Cone collections begin in the late summer and fall for most species. Collection of some fruit begins in mid-summer. Many factors must be considered before harvest can be completed. If forecasting was completed, this would be easily determined. For most species, it is recommended that the cones be collected immediately after the seed matures.
Cones open very shortly after the seed matures, releasing it, making collection hard to complete.
Weather again is a major factor concerning the ripening of the seed. See Figure 1, Seed Fact Sheet-05 for a charted estimation for collection. Conifer cones should be examined with a cutting test. This gives the collector an average of seeds per cone they collect which provides the yield. Also, some conifer cones re-close after the seed is released.