Christmas Trees

The live Christmas tree is still as popular as ever with over 7 million sold last year despite the convenience of the modern plastic tree. Most trees grown today are for Christmas trees and not for timber. Varieties have changed to meet public demand and less imported trees are required. Once the most popular variety the Norway Spruce (Picea Abies) has been susperceded by the Nordmann Fir (Abies Nordmanniana) thanks mainly to its needle retention qualities.

Other varieties to consider are the Blue Spruce (Picea pungens Glauca) - an attractive tree with blue-greenish foliage best grown as a potted tree because of its sharp needles. The Noble fir (Abies procera) - again with a blue-greenish colour and good needle retention but needs good soil conditions. White fir (Abies concolor), Fraser fir (Abies fraseri), Omorka (Picea omorika), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesli), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Lodge pole pine (pinus contorta) are also worth trying.

To grow

The internet is a good source to buy seed from if your regular seed catalogue does not supply them.

Fill a pot with peat-free compost for seedlings and sow seeds on the surface in January / February. Cover with grit that is twice the size of the seedlings. (This allows more air to circulate and protects the seedlings when watering from the top) This recreates the natural conditions as much as possible

Once the seedlings emerge, prick out and transplant into 10 cm (4 inch) pots. Keep potting on as the seedlings grow over the first 12 months. Plant out when it is one year old - but if you want to grow a tree to bring indoors, keep it in a pot.

Small 4 inch / 10 cm seedlings can be purchased if you do not want to grow from seed.