Regarding Pines

Yet another question.

Who has experience growing nut pines, especially Korean Nut Pine? I am thinking of planting one or two and am quite sure they will do well. The location is in full sun with dry, sandy, acid soil with two white pine seedlings right next to it. Dewberries form a groundcover and blueberries are growing wild as well.

From all of my observations around here, white pines seem to be a large pioneer tree needing full sun and gradually being replaced by other trees in later stages of the succession. Since Korean Pines and White Pines are said to be similar, planting a Korean Pine into the corner of our field at the edge of our forest sounds to me like a good idea.

Any comments on the nut yield? How long does it take to get nuts after planting a seedling? Does inoculating with mycchorizal fungi help? Are there any other trees that would do well in the same conditions?

This link can answer a few of your questions at least
http://www.nuttrees.com/edible.htm

Also there is plants for a future
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pinus koraiensis

PFAF says that it hybridizes freely with other types of pines. That turns me off of it right there. Damn.

I'd be interested in anything that provides food..i have a LOT of white pines here and they grow very well..very well indeed..one of the fastest and largest of the pine family.

My concern is that messing with the local white pine gene pool by planting korean pines might have adverse effects on future generations of native pines, seeing as they pollinate using wind.

I already looked at Rhora's Nuts page. That's where I'd be ordering from. I was looking for second opinions...

I'm not sure if introducing new genes into a large gene pool is a bad thing. If the genes provide an evolutionary advantage, they will spread. If they cause trouble for the trees, they will be gradually wiped out unless specifically preserved by humans. So I don't really mind the hybridising. It just means that the seed will not necessarily grow into a korean pine. I intend to eat most of the seed