Post-Harvest Maturation
This technique is used to allow cones and seed to reach full maturity. Many conifer species have a high moisture content in the cones before they reach full maturity. A post-harvest maturation period is used to reduce the moisture content in the cones so that the extraction process can be completed with ease. Depending on weather conditions, the post-harvest maturation period can be as short as 6 weeks or it can take as long as 3 months.
White Pine and White Spruce are good examples of resinous species. They require the post-harvest maturation in order to crystallize the resin surrounding the cones. This enables extraction and cleaning to be more effective and more seed can be extracted.
Most of the conifer species collected in the fall are put into post-harvest maturation upon arrival to the Ontario Tree Seed Facility. Extraction of these cones begin in early January and continue through to the end of March.
Black Spruce that was collected in the late fall and winter can be processed upon arrival. Jack Pine can be processed without the post-harvest maturation period all year long.
Seed Processing
The title Processing covers a wide range of stages the seed must go through before it is stored in the freezers. It includes the initial extraction of the seed, cleaning, testing and the final storage. Most conifer species are processed during the months of January through to March. Jack Pine is a flexible species for processing because the seed has matured when it arrives at the Ontario Tree Seed Facility. It is usually processed when other species are in the post-maturation stage or after the other species have been extracted. It can be processed on a year-round basis.
Fleshy fruit species are processed immediately after arriving at the Ontario Tree Seed Facility. If they were not done immediately, they could ferment and/or grow mold which would damage the seed.
For more detailed information, contact the Ontario Tree Seed Facility.
