Seedling Favors

 
Plug tray, size of seedlings, and what we pack them in

Plug tray, size of seedlings, and what we pack them in

We grow plug seedlings to offer our customers a nice “green” product at a fair price. We think that if you research other sources for evergreen plug seedlings you will find that ours are  reasonably priced. We will certainly not become wealthy doing this, but hope to be able to sustain our farm and land.


5 types of seedlings

5 types of seedlings

Our plug seedlings make outstanding wedding and event favors, and would be a great fundraiser for any enterprising group. Thus far, they have been to hundreds of weddings, Earth and Arbor Day events, memorials, birthdays and anniversary parties, 5K runs, or just given out by companies. Do you have a unique idea to green up the world??


BRIEF BACKGROUND OF OUR GREENHOUSE NURSERY

Greenhouse picture

Greenhouse picture

In the summer of 2006 Steph and I bought two greenhouses and related equipment from the former Yankee Gardener Greenhouses. In the spring of 2007 we dug about 400 balsam firs from one of our only fairly flat areas below the pond that was near the existing electrical and water connections. It was leveled off by our neighbor who runs an excavator and bulldozer. Several truckloads of gravel were brought in and leveled. By late March I was sledging posts into the ground for the large greenhouse. (and often stopping to dig up rocks, fill the hole, and start over!) We had part of the frame up by June and the ends framed in with the help of my Dad. Then we were able to get the rest of the pieces as Yankee Gardener was taken down. In mid July our son Kabray and daughter in law Erin helped lift the large heaters in place and I was able to get everything wired up. We had our first crop growing by early August. There was much more to the job than that short explanation, including the erection of a nearby storage garage, but it gives you an idea of the start of our nursery operation. We also went way over our estimated budget!


The first couple seasons we fought with the water, fertilizer, and lighting systems who apparently didn’t like being moved after 20 or more years, but still managed to grow our seedlings.


Canaan fir plugs

Canaan fir plugs

We start firs, spruces, and cedar – only evergreens – from seed in some 1500 trays that have 67 holes each, that’s around 100,000 started holes! By early November they have had one growing season and are slowly put into dormancy by lowering the nighttime temperature in the greenhouse. By the end of November the low is 24 degrees F, where it remains until the spring sun warms the seedlings, starting them growing about mid March. Then we get another growing season until June when we bring them out of the greenhouse for sales and start another crop. We do put some of the previous crop back in the greenhouse in the fall for sales over the winter.


WHAT KINDS OF PLUG SEEDLINGS DO WE GROW?
We grow balsam, Fraser and Canaan firs.  We grow blue, white, and Norway  spruce.
And we grow white (arborvitae) cedar.  All of our seed comes from commercial, proven seed sources.


Seedling forest

Seedling forest

GROWING THEM Evergreens – and thus our seedlings – must go dormant as part of their life cycle. Therefore, they will only grow where it gets cold enough in winter. Other considerations are sun and soil drainage – they all prefer full sun and well drained soil. Another consideration for some areas is soil ph, which needs to be slightly acid-around 6.


HOW DO WE PACKAGE PLUG SEEDLINGS FOR SHIPMENT TO YOU?

Seedlings in burlap bags..one of the ways we can package them

We begin by moistening each seedling after pulling it from the plug tray, then placing it on it’s side in a row in a box.  That box is lined with paper and a compostable bag  and wet newsprint is placed under, over, and between the layers of seedlings packed in the box.  If they are ordered we would put each seedling in a clear 1 mil plastic bag before putting them in rows between layers of dry newsprint.  When ordered for favors we add the burlap bags and raffia for your use or we put them in burlap bags for you.  Since the seedlings are moist when they are put in bags, they will last a couple weeks as long as they are not exposed to extreme heat.
We put a planting instructions sheet and planting instruction cards in each order.

CAN WE ORDER ODD NUMBERS OR COMBINE THE DIFFERENT KINDS?
CAN WE PACKAGE THEM DIFFERENTLY?
We will work with you for any number or kind of order you wish to have. Just email us! rich@christmastrees.net

HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
Exact pricing can be found in our secure online store, but we can ship 100 plug seedlings anywhere in the country (except Hawaii) for under $150. If the seedlings are “dressed up” a little the cost goes up, but our prices are the most reasonable you will find for seedling favors.

WHEN ARE THEY AVAILABLE?
They are available from April 1 until October 31st .

HARDINESS ZONE CHART

Arizona cypresses in burlap bags tied with yellow raffia

All evergreens are Northern species, but some are more adaptable to shorter winters, drought, and different soil conditions.

Seedlings shown with mailing tube and different bags

Blue Spruce Zones 3 – 8  White Spruce Zones 2 – 6  Norway Spruce Zones 3 – 7  Balsam Fir Zones 3 – 6   Fraser Fir Zones 4 – 7  Canaan Fir Zones 3 – 8
White Cedar Zones 2 – 9

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