Cone collection

We collect cones and seeds from a variety of conifers and broadleafs across Canada. Our natural stand seed (class B) is hand-selected in the field to ensure that your germination results will be as high as possible.

We are currently booking for the 2025 collection season.

The Collection Workflow

In one way or another, each collection operation can be broken down into the following 5 step process:

  1. Crop Forecasting

  2. Crop Monitoring

  3. Collection

  4. Storage and conditioning

  5. Extraction

Pre-collection

Crop Forecasting

The first step of any collection operation is to check for signs of cone development. Most conifers are on a semi-cyclical production cycle, sometimes producing bumper crops (a.k.a. ‘mast-years’), sometimes producing no cones at all. The first step of the collection operation is to ensure that there is a crop in the area being targeted.

Crop Monitoring

Next, cones are monitored for signs of maturity. Many commercially sought-after species have a very short collection window. True firs can sometimes only be collected for a single week! It’s vital to start collecting cones the day that embryos are fully mature, especially for larger orders.

Collection

For most conifers, the collection operation begins in early- to mid- Fall. The length of the collection window varies according to species and method. True firs (abies) tend to have a very short collection window, usually lasting no more than 10 days. On the other extreme, serotinous species (e.g., lodgepole pine and black spruce) have a much longer collection window, sometimes lasting upwards of 3 months.

Post-collection

Storage and Conditioning

Field fresh cones are stored in loosely-packed burlap sacks which are flipped on a regular basis. Without the proper post-collection handling procedure, a seedlot is at an increased risk of mold and mildew, both of which can interfere with the long-term viability of the seedlot. We use a digital hygrometer to monitor the moisture content of our cones on a regular basis.

Extraction

Cones that have reached a moisture content of 8% are ready for extraction. For commercial collection operations, we send our cones to an approved seed processing facility for extraction. For smaller, targeted seedlots including our direct seeding partners we extract the seeds ourselves.