The appearance of the seeds
The seeds of the Douglas fir hide in the cones during their ripening period and are only released after they have ripened.
- are about 5 to 6 mm long
- every seed has a wing
- this is longer than the seed itself
also read
- Douglas fir - is this impressive tree poisonous?
- Douglas fir fact sheet - numbers, facts and special features
- Douglas Fir - How Much Height Is It Gaining Per Year?
Harvest seeds yourself
The Douglas fir needs 15 to 40 years before it blooms for the first time. Even if the tree has already reached a stately size, it can only be harvested when the cones show up on it. So patience is required.
- the seeds are ripe around September
- then all the cones fall from the tree
- Take seeds from it
The fallen cones must be picked up promptly so that the seeds do not spoil due to soil moisture. Of course, cones can also be picked directly from the tree, but as a layperson it is difficult to determine the optimal harvest time.
Buy seeds in stores
If you want to save yourself the trouble of harvesting seeds or cannot find a suitable Douglas fir, you can also conveniently order it online. The seeds are offered cheaply as an alternative to seedlings.
Propagating the Douglas fir from seeds is a real challenge for hobby gardeners. Familiarize yourself with the expiration of the sowing before submitting their order. Words like “stratify” should be familiar to you.
Seeds are edible too
Douglas fir seeds are edible and can, for example, be roasted and used for patties. However, buying them for this purpose is very expensive. If your own Douglas firs are already in bloom, the seeds can be extracted from the cones. To get one kilogram of seeds, however, around 100 kg of cones have to be processed.