Nuts to me

[Chuck52]

Finally got my country acres last spring, and I'm looking out at all that grass thinking about what I'd prefer to see growing. I'm about 13 years from retirement, and I've been thinking about what I'd like to do when I no longer have to do the pointless for the ignorant to make a buck. One of my fondest childhood memories revolves around two pecan trees on my grandmother's place back in East Tennessee. I ate so many pecans sometimes it's a wonder I didn't turn into a squirrel. I still like them, and most other nuts, and I'd like to try growing some of my own. Turns out the middle of Missouri is not as kind to pecans as further south. We can grow "Missouri Hardy" pecans, but not the papershells, and the local pecans tend to be smaller than those from further south. However, on the plus side, the state conservation department sells various trees at really low prices to encourage landowners to reforest their land. I bought 25 seedlings each of walnut and pecan last year, and this year I was able to order some larger saplings from the same source. I know I'm looking at several years before any of these trees produce, but I've got a few years to go before freedom comes my way. I also ordered some American Hazelnut. These are more shrub-like than tree-like, and I plan to use them as a screen along the road in front of the house. They should produce nuts sooner than the trees, but I don't know what to expect so far as nut quality is concerned. It seems the commercial hazelnut/filbert growers plant european or azian varieties, and I haven't been able to find anything about the size or quality of the American variety. Anyone familiar with these? They are supposed to grow very well here, and at one time they were a dominant shrub all across this region. I may or may not ever get into semi-commercial nut production, and I figure if nothing else the American filberts can serve to pollinate better nut producers. Anyway, at just a few dollars for 25 seedlings, they should make a good road screen.

Chuck

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I gerw up on land with a hazelnut grove, no idea what their nationality was, but they were good eatin if you beat the squirrels to them. They have to be harvested and dried for a few months before you can eat them, and you best store them to dry in metal cans with perforations, or the mice and squirrels will help themselves to the ones you harvested.
You also might want to add a few evergreens into the mix, you can sell them off for christmas trees, and you won't develope a monoculture situation with your trees.

 

[MossRoad]

I agree with the monoculture statement. We had 4 acres reforested 10 years ago. We put in alternating rows of pines and mixed hardwoods. I wanted less varieties, but the foresters told me if a disease comes through, it could wipe out the whole forest. Made sense.

<font color=green> MossRoad </font color=green>

 

[Egon]

Nut Trees:
I live in Nova Scotia, know nothing about nut trees but have planted a dozen walnut and a dozen hazelnut bushes purchased from a supplier "Grimo Nut Nursery" in Ontario. They have a website and may be able to answer some of your questions.
Egon

 

[Bird]

Chuck, I've found the best source of information to be the county agricultural extension agent. I don't know for sure, but assume your state has one for every county. Pecans are a big commercial crop in my area, so our county agent has lots of literature on pecans.

 

[Chuck52]

Bird,
Yes, I'll probably talk with the county forrester some time before I get too far along. I'm getting most of my trees from the state, but I'll probably buy at least some improved varieties from nurseries. I was planning to get various fruit and nut trees from Stark Bros before they went belly up, but I have lots of catalogs. I don't think I'm going to have problems with mono-culture....I'll probably have maxi-culture troubles first! I want some of everything. I do think the black walnut grove I've started on a part of my acreage will be just walnuts. They discourage many other tree species. I tell my kids that the walnut grove will be their kids inheritance.

Chuck

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>tell my kids that the walnut grove will be their kids inheritance</font color=blue>

Yep, nut trees (or at least pecans which is the only one I know anything about) are a long term project. I read one article on starting an orchard that said "if you take care of the pecan trees for 10 years, then they'll take care of you the rest of your life." Trouble is, most of us didn't start early enough./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[Chuck52]

Well, as I said, I've got a few years before retirement. I'm not really gonna count on fruit and nut production for income, but I've got way too much grass, and I have fond memories of the grandfolks place, with apples, walnuts, pecans, chestnuts, grapes, etc. My wife likes flowers.....I grow edibles. The walnut grove will be aimed at eventual lumber production, but there is a market for the nuts if there are enough to bother with. Maybe by that time one of the grandkids will be interested in gathering them! How's that for wishful thinking?

Chuck

 

[MossRoad]

Have you looked into state programs for timber planting? I live in Indiana. We wanted to have a 4 acre field reforested with hardwood for timber. I had the state forester come out and check our property. Then they told us what types of trees would be suitable for the soil types. They gave us a list of about 30 licensed foresters to pick from. The forester that we picked gathered a purchase order and we wrote them a check for the amount. They picked up all of the trees in the spring from the state nursery, planted them and side sprayed them in one day. All we had to do was provide the state with receipts and they reimbursed us 75% of the cost. We ended up with 2150 trees, 1/2 pine, 1/2 hardwood, planted and side sprayed for $265.00!!! The only stipulations were:
1. We had to either side spray or mow anually for 5 years(we mowed).
2. We could not use the pines as Christmas trees because they are meant as trainers for the hardwoods.

After the five years were up we could mow them down if we wanted. It is a great program.

<font color=green> MossRoad </font color=green>

 

[TerryinMD]

Sorry my friends.... the holding company for Stark Bros, Michigan Bulb, and a few other seed/starter companies when belly-up!! Approximately 4000 people will lose their jobs and countless gardens will lose their favorite suppliers. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Terry