The tree nursery benefits from seed orchards established in Harrington in the 1980’s. The tree nursery collects its own seed and has a reliable network of seed collectors and suppliers to fill its seed needs according to our customers’ location and seed zone. Different techniques are also used to upgrade the quality of some seed lots or to enhance germination. The ultimate end is to produce hardy and healthy conifers that can readily adapt to the rigors of their original site, be resistant to pests and disease and grow vigorously.

Environmental Control
The tree nursery is designed to optimize various environmental factors that affect seedling growth. The growing areas are designed to regulate sunlight, temperature and wind. Guttered greenhouses have automatic environmental controls. Moisture and nutrient levels are carefully monitored. The growing crops are inspected regularly for the presence of insects or disease. Weeds are also controlled. Pre-emergence herbicides may be applied before a weed problem develops.

Great care is also given to the quality of the growing mix we use. We ensure that it is free of pests. The tree nursery is also equipped to mechanically wash the reusable trays or multipots before they are seeded.

At Harrington our approach to pest management is protection and then eradication. The nursery pest management process is incorporated into the entire spectrum of the container nursery production.

Crop Monitoring
How do we know if our seedlings will meet the customer’s required specifications at the date set for planting? Our approach has been to prepare a growth progression curve that shows physical parameters (weight, height, etc.) plotted against time. The month of seeding-germination is the most important controllable growth variable. When the planting date is known, the Production Manager can calculate a seeding date from his graphs for a given type of container and for a given species.

Once the seedlings have started growing, our technical crew systematically sample seedlings and plot the actual parameters on the theoretical curve to determine whether the growth is progressing satisfactorily. Early recognition of any differences is important so that problems can be quickly addressed. A close follow up of the water samples, dissolved salt samples, soil and tissue samples are also essential to better understand the growth progression. All of these tools are part of the quality control system at Harrington.