Fruit Trees Planted

[KennyG]

Not exactly sure where this should go but I decided to put in a few bare root apple and cherry trees this year. I'm not too experienced in this area but if I have nice blooms in the spring and feed the deer it will probably be worthwhile. I planted them in an area that does not have water access so I rigged up a barrel to go on my forks. I put fencing around the trees to keep the deer away for a few years and mulched around them. I'm using buckets with a hole drilled in it to water slowly enough it doesn't wash anything away. I put them in about a month ago and they have all budded out, so - so far so good.

 

[Diggin It]

Consider one or more of the IBC Totes rigged up to collect rain water.

 

[msmith]

I put in about 1200 bare root seedlings last year. Mostly choke cherry, hybrid chestnut, and mulberry. I figure on about 50% attrition as I am not going to water them. I'm hoping, if I can ever get around to it, to put in a few mature persimmons and Dunstan Chestnuts.

Check with your local NRCS office. They may have a program to cost share on trees.

 

[747driver]

We have planted many different fruit trees here. Always make sure if they require a cross pollination tree close by, some don't require it. I have a IBC tote in a remote area to use as a water source, Good luck !

 

[Diggin It]

Mulberry may be the worst tree ever. Horrible things that multiply randomly and are nearly impossible to kill. They're nothing but giant weeds. Same with Persimmons. I cut those down by the dozens and they keep coming back. They also draw the webworms in late Summer. Some so bad the whole tree looks like one big web.

 

[ultrarunner]

Are you guys using forks for the IBC

My brother plans to set on up using his Kubota RTV900

I'm thinking this is quite a load and he does have some steep areas plus the 900 isn't exactly a powerhouse.

 

[ultrarunner]

Mulberry may be the worst tree ever. Horrible things that multiply randomly and are nearly impossible to kill. They're nothing but giant weeds. Same with Persimmons. I cut those down by the dozens and they keep coming back. They also draw the webworms in late Summer. Some so bad the whole tree looks like one big web.

I bought an old 1910 cottage in East Oakland with a decrepit Persimmon and Fig Tree... the fruit from both are highly sought after and the story is they came from Mission San Jose...

Have not noticed any spreading... maybe there are different varieties?

 

[CADplans]

I would not even consider planting a tree without a grow tube to get it started,,

MAX GROW TUBE TREE SHELTER | AM Leonard Horticultural Supply

5 foot minimum height,, deer will "trim" the tree when it pokes out of a 4 foot tube.

These are the best tree invention ever,, the tube "trains" the tree to be straight and a little taller when starting.

If you just leave the tube, the tree can split the tube when the tree gets big enough,,,

It is also a weedeater guard,,,

 

[msmith]

Mulberry may be the worst tree ever. Horrible things that multiply randomly and are nearly impossible to kill. They're nothing but giant weeds. Same with Persimmons. I cut those down by the dozens and they keep coming back. They also draw the webworms in late Summer. Some so bad the whole tree looks like one big web.

Around here mulberry is fairly rare and persimmons are sought after, are not in abundance but not rare.

 

[msmith]

I would not even consider planting a tree without a grow tube to get it started,,

MAX GROW TUBE TREE SHELTER | AM Leonard Horticultural Supply

5 foot minimum height,, deer will "trim" the tree when it pokes out of a 4 foot tube.

These are the best tree invention ever,, the tube "trains" the tree to be straight and a little taller when starting.

If you just leave the tube, the tree can split the tube when the tree gets big enough,,,

It is also a weedeater guard,,,

I agree if you are only going to plant a handful of trees. Otherwise it's too expensive. I bought bare roots for 30 to 50 cents apiece and planted small clearings on my property. I cost shared with the NRCS so with 1200 planted, let the deer have a few. I just wanted something for ground cover that the wildlife would be attracted to.

 

[Thomas]

My only problem after planting fruit trees whitetail bucks like to rub there antlers on them enough so breaks branches.

 

[KennyG]

Lots of interesting thoughts. The grow tubes look like a good idea but since they cost more than my trees did, I'm going to depend on my wire fence cages. I also thought about something like an IBC tote with a drip irrigation system but I would have to get the water into it somehow. I need counterbalance to safely lift a full 55 gallon drum so I don't think I'm going to be moving full totes around. With only 10 spots to water, the 55 gallon drum works OK.

This first stage of the plot is pretty small. I've got 2 cherry trees, 4 apple trees, and 8 assorted blackberry and raspberry vines. The pollination will be covered if they all survive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm also starting a little landscape nursery with 10 evergreens, 5 redbuds and 5 dogwoods, which I will move to other locations on the property in a year or two if they thrive.

My biggest concern is deer but there are so many commercial orchards and farm fields around that I'm hoping to luck out.

 

[CADplans]

My biggest concern is deer but there are so many commercial orchards and farm fields around that I'm hoping to luck out.

The problem with deer is the varied weather,,
you may get by for 5+ years, without a nibble,, then,, BANG, one dry year,, the deer eat EVERYTHING!!

After 35 years with the same shrubs, the deer ANNIHILATED them this past winter,,
the deer had trimmed them before,, but, this year,, it was devastation,,,

I had to replace 8 that had been there since 1982,,, I planted mostly holly types,, deer do not like to eat those.

You have to plan for the worst year, not the average year,,
the tubes sound expensive,, what is your effort,, and patience worth!!??

 

[Diggin It]

Are you guys using forks for the IBC

My brother plans to set on up using his Kubota RTV900

I'm thinking this is quite a load and he does have some steep areas plus the 900 isn't exactly a powerhouse.

I don't move them full. Only empty. I rigged mine up to catch rainwater in place.

I bought an old 1910 cottage in East Oakland with a decrepit Persimmon and Fig Tree... the fruit from both are highly sought after and the story is they came from Mission San Jose...

Have not noticed any spreading... maybe there are different varieties?

Maybe. Maybe the birds do it.

Around here mulberry is fairly rare and persimmons are sought after, are not in abundance but not rare.

I don't know of anybody that picks either. The Persimmons I know turn a bright orange, sized like an apricot or a little smaller. Maybe I should pick 'em and ship 'em? Earn my first million?

 

[Ford850]

Lots of interesting thoughts. The grow tubes look like a good idea but since they cost more than my trees did, I'm going to depend on my wire fence cages. I also thought about something like an IBC tote with a drip irrigation system but I would have to get the water into it somehow. I need counterbalance to safely lift a full 55 gallon drum so I don't think I'm going to be moving full totes around. With only 10 spots to water, the 55 gallon drum works OK.

This first stage of the plot is pretty small. I've got 2 cherry trees, 4 apple trees, and 8 assorted blackberry and raspberry vines. The pollination will be covered if they all survive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm also starting a little landscape nursery with 10 evergreens, 5 redbuds and 5 dogwoods, which I will move to other locations on the property in a year or two if they thrive.

My biggest concern is deer but there are so many commercial orchards and farm fields around that I'm hoping to luck out.

I think you're on the right track. You're doing things very similar to how I did mine. I still use the same fence like yours, even on larger trees for deer protection, only larger rings for the larger trees. Some of them I leave the fence off and allow the deer to pick their own apples. I've lost some trees and replaced them. I've settled on more peach trees and like the semi dwarf for easy care. But I have blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and apples in that area. The deer hang out there like it's the local bar.

 

[ultrarunner]

There are two varieties Persimmons here and in the pioneer days they were a good late crop for vitamin C and kept well...

Persimmon Bread was always a favorite here.

The Mission Figs would generate about $800 per tree at the local farmers market... people really like the size, flavor and being able to be bought tree to table the same day...

The area with the new seedling Christmas Trees is rather remote... the thought was using the RTV900 and IBC to hand water until established... maybe the secret is not to fill the tote?

 

[Diggin It]

I think my new apple trees are pregnant. Won't exactly be a bumper crop since I only see about 20 or 30 of these across the dozen trees.

 

[KennyG]

When I was a kid, persimmon trees were prized. They weren't planted a lot, but some people had them. Persimmon pudding was especially popular.

 

[msmith]

I see a building close by. Does it have electric? If so, a strand of electric fence around the trees makes a great deer deterrent. It helps tremendously with our garden.

 

[Deerherd]

Are you guys using forks for the IBC

My brother plans to set on up using his Kubota RTV900

I'm thinking this is quite a load and he does have some steep areas plus the 900 isn't exactly a powerhouse.

I use forks to move mine, that could be very exciting full on RTV.....