Contact your local forestry field office before collecting to confirm whether there is still a need, get collection tips, or ask about potential collection locations and opportunities. Be sure to check regulations and follow safe practices. Access current seed and cone pricing.
Cone identification
Cones are about 1 1/2 inches long, curved and often in pairs. Ripe cones are tan with thick, tightly closed scales.
Cones are serotinous, staying tightly closed with resin until heat or wildfire melts the resin and opens the cones.
Predicted collection window: September to February.
Note: Jack pine grown in the central region of the state can differ from their northern counterparts. Cones may be semi-serotinous and trees may be shorter and more scraggly than those found in the north. It's important to keep track of where you are collecting cones.
Jack pine cones that are ready to harvest are 1 1/2 inches long, tan and free of damage.
Perform a quality check: When sliced in half, cones that are ready to harvest should contain at least four seeds per cone.
How to collect ripe cones
Collect only closed, ripe cones that are tan and free of damage. Since they are serotinous, cones up to five years old can be collected if cut tests show good seeds.
Only collect from trees in forested areas, not from yard, park, or landscape trees.
Cones can be difficult to remove. Use clippers to snip unopened cones at the base of the branch to avoid branch damage.
You may collect from felled trees or squirrel caches only if cone is closed and with no insect damage.
Perform a quality check: slice a few cones in half to see if they contain at least four seeds per cone.
Mature seed should be firm and not milky.
Do not collect cones that are green, already opening or have insect holes.
Quick tree identification
Jack pine needles are short, generally three quarters to one and a half inches long, in bundles of two. Color is light green to yellowish green.
Bark is dull red-brown and irregularly divided into small scales. These trees are mostly located in north-central and northeastern Minnesota, thriving on soils too poor for red or white pine.
Forecasting
Big cone crops occur every one to three years.
Cones take two years to fully mature. Immature cones or conelets are small.
Current-year cones are green and about almost full size early in the season. They turn tan as they ripen. Look for them starting in late June to prepare for fall collection.
Handling and storage
Store cones in a cool, dry area to reduce mold and prevent opening. Cones can open quickly in humidity and release seeds.
Deliver them to a forestry area office as soon as possible. Contact your local forestry field office to schedule a drop-off.
Do not collect jack pine cones that are already open, have insect holes or are green or mostly gray.
Look-alike species to avoid
🚫 Scotch pine has flaky orange bark and tends to grow in a wavy fashion. Needles in bundles of two are generally longer than jack pine, at 1 to 3 inches.
🚫 Austrian pine tends to be stockier and is more common in urban plantings. Needles in bundles of two do not snap cleanly when bent unless frozen solid.
🚫 Ponderosa pine has lower branches with cones that are easier to collect. Needles in bundles of three are significantly longer and arranged in bunches of three. Cones are also larger and prickly.