• Jack pine grows in Minnesota.the turtle goes to minnesota image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) is very cold hardy, growing from near the Arctic Circle down to Minnesota. Its light and soft wood is used for building construction and making boxes, poles, railway ties and as fuel, among other things. This is a narrow pine tree that reaches 55 to 60 feet in height at maturity, with roots 9 feet deep. Jack pine propagates by seed.
  
  

Site

• Jack pine grows in areas of short and cool summers and very cold winters. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the average summer temperature where this tree grows ranges from 55 to 72 degrees F. In January, it gets as cold as minus 20 degrees F. Rainfall is also low in these areas, forcing this pine to tolerate drought. It also requires full sun, except for seedlings, which need partial shade. In addition, the planting site needs to provide a wide space, as this tree's roots expand to at least 28 feet wide.
  
  

Soil

• Jack pine grows in dry, infertile sandy soil, but it does better if the ground is rich and well drained. Seedlings die in drought and high soil temperatures. North Dakota State University also mentions that micronutrient deficiency in the soil may prevent this tree from becoming established. Regarding soil pH, jack pine prefers it to be between 5.0, which is acidic, and 7.5, slightly alkaline.
  
  

Seeds

• At 1/12 of an inch, the triangular jack pine seeds are very small. They should be sown on the ground surface and covered with a thin layer of soil. One pound of this tree's seeds yields as many as 250,000 seeds. They germinate when the temperature is at 64 degrees F.
  
  

Irrigation

• Even though jack pine is drought-tolerant, it requires regular moisture to reach its best quality. However, the ground also needs to be fast-draining. Sand or gravel, both soil types that don't retain a lot of water, offer the level of moisture jack pine needs.
  
  

Pests and Diseases

• Insects and diseases affect jack pine. The U.S. Forest Service lists root borers, shoot and stem borers, leaf feeders and sucking insects as the bugs that normally infest jack pine. This tree sometimes also suffers from root rots, rust fungi and other diseases. Your local cooperative extension office helps you identify and treat plant problems. Each situation requires its own specific remedy.