How we grow our Christmas Tree Seedlings and Transplants

Good Christmas Trees come from good seed. Good seed comes from cultivated and improved seed orchards. We have selected the best trees from our first rotation of Balsam Fir mountain strain, cooks strain, and Balsam X Fraser hybrids to produce superior seed. We pick this seed in fall when it is ripe. We dry and store the seed until the spring planting season.

Bill Asack maneuvers ariel lift into position Andy Asack picking Balsam Fir seed

Bill Asack picking Balsam Fir seed

In the spring after we do germination tests,we sow the seeds at rate to get a density that produces good quality seedlings. All of our seed is sowed on specially constructed raised beds. Beds are shaded for first year, which gets them off to a good start. The seedlings are grow on for 2 to 3 years becoming 2-0 and 3-0 seedlings respectively.

Long seedling bed with sections of Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir,Canaan Fir and Balsam x Fraser Hybrids

Long Mixed bed with sections of Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Fraser Fir, and Balsam x Fraser Hybrids 1-0 Balsam Fir: Mountian Strain

2-0 Canaan Fir seedlings: OHIO seed source 2-0 Canaan Fir seedlings.

3-0 Fraser Fir seedlings 3-0 Fraser Fir seedlings: North Carolina seed source

In Fall of the second or third year we lift 2-0 or 3-0 seedlings. We grade out the best seedlings and replant them into transplant beds. After planting we mulch all of our transplant beds in late fall, to help them root in better. They grow on in the transplant beds for 2 more years becoming 2-2 or 3-2 transplants.

2-1Transplants Mixed block of beds that contain Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam x Fraser Hybrids 2-1 Transplants closeup

2-2 Transplant block of Beds that contain Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Balsam x Fraser Hybrids 2-2 Transplant Closeups

Once they have completed growing we lift and grade out our best transplants for our customers to field plant for christmas trees.

Fobro bed lifts balsam 2-2 Tranplants Workers pickup balsam fir transplants Closeup of bedlifter shaking dirt off of balsam fir tranplants Workers picking up freshly lifted balsam fir transplants Closeup of root systems of mechanicaly lifted transplants Worker containerizes freshly dug balsam fir transplants in 5 gal pails filled with water Balsam fir transplants get gently washed Cleaned balsam fir will be gradedWorker preparing a burito roll of 2-2 balsam fir tranplants Damp sawdust added on top of the roots of balsam fir transplants to keep them damp until planting Burito roll of balsam fir tranplants ready to be rolled Worker starts rolling balsam fir tranplants Balsam fir transplants being rolled with wet burlap and sawdust Finished roll of balsam fir transplants ready to be tied Roll of balsam fir transplant tied off Roll of balsam fir transplants ready to go into cooler for shipment

If you would like more information about how we grow our christmas tree seedlings and transplants call Bill at (802) 754-6934.

Contact Asack Son Tree Farm, Tel:1-802-754-6934, email to asack@together.net.