Subject: germination of Torrey pines
Posted by: Santiago
Email: agamenon55@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2005

I have some Torrey pine seeds and I'm trying to germinate 
them. I've sown a few on soil (probably with too much 
water), but so far they haven't sprouted and even started 
to rot. Any advice as to which is the best way to deal 
with them?                    

Subject: Re: germination of Torrey pines
Posted by: eric (Zone 8)
Email: ejacobso@comcast.net
Date: Fri, Apr 29, 2005

I have successfully germinated Torrey pine seeds which 
I collected from  cones beneath Torrey pines at an 
aquarium in Ja Jolla where we went with our grandchildren. 
Here's what to do: Collect healthy seeds with some 
"heft"...some say the goods ones sink in water, others 
debunk that test.  Soak the seeds for an hour in 50% 
bleach.  Rinse off the bleach and wrap in damp paper 
towels and place in a zip lock plastic bag in the refrigerator. 
 Stratify (i.e keep around 30-40 degrees) for 45-60 
days.  Then plant outside in pots -lay the seeds on 
their sides or stick them in upright, and cover with 
about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of potting soil.  They should 
germinate, as mine did, in about a month.  The little 
plants are quite robust, with stems about 2 mm in diameter. 
 It is said that the plants quickly develop tap roots 
so you should put them where they will spend the rest 
of their lives as soon as possible (5-10 cm tall). 
 Hope that helps.  Eric                    

Subject: Re: germination of Torrey pines
Posted by: Tom Schneider
Email: parnassus57@aol.com
Date: Sat, May 27, 2006

I'm told that stratification is not necessary with 
Torrey Pine seeds.                     

Subject: Re: germination of Torrey pines
Posted by: Hanno Falk
Email: hanno.info@gmx.net
Date: Wed, June 16, 2010

Flensburg/Germany
Starting in Nov 2007 I had a dozen seedlings from 120 
seeds germinating in Feb 2008 without stratification.

And 
starting in Nov 2008 I had over 100 seedlings from 
300 seeds germinating in Feb 2009.

All of the first generation died after two years.
Maybe 
they did not like my soil or I added too much water 
or my pots were to flat for their tap roots.

Do they need some "winter" or frost? I have them in 
pots in my sun room (14°C - 25°C).

Can they stand tempratures below freezing? I do not 
dare to plant them outside, because we have some weeks 
of snow every winter in northern Germany.

I made two time lapse videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcrbQEmfX5k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qza26dujjQ