St. John · Kansas
Delp Christmas Tree Farm and Orchard
Delp Christmas Tree Farm and Orchard sits on the east side of Highway 281 at St. John, where about 20,000 trees grow on 30 acres and you choose and cut your own. Austrian, Scotch, Eastern White and Southwestern White pines and Canaan, Concolor and Douglas firs are grown on the farm, and the family brings in fresh-cut Fraser fir from North Carolina. Bring your tree to the office, where the staff shake it, net it and load it, then warm up by the fireplace with peanuts and hot apple cider. Flocked trees, wreaths, greenery and a gift shop add to the visit, and the family's orchard preserves are on the shelf too. The farm opens the first Friday after Thanksgiving.
At a glance
Your tree visit.
- Tree choices
- Cut your own · Pre-cut trees
- Trees and farm goods
- Ask the farm for tree prices
Homemade preserves are $6 for a half pint and $9 for a pint; T-shirts are $32.25 and hats are $25. Trees are priced by the farm.
Prices & conditions ↓ - Visit times
Opens the first Friday after Thanksgiving. December 14 through December 23: Monday through Friday 3pm–5:30pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 1pm–5pm. Closed after December 23.
Full schedule ↓
Find your tree
Choose your Christmas tree.
The farm grows seven kinds of tree for you to choose and cut. Austrian pine has strong, openly spaced limbs and long needles, and is the one to pick for large or heavy ornaments. Scotch pine is full, with strong limbs and medium needles. Eastern White pine has light limbs and very soft needles that suit light ornaments and small lights, and Southwestern White pine is similar with stronger limbs and soft blue-green needles. Among the firs, Canaan is soft, short-needled, blue-green and fragrant, much like a Fraser, while Concolor has soft silvery blue-green needles and an aroma, and the farm says it holds its needles better than any other tree it grows. Douglas fir has soft green needles and a pleasant fragrance, and the farm suggests cutting it after cold weather for the best needle retention.
Fraser fir does not grow on the farm. The family buys fresh-cut Fraser from North Carolina, trims a couple of inches off the trunks and keeps the trees in water in the shed, out of the sun and wind, until it is time to display them.
Published varieties
- Austrian pine
- Scotch pine
- Eastern White pine
- Southwestern White pine
- Canaan fir
- Concolor fir
- Douglas fir
- Fraser fir (brought in from North Carolina)
Which variety suits your decorations?
General tree guidance; the farm’s selection, sizes and services are described above.
- Fraser fir
- Upward branches and good needle retention; firmer branches can suit heavier ornaments.
- Concolor fir
- Longer, silver-blue needles with a citrus scent when crushed.
- Canaan fir
- Dark green needles with white undersides and firmer branches for decorations.
- Douglas fir
- Soft needles and more flexible branches, suited to lighter ornaments.
- White pine
- Long, soft needles and flexible branches; choose lighter decorations.
Learn more: University of Wisconsin Extension ↗ · National Christmas Tree Association ↗
Compare the options
Trees & prices.
Tree prices are set by the farm. The T-shirt, hat and preserve prices are the farm's recent listed prices.
| Selection & size | Price |
|---|---|
| Field trees you choose and cut | Ask the farm Staff shake, net and load the tree after you cut it and bring it to the office. |
| Fraser fir, brought in from North Carolina | Priced at the farm Fresh cut and displayed in the shed. |
| Flocked trees | Priced at the farm For a special size or color, call for availability; a couple of days' notice is needed. |
| Wreaths, garland and greenery bundles | Priced at the farm |
| T-shirts | $32.25 New merchandise for the season. |
| Hats | $25 New merchandise for the season. |
| Homemade preserves, half pint | $6 Apple butter, apple jelly, pear honey, peach jam, peach hot pepper jam and bourbon peach jam. |
| Homemade preserves, pint | $9 Same preserves as the half pints. |
Choose and cut your own tree
About 20,000 trees grow on 30 acres, and the family plants between 1,500 and 2,500 new ones every year. A tree takes seven to nine years to reach six feet and market size, and each one is hand-trimmed every year after its third or fourth year. Some are watered by drip and some by overhead sprinkler so there are fresh trees even in dry years.
Ask the farm whether to bring your own saw or use one of theirs.
| Tree | What it is like |
|---|---|
| Austrian pine | Strong limbs, long needles and openly spaced branches; good needle retention and an ideal choice for large or heavy ornaments. |
| Scotch pine | Full, with strong limbs and medium-length needles; good needle retention. |
| Eastern White pine | Light limbs and very soft needles; best for light ornaments and small lights; excellent needle retention. |
| Southwestern White pine | Like Eastern White, with stronger limbs and soft blue-green needles; excellent needle retention. |
| Canaan fir | Similar to Fraser, with soft, short, blue-green needles; fragrant, with good needle retention. |
| Concolor fir | Soft silvery blue-green needles and an aroma; the best needle retention of any tree the farm grows. |
| Douglas fir | Soft green needles and a pleasant fragrance. Cut after cold weather for the best needle retention. |
| Fraser fir | Brought in fresh cut from North Carolina, not grown on the farm. Dark blue-green needles, a pleasing fragrance and excellent needle retention. |
Shaking, netting and loading, and the office by the fire
After you cut your tree and bring it to the office, the employees shake out the loose needles, net the tree and load it for you. Then you can warm up by the fireplace with peanuts and hot apple cider, and browse the gift shop for Christmas decorations and gift ideas.
Out in the shed there is a large selection of wreaths, greenery, flocked trees, garland and greenery bundles.
| Where | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Office | The place to bring your cut tree, with the fireplace, peanuts and hot apple cider. |
| Shaking, netting and loading | Done by the employees after you cut your tree and bring it to the office. |
| Gift shop | Christmas decorations and gift ideas, including new T-shirts at $32.25 and hats at $25. |
| Shed | Wreaths, greenery, flocked trees, garland and greenery bundles. |
Flocked trees and special orders
The farm flocks several varieties of trees in different colors. Flock is a cellulose material the farm describes as fire retardant, applied with an adhesive and water. A flocked tree comes mounted on a stand and does not need water, and it goes home in a plastic sleeve and netting.
There are normally several flocked trees on hand, but for a special size and color, call to ask about availability. The farm needs a couple of days' notice for a special order, depending on the weather.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Colors | Sky Blue and White, Purple, Red and White, White, and Royal Blue. |
| Care | Comes mounted on a stand and does not require water. |
| Getting it home | Transported in a plastic sleeve and netting. |
| Special orders | Call to ask about availability; a couple of days' notice is needed, depending on the weather. |
Wreaths and greenery
Wreaths are made fresh through the season from white pine, Southwestern White pine, Fraser fir or a mix. Green wreaths are best displayed outside, out of the sun and wind, while flocked wreaths display well inside or outside when protected from heavy snow or rain. If you want a specific size or shape, call to check availability before you come.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Shapes | Mixed wreath, flocked wreath, cross, snowflake, single swag and arch. |
| Round wreath sizes | By ring size and outside size in inches: 8 and 14, 10 and 18, 12 and 20, 14 and 22, 20 and 28, 30 and 40, 48 and 62, 54 and 66. |
| Made from | Fresh white pine, Southwestern White pine, Fraser fir or a mix. |
| Display | Green wreaths outside, out of the sun and wind; flocked wreaths inside or outside when protected from heavy snow or rain. |
Season dates, hours and tours
The farm officially opens on the first Friday after Thanksgiving. From December 14 through December 23 it is open Monday through Friday 3pm to 5:30pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm, and it is closed after December 23.
Call 620-549-3273 to arrange a time to visit or tour the tree farm and orchard.
| When | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Opening day through December 13 | Ask the farm | Opens on the first Friday after Thanksgiving; call if you need help before then. |
| Monday through Friday, December 14–23 | 3pm–5:30pm | |
| Saturday, December 14–23 | 9am–5pm | |
| Sunday, December 14–23 | 1pm–5pm | |
| After December 23 | Closed | |
| Tours of the tree farm and orchard | By appointment | Call 620-549-3273 to arrange a time. |
Getting there and practical conditions
The farm is on the east side of Highway 281 at St. John, at 2 NE 30th St.
| Topic | At the farm |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 NE 30th St, St. John, KS 67576 |
| Finding it | On the east side of Highway 281 at St. John. |
| After you cut | Employees shake, net and load your tree at the office. |
| Payment, saws and carts, accessibility, parking and pets | Ask the farm before you come. |
Merchandise and homemade preserves
New T-shirts and hats are on the shelf this season, and the family is also selling homemade preserves from its orchard at the tree farm. Apples such as Gold Rush and Pink Lady have also been on offer; ask the farm what is in stock when you come.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirts | $32.25 | New merchandise for the season. |
| Hats | $25 | New merchandise for the season. |
| Homemade preserves, half pint | $6 | Apple butter, apple jelly, pear honey, peach jam, peach hot pepper jam and bourbon peach jam. |
| Homemade preserves, pint | $9 | Same preserves as the half pints. |
The orchard and the family
Delp Orchard is the family's fruit orchard in St. John, with about 350 apple, 260 peach and 75 pear trees. Fruit season is mainly summer into fall, apart from the Christmas tree season; ask the farm what the orchard offers visitors.
Cecil Delp started the tree farm in 1959, and it is run today by his grandson Joel and wife Sarah Delp and their family. The farm once shipped trees by the semi-truck load; today it grows about 20,000 trees on 30 acres and sells them directly to families at the farm.
Contacts
Call the farm at 620-549-3273 about visits, tours, availability, flocked-tree special orders or help before the season opens. Email delptreefarm@delptreefarm.com.
Pick your day
Dates & hours.
Tree season: Opens the first Friday after Thanksgiving; closed after December 23
The farm officially opens on the first Friday after Thanksgiving. From December 14 through December 23 it is open Monday through Friday 3pm to 5:30pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm, and it is closed after December 23.
| Christmas tree season | Hours |
|---|---|
| Opening day (the first Friday after Thanksgiving) through December 13 | Ask the farm |
| Monday through Friday, December 14–23 | 3pm–5:30pm |
| Saturday, December 14–23 | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday, December 14–23 | 1pm–5pm |
| After December 23 | Closed |
Call 620-549-3273 if you need help before the season opens or would like to arrange a tour.
Before you go.
- Opens the first Friday after Thanksgiving; December 14–23 hours are Monday–Friday 3pm–5:30pm, Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 1pm–5pm; closed after December 23.
- Choose and cut your own tree; employees shake, net and load it at the office.
- Fraser fir is brought in from North Carolina; flocked trees in several colors need a couple of days' notice for special orders.
- Fireplace, peanuts and hot apple cider at the office; wreaths, garland and a gift shop.
- T-shirts $32.25, hats $25, homemade preserves $6 a half pint and $9 a pint.
- Call 620-549-3273 for tours and help before opening; email delptreefarm@delptreefarm.com.
2 NE 30th St, St. John, KS 67576
Keep exploring
Other farms to compare.
Shawnee, Kansas
Midland Holiday PinesChoose a pine on seven acres and cut it yourself with the farm's tools, or have the farm cut it; field trees run about 6 to 15 feet. Opens Friday, November 27 at 10am, then weekends 10am–5pm while supplies last. Brought-in firs, fresh wreaths and a porch gift shop too.
Lawrence, Kansas
Strawberry Hill Christmas Tree FarmWalk the farm and cut your own field-grown Scotch pine, or choose a brought-in Fraser or Balsam fir; the staff shake your tree and help load it. Open Saturday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 23, or until sold out: Saturdays 10am–5pm, Sundays 12pm–5pm, Monday–Friday 3pm–5pm, except Black Friday (10am–5pm).
Louisburg, Kansas
Pinestead Grove FarmChoose a field-grown Scotch pine and the farm team cuts your tree, and shaking and netting are complimentary; pre-cut Fraser and Balsam firs are on hand too. Open Friday, November 20 through Sunday, December 13: Fridays and Saturdays 9am–5pm, Sundays 11am–5pm, with hot cocoa, a fire pit and Santa visits.