuts and change the water again. Thus, we soak the cedar seeds for about a day. By this time, most of the mature nuts will have sunk to the bottom of the bucket.
Well, we have done the preliminary preparation of cedar seeds.
Wet, saturated with moisture, cedar seeds are laid out on glass jars. The size of the jar depends on the number of cedar seeds. The jar can be filled halfway with seeds, maximum 2/3. It is best to take a screw-on jar. After wrapping the lid, we make holes in it, using a knife or a nail, for air access.
Cedar seeds packaged in this way are ready for stratification. Now we just have to find a place for their stratification, with a suitable temperature. I usually stratify the nuts in the cellar. The temperature there stays around 0°C. It can also be in the refrigerator. But the effect will be worse.
When stratifying pine nuts early, you can hide a jar in the garden. The main thing is to cover it with some foliage. Direct sunlight can ruin everything.
In general, stratification occurs at temperatures from +3 to -1. Freezing, even strong, is tolerated well by cedar seeds with gradual thawing.
Don't forget that pine nuts are a favorite treat for mice. They won’t be able to get the nuts through the metal lid... But mice can easily gnaw through the plastic lid. Such lids are definitely not suitable for us.
After 2-3 months of such stratification, pine nuts can already be germinated. Or you can leave them until spring, for sowing in the garden.
Even correctly stratified cedar seeds do not germinate at the same time. And all the seeds will definitely not germinate. For example, from 100 cedar nuts, we are guaranteed to get 20-30 cedars. In principle, not so little.
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When transplanting, you need to take care root system, make sure that all the roots go underground and do not bend or break anywhere. It is necessary to replant with a clod of earth in which the cedar was sitting, since it contains friendly microorganisms for the tree and they will increase the chances of survival (the exception is the method with sawdust and pine needles - in this case the roots remain bare, but you can still grab a little sawdust and pine needles into the planting hole).
For drainage and soil improvement, it is very good to add a little sand, sawdust, pine litter or pine nut shells to the hole where the seedling will be transplanted. This is especially recommended for clay soil.
To improve the survival rate of cedar seedlings, it is good to use mulching: mown grass, deciduous or coniferous litter, the same pine nut shells, tree bark or moss brought from the forest are laid on the ground around the trunk. prevents drying out of the soil, prevents abundant grass growth, creates a local microclimate, creates conditions for the development of worm bugs under it and gradually forms material for fertilizer by winter.
You can also feed the seedling with natural immunostimulants: infusion of nettle and horsetail, leave for a week in a barrel, 1:1 water and plants, dilute with water when feeding 1:20. Here they play a role nutrients and just information from herbs.
And further. Very important: For survival and growth, cedars really need mycorrhiza, i.e. mycelium. Mycelium, which maintains symbiosis with a tree and increases the area for collecting water and useful substances 10 times. What can be done:
– you can bring forest litter with ready-made mycorrhiza.
– but it’s better to grow your own mycorrhiza on the spot: multiply mushroom spores and “sow”, or rather, spill them into the soil. To do this, old mushrooms are soaked for a day in warm water, and then the place where the cedars will grow is watered with this infusion, after which this place must be kept constantly moist (but not flooded with water). Mycorrhiza grows from fungal spores.
Boletus, porcini mushrooms, green rows, and milk mushrooms grow under the coniferous trees. Under the birches there are boletus, porcini mushrooms, russula, milk mushrooms.
Once White mushroom, milk mushrooms form mycorrhizae with both conifers and deciduous trees, which means that old milk mushrooms and porcini mushrooms collected in birch groves should also be used to form mycorrhiza in areas where cedars and other coniferous trees are planted.
Spilling the soil with an infusion of mushrooms is not only a help to the trees, but also a mushroom harvest within 2 years. And after 3 years already good harvest. This is how mushrooms are grown))
Cedars love partial shade, so it would be good to plant them near the “nanny” - this can be any bush or tree (any tree except oak and some exotic ones - the cedar will outgrow, so don’t worry about it). They are needed for protection from the sun, as well as wind, and to retain moisture.
But the most important thing when planting cedars and other trees is your thought! If your thought is harmonious, if you plant a tree with pure thoughts: selflessly, for the happiness of the tree itself, the happiness of Mother Earth and future descendants, then firstly, the survival rate of such a tree will increase many times over, and secondly, it will strengthen that thought and the energy with which you planted it. Therefore, try to plant trees, and especially cedars, with good mood, smile and joy, and then there will be more of this on earth!
P.S. And if children plant cedar trees, then this... perhaps, is simply the best thing that can happen today!
Cedar is truly the king of Siberian forests. In many ways, the forests of this frosty area gained their popularity precisely thanks to this tree. And to that clean air and the aroma it gives.
Cedar is a very beautiful coniferous tree that is resistant to frost, therefore, you often want to have such a plant in your garden, turning it into a piece of homely Siberia. How realistic is it to grow cedar at home? How to grow cedar from a nut at home? Or would it be better to use special planting seeds from a gardening store? There are answers to all these questions. But first things first.
Cedar is quite powerful and big plant with a thick trunk. In natural habitats, the height of this coniferous tree can reach 40 meters. And if you add to this height the lush crown of the tree, the question arises, what should be the area of the plot in order to allow yourself to grow a cedar? Yes, if you use seedlings natural look, it should be taken into account that the tree will take up quite a small area. Not everyone can afford it.
It is for such cases that a breed of low-growing cedars was bred, which will fit in a compact area and will grow no less beautiful and luxurious than a tree in the Siberian forest.
In nature, there are 5 types of Siberian cedar. There are many more decorative varieties, and some of them are capable of producing fruits - pine nuts. It is these varieties that will be discussed further. 
Cedar - unusual ornamental plant, which will delight you with its attractive appearance, both in summer and winter. This is one of the reasons why gardeners are so passionate about growing a tree on their property. IN winter time The cedar stands out with its green crown above the snow-white snowdrifts, which gives the site an unusual aesthetic appearance.
Secondly, cedar produces fruits - pine nuts, which are not only a tasty product. From pine nuts you can make pine oil, which has healing properties. Also, tree resin promotes wound healing. Well, many people know firsthand about the benefits of pine needles. From pine needles you can make various tinctures, inhalations, or simply enjoy the pine smell while relaxing in the shade of a tree.
Considering all these advantages and the benefits this tree provides, many want to grow cedar from a nut at home. 
Nuts purchased at a grocery store or market are not suitable for growing cedar, since they are prepared for consumption by boiling in boiling salted water. It is best to find a smooth, pleasant-smelling cedar cone with no signs of mold or staleness.
IN summer time It is necessary to adapt young plants to air and sun. To do this, they are taken out into the garden. After this, they can be gradually planted in light, loose and nutritious soil. Young cedars successfully tolerate the transplantation procedure. They can be planted close to each other. The cedars will undergo the next transplantation at the age of three. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring. Older plants are replanted very rarely. Such frequent procedures can lead to drying of the roots. As a result of this, cedars may not take root at all.
If, however, replanting an adult plant is necessary, then you first need to create a root ball. Before transplanting, about a year in advance, a cut with a diameter of 1 m is made around the tree. Only horizontal roots are cut. The deep root system is not affected. It is preferable to replant trees in early spring, since when autumn transplant Only half of the seedlings take root. 
Trees that have reached one year of age require shade. The best place planting young plants will be a shaded area in the depths of the garden. Seedlings can also be shaded using covering or other material. As for watering, cedar is a moisture-loving plant, but excessive excess moisture can lead to its death. Therefore, competent care is important here. Grown seedlings also require proper care. First of all, it is necessary to mulch the soil around the plants. Tree trunk circle needs to be mulched. For this you can use sawdust, fallen pine needles and leaves.
That's all the secrets on how to grow cedar from a nut at home. Caring for a cedar tree near your home after planting is not much of a problem. Trees need to be watered only when the soil dries out. Cedar responds positively to fertilizing. Nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are best suited for this. Many experienced gardeners lay stones around the cedar trunk. Over time, a fungal growth forms under them, which has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the tree. To learn how to grow cedar from a nut at home, you can watch the educational video material.
