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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 16, 2017 15:48:05 GMT -6
After losing the information on the other two sites...refresh my memory please.
Chestnut Crab is supposed to be a good choice, disease resistance, good fruit, tough tree, etc...
I have planted a few this past spring, how long will I be looking at seeing fruit on these? I ordered them from Turkey Creek Trees (grafted). Also, do you think it would be good idea to plant 5-10 of these on a farm, or more of a variety? Mainly looking at apples for deer, but will probably eat a few too.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 16, 2017 16:12:40 GMT -6
I'm not a proponent of 5-10 trees of the same variety...2 would be max for me. How long to bear will depend on rootstock and environmental conditions. Generally speaking, you're looking at a minimum of 3-4 years for first fruit. If on antonovka rootstock, it could be twice that number. 5-6 years after planting a mail order/internet bareroot tree is kind of the "average" I'd expect.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 16, 2017 16:43:19 GMT -6
Along the first fruit issue, I think I'd rather not have fruit a year or two early and have the tree put on wood instead. Build its roots and limbs first then fruit. They'll most likely produce more fruit after 7-8 years than the first fruited.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 16, 2017 16:48:21 GMT -6
Also, I've noticed on my trees deer will visit them from June on looking for drops. I'd rather have early,mid, and late season in a group instead of one variety to keep them coming to my orchard all summer, fall, and winter. Add clover and they'll hang around.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 16, 2017 17:48:55 GMT -6
Also, I've noticed on my trees deer will visit them from June on looking for drops. I'd rather have early,mid, and late season in a group instead of one variety to keep them coming to my orchard all summer, fall, and winter. Add clover and they'll hang around. I've said it many times, if a guy has a productive clover plot and fruit trees....you've got as close to year round nutrition as a northern deer guy is gonna get.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 16, 2017 18:04:55 GMT -6
The clover I have planted is fairly green right now as the snow melted, the deer are in there already
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Post by chummer16 on Feb 16, 2017 18:10:28 GMT -6
I planted all chestnut and Dolgo in one of my plots. It was a stratigic desicion. It is the plot closest to my access so I wanted all early dropping in attempt to have an Oct 1st bow hotspot. After the apples are gone I don't want the deer there. My plot back farther I planted early-late droppers. Rifle season starts Oct 15 so the close plot will be cleaned out by then.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 17, 2017 7:05:48 GMT -6
Some years Chestnuts will still have a portion of fruit hanging into early October
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 17, 2017 7:43:49 GMT -6
Bwoods, the answer would depend on how many clusters of fruit trees you have room for and also like chummer says, it depends on the purpose of that particular fruit plot. Early, late, or season long foodplots need different management.
Just a warning. This is addicting. You will soon have everything full of fruit trees!
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Post by coop on Feb 17, 2017 8:45:54 GMT -6
Bwoods, the answer would depend on how many clusters of fruit trees you have room for and also like chummer says, it depends on the purpose of that particular fruit plot. Early, late, or season long foodplots need different management. Just a warning. This is addicting. You will soon have everything full of fruit trees! ^^^ I'm with Sandbur on this one! I don't think anybody has mentioned that Chestnut Crabs are very tasty when ripe. Pre-ripe they are quite tart.
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Post by buckvelvet on Feb 17, 2017 9:03:36 GMT -6
I better taste my first Chestnut Crab this year it'll be it's 4th leaf, it seems to have some fruit buds on a few limbs, I may even bag them. Hurray!
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Post by biglakebass on Feb 17, 2017 9:09:03 GMT -6
Hey Art You had sent me some Chestnut seeds quite a while back. I found them stuffed in the utility drawer in the kitchen.... Another case of being stashed by the wife.... I put them in the fridge a couple months ago and many are popping now.
When do I decide to put them in dirt???
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 17, 2017 10:01:29 GMT -6
Bwoods, the answer would depend on how many clusters of fruit trees you have room for and also like chummer says, it depends on the purpose of that particular fruit plot. Early, late, or season long foodplots need different management. Just a warning. This is addicting. You will soon have everything full of fruit trees! I have an old farm site on my 40 acres that my dad bought in 95...I own it now, along with my dads friend, who actually does not hunt. We will buy his share out soon. Anyway, it has multiple areas for new fruit trees. It actually has 3 producing apple trees right now, and a bunch of crab apple that were planted in 2000. Small fruit though. It has at least 3-4 acres of area for new fruit trees. I think that is the plan Pic of the site
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 17, 2017 13:20:50 GMT -6
The farm site would have about 1.4 acres to plant or slightly more, than another acre to the west that used to be CRP...load it up with apple/crab apple/oaks/some walnut. Youngest boy is 16 and this will probably be a long term farm as we it is close to town and in a great area. Here is a aerial pic... Deer in the yard almost every time I am out there.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 17, 2017 20:39:36 GMT -6
Keep the walnuts well away from the apple trees.
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