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- [Mark] This is Mark
Isselhardt, Maple Specialist

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with University of Vermont Extension

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and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.

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Sugar makers and community
members alike have noticed

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a large number of sugar
maple seedlings this spring.

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These first year trees were the result

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of a large seed year in 2019.

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Sugar maples begin producing seed

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when they're about 40 years old
or eight inches in diameter.

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Trees produce some seed every year

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but exceptionally large amounts of seed

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every two to five years.

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Seed production becomes
greater as the tree grows

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and mature trees can produce

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thousands of seeds in big years.

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Mature stands of sugar maple are capable

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of producing millions of seeds per acre.

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Maple seeds are winged
and produced in pairs,

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also known as samaras.

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Usually only one side of
the double samara is viable.

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When the seed is ripe,
after about 12 weeks,

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it is dispersed by the wind
by as much as 300 feet.

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Maple seeds are an important
source of wildlife food.

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Sugar maple seeds have a high
natural rate of germination

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but need temperatures just above freezing

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for about 35 to 90 days
in order to start growing.

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Of the seeds that do germinate

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only a small percentage
will survive the first year.

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This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist

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with the University of Vermont Extension,

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and this has been another
Vermont Maple Minute.