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Specialty Crops

Second Edition

Specialty Crops 1

The Hows, Whats and Whys of Specialty Crops ................................ 2

Acer (Sugar Maple) ................................. 6Amelanchier (Serviceberry) .............. 10Aronia (Chokeberry) ............................ 14Walk-A-Way System .............................. 17Asimina (Pawpaw) ................................ 18Carya (Hickory) ....................................24Carya (Pecan) ........................................28

Castanea (Chestnut) .............................32Diospyros (Persimmon) .......................38Juglans (Walnuts) .................................42Prunus (Plum) .......................................46Sambucus (Elderberry) .......................50NRCS cost share for

agroforestry projects ........................53Notes ........................................................54Planting Plan..........................................56

Contents

2 Forrest Keeling Nursery

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What is a specialty crop?

The Farm Bill defines specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” Eligible plants must be cultivated or managed and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops.

Why should I add specialty crops to my land?

Specialty crops can create important diversity for your land and profitability for your farm in down seasons.

But, why are you considering adding specialty crops now?

• Is the market favorable for your specialty crop?

• Is your site suitable for a specialty crop?

• Will you depend on the specialty crop for income, or will it be primarily a hobby?

• Do you want to increase the conservation value of your land?

Specialty CropsThe Hows, Whats and Whys of

What is the best specialty crop for me?

There are many crop options to consider. You’ll need to weigh your interest, available resources, the market and site favorability. Contact your county extension service Farm Service Agency or USDA Rural Information Center office for advice on crop choice for your area as well as soil and site recommendations. Their literature and specialists can also guide you on possible grants, crop subsidies and reimbursements.

These webpages will help you find the offices in your county:

• Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri: www.centerforagroforestry.org

• County Extension Centers: http://solutionsforyourlife.com/map/index.shtml

• Farm Service Agency: www.fsa.usda.gov

• USDA Rural Information Centers: www.nal.usda.gov/ric

Specialty Crops 3

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Why should I plant RPM-produced container grown material?

Successful plantings can be established from either bare-root or container stock. Bare-root trees can be more economical and convenient to handle, transport, and plant. But, bare root trees must be planted in the late fall or early spring and require extra care to help young seedlings survive in the first seasons.

RPM container grown materials are a better value. They cost more per unit in the beginning, but will create crop yields earlier and save you money long-term.

RPM trees increase project success. RPM container trees can be planted almost any time of the year and all species—even those typically difficult to transplant—demonstrate higher establishment success.

RPM-produced tree roots grow rapidly and demonstrate high rates of survival. Studies show that in the first 10 years, RPM-produced trees will grow up to 50% faster in diameter.

Forrest Keeling’s patented RPM 12-step patented process gives plants a natural advantage. The process helps speed plant growth, create early flowering and fruiting and ensure greater survivability.

The special RPM-production process starts with Forrest Keeling’s state-of-the-art seed selection process and

strict grading process to select the best seedlings at first flush. Choice seedlings continue to receive special nutrition, along with mycorrhiza inoculation, and a unique growing medium. Addition of a hydrogel product helps to protect each plants’ soil moisture levels from production through planting.

Finally, before shipping, all Forrest Keeling’s RPM-produced plants receive an application of a premium, slow-release fertilizer.

Forrest Keeling’s RPM plants are extraordinary because of all these extras. RPM delivers better results for any specialty crop planting.


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Specialty CropsThe Hows, Whats and Whys of

Shrubs & Trees Calculator

How to Calculate:Multiply the distance in feet between shrubs or trees by the distance the plants are apart in the rows. Divide by 43,560 (the square footage of an acre) by that number. You can also refer to the plant calculator on our website, forrestkeeling.com/calculator.

Plants Spacing Per Acre12' x 12' 302 16' x 16' 17020' x 16' 13620' x 18' 12120' x 20' 10922' x 22' 9024' x 24' 7525' x 25' 6930' x 30' 4840' x 40' 2750' x 50' 18

Plants Spacing Per Acre6' x 6' 1,2106' x 8' 9076' x 10' 7266' x 12' 6057' x 11' 5687' x 12' 5198' x 8' 6808' x 10' 5448' x 12' 45410' x 10' 53410' x 12' 363

Why should I consider a seedling or cultivar? Is a grafted tree better?

A seedling is a tree that results from planting seed from a mother tree. Every seedling is genetically different from every other seedling; even those from the same mother tree.

By contrast, grafting creates genetically identical trees. The bud or shoot from one tree (the scion) is attached to the stem of another tree (the rootstock). As the scion grows,

the rootstock's branches are pruned off and the scion branches become the tree. The genetically identical

grafted individuals are called clones. A named and propagated clone, or one selected for desirable characteristics that are maintained during propagation is called a cultivar.

Grafted trees can provide more earlier production, uniform ripening, known quality, and more consistent yields. However, seedling trees often produce similar crops.

Typical container tree planting plan

Root ball resting on solid, undisturbed soil to avoid sinkage.

Top of root ball level with surface of ground.

Spread 2–3" of hardwood mulch evenly around the tree; do not mound mulch against tree trunk.

Tree wrap properly attached to trunk. Loosen once a year.

Backfill with soil and fertilize as recommended.

Hole dug at least twice as wide and only as deep as the root ball. Do not smooth or pack sides.

Specialty Crops 5

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Are there special requirements to ensure successful pollination and fruit production?

without another tree. Other trees have specifically male or female specimens and are termed dioecious (dī' ēSHəs). Dioecious trees must have a partner to achieve pollination.

Can I make money with specialty crops? Where are specialty crops sold?

Evaluate your potential market and develop a good business plan first. Assess the current market within at least 50 miles, network with buyers, suppliers and knowledgeable others. Consider your location, proximity to population and how you will move product to market or buyers to you. Evaluate your local labor pool and the costs and work involved in properly preparing your site.

Visit with your tree specialist about the species you are interested in growing. Some trees are self-fertile or monoecious (mə 'nēSHəs), which means one tree offers flowers with both male and female components and can create viable seed or fruit

Rooted in science, and grounded in nature, Forrest Keeling's staff is dedicated to providing you with exceptional plant material at a great value. Each of us is here to help you find the perfect product for your operation. Contact us today at (800) 356-2401.


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___________________________________________________________________________6 Forrest Keeling Nursery

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) The sugar maple is a handsome deciduous tree with oval to rounded canopy that is famous for its prized syrup.

Specialty Crops 7

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Zone: Zones 4-8

Soil requirements: Grows well on wide variety of sites. For maximum tree growth and sap production, soils should be deep, moist, and well drained with medium or fine textures and pH of 5.5 to 7.3.

Cultural requirements: The most shade tolerant of large deciduous trees, the sugar maple can be grown in sun or shade.

Sun or shade? Full sun to part shade

Mature size: H: 70-90' W: 60-80'

Bloom time: April

Harvest time: Sap harvest from late winter to early spring

Pollination: Monoecious; that is, it has female (staminate) and male (pistillate) flowers on the same plant; self-pollinating.

Fast Facts:

Good for wide variety of soils

Delicious syrup, great for

landscapingSugar maple is one of the most desirable landscape trees for fall color with shades of bright yellow, orange or red. It does well in urban landscapes that provide ample space for root growth but is sensitive to high concentrations of salt in the soil, for example from deicers.

Maple syrup is harvested from late winter to early spring. Trees are tapped as temperatures begin to warm and the watery sap starts to flow. The collected sap is cooked down, or reduced, until thick, syrupy and very sweet. There are different grades of maple syrup: Grade A (light, medium or dark amber), which has a mild flavor is used on pancakes and the darker, stronger flavored grade B, typically used for cooking.

ACERSugar Maple


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SpeciesSugar Maple

Sugar Maple Large native tree with excellent form. Famous for the syrup made from its sap and its prized lumber, all sugar maples offer excellent fall color in shades from gold to orange and red.

Super Sweet Selected from species at Cornell Uihlein Sugar Maple Field Station for their sweeter sap and greater sap production. Regular maple sap averages about two percent sugar. The progeny of the super-sweet trees average six-to-seven percent with some higher than 10 percent sweetness.

Orchard spacing: For optimal production, trees should be spaced at 35-foot intervals in rows placed 35 feet apart

Life expectancy: The average life span of a sugar maple tree is 300 years, although sugar maples can live up to 400 years.

Years to first syrup harvest: Maple trees are usually tapped at a DBH diameter of seven inches. Each tree can support between one and three taps, depending on its trunk diameter.

The average maple tree will produce about 3 gallons of sap daily and nine to 13 gallons per season or approximately 7% of the tree’s total sap. Some trees have been known to produce sap for several farm family generations, over 100 years.

AcerAll species listed are A. saccharum

Specialty Crops 9

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Diseases and pests: Soil compaction and root confinement can lead to leaf scorch, leaf drop or stunted, non-uniform growth. Sugar maple is relatively free from diseases of the root system however, verticillium wilt infects the roots and causes green streaks in the wood. Stains are another broad group of diseases affecting both hardwood (broadleaf) and softwood (conifer) trees. Stains discolor the wood, reducing its commercial value.

Most insect-related problems in sugar maple involve the leaves.

• Gypsy moth • Fall webworm • Saddled prominent• Sugar maple borer• Pear thrips• Forest tent caterpillar• Maple trumpet skeletonizer• Maple leaf cutter• Maple petiole borer

Species change each season. Please check our website, FKNursery.com for a complete list of available species.


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Serviceberry (Amelanchier) Serviceberry offers interest in every season and is one of the first native trees to bloom in spring. Profuse, lacy white spring blooms, attractive grey bark, small, narrow but rounded form make it useful as a small tree or large shrub. In fall, the rounded leaves take on eye-catching red and gold hues.

Specialty Crops 11

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Zone: Zones 2-9

Soil requirements: Serviceberry tolerates a wide range of soils including clays, but prefers a moist to wet well-drained soil with pH of 6.0 to 7.8. Native serviceberry occurs most often in rocky woods, on wooded slopes and on bluffs.

Cultural requirements: Full sun recommended for the best tasting and largest fruit. Prune yearly in late winter or early spring while dormant. Leave some old growth as flowers form on old wood. Inspect the tree for deadwood, diseased wood and crossed branches.

Sun or shade? Full to part sun, part shade

Mature size: H: 10-25' W: 10-15'

Bloom time: March to April

Harvest time: June

Life expectancy: 35-50 years

Fast Facts:

Best for moist, well-drained soil

Delicious, summer fruit for people,

birds and wildlifeServiceberry’s early summer fruits are delicious and give the species one of its many common names, Juneberry. Edible berries are like blueberries in size and color and often used in preserves and pies. Birds and other wildlife love the sweet, blue-black berries, too, and if not protected by netting will disappear in within a week or two.

Left to naturalize, serviceberry will spread by root suckers to form a shrubby colony, which makes it effective in shrub borders, naturalized gardens and along stream and pond banks.

The name ‘serviceberry’ refers to the Appalachian tradition of holding memorial services for the dead that coincided with the blooming of the serviceberries. Also, called ‘sarvisberry’ for the resemblance of the fruits to the fruits of the sarvis tree, or European mountain ash. Trees are also called shadbush for the concurrent annual spawning migration of the shad and the blooming of serviceberries.

AMELANCHIERServiceberry


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SpeciesServiceberry

Allegheny (A. laevis)This tree is primarily distinguished from the very similar Missouri native downy serviceberry (A. arborea) by its hairless foliage, purplish-tinged new growth and tastier (sweeter and juicier) berries.

Downy (A. arborea)Common name references fine hairs on its young leaves and twigs. Leaves persist into winter. Birds love the red-purple pome resembles a small apple and ripens in summer. Hybridizes easily with other Amelanchier species. One example of a popular cross is A. grandiflora.

Pollination: Self-fertile, although addition of second species should improve berry production.

Orchard spacing: 9' apart in a hedgerow for fruit production.

Years to first fruit: 2-5 years

Diseases and pests: No serious insect or disease problems. The serviceberry is in the rose family so it can suffer from the same type of problems. Occasional insect pests include Japanese beetle, spider mites, aphids, sawfly, leaf miners, borers and scale.

Amelanchier

Specialty Crops 13

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Robin Hill (A. x grandiflora)The pink buds and flowers of 'Robin Hill' Serviceberry distinguish it from other native serviceberry selections. Flowers fade to white and are followed by dark purple berries. Green summer foliage produces orange and red autumn shades. 'Robin Hill' Serviceberry has an upright habit that makes it a good choice for street plantings or other settings where a small, attractive tree is desired. (MoBot Plants of Merit)

Roundleaf (A. sanguinea)Low, arching shrub usually with single, slender trunk. Does not form colonies. Summer fruits resemble miniature apples and are reddish to purple when mature.

Saskatoon (A. alnifolia)‘Saskatoon’ comes from the Cree word for Serviceberry. This species is considered to offer the tastiest fruit of the serviceberries. Drought resistant.

Shadblow (A. canandensis)Plump, blue, blueberry-sized fruit. Sweet, mild low acid flavor. Ripens in June. Plant two to ensure pollination.

Other notes:In addition to the value of their fruits, flowers of trees like serviceberry help support pollinators like the honeybee that are critical to our agricultural industry. Choosing native trees and shrubs helps conserve resources and provide needed food and cover to birds and small animals.


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Chokeberry (Aronia) Chokeberry is one of the best-kept plant secrets around. It is as complex and interesting as it is useful. Its edible sour berries are used in a variety of commercial products.

Specialty Crops 15

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ARONIAChokeberry

Zone: Zones 3-7

Soil requirements: Prefers a moist, well-drained soil.

Cultural requirements: Easy-to-grow. Left to naturalize will spread by root suckers to form a shrubby colony.

Sun or Shade? Provide full sun to partial shade. Best fruit production occurs in full sun.

Mature size: H: 8' W: 9'

Orchard spacing: 5-6' apart to allow for growth and easy harvest

Years to first fruit: 2-3 years

Bloom time: May to June

Harvest time: Mid-summer

Life expectancy: Long-lived, to over 30 years, with a productive life span of 10-15 years.

Fast Facts:

Best for deep, fertile soil

Edible in jams, je llies and cordials; attracts wildlife.

Chokeberry offers multiple seasons of interest. Summer berries and beautiful, wine red fall foliage follow showy clusters of white flowers in early summer. The small to medium-sized deciduous native shrub is most commonly found in wet woods and at a woodland’s edge.

Chokeberry is most effective when massed in the landscape and allowed to follow its natural tendency to spread by rhizomes and form small colonies in a non-aggressive manner. Excellent in windbreaks and erosion control it is also a good ornamental choice that grows well planted under trees.

The common name "chokeberry" comes from the tartness of its fruits, which can make one's mouth pucker. The blueberry-sized black fruits produced by Aronia melanocarpa have the highest known levels of antioxidants (anthocyanins and flavonoids) of any temperate fruit, five times higher than cranberry and blueberry. The juice is usually labeled as “aronia juice.” The deep red to dark purple juice is often blended with other more flavorful juices such as apple, cranberry, grape, and black currant to make popular juice drinks.


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SpeciesChokeberry

Black ChokeberryNative black chokeberry matures smaller, rarely exceeding 3’ tall and 8’ in width. Outstanding, lustrous dark green summer foliage turns a blend of yellow, orange, and red in fall. Shrub has a rounded habit and is full to its base. Occurs in similar wet locations to A. arbutifolia, but also is found growing on sand dunes, dry rocky slopes, dry bluffs and balds, and grassy areas.

McKenzieEstablishes readily and adaptable to a diverse array of sites. Glossy leaves, showy flowers, abundant, pendulous fruit clusters, and red fall color add to its visual appeal and desirability in the landscape. The name ,'McKenzie', was chosen to acknowledge the initial evaluation planting site in North Dakota where the original plants were established in 1976 and continue to perform well today.

NeroPrized for its delicious fruit and brilliant red fall foliage. Self-pollinating. Tolerates drought and salty soils. Cold-hardy and easy-to-grow once established.

VikingSelf-fertile, low maintenance growth habit and drought- and wet-tolerant. Suitable for growing on the margins of ponds or streams.

Pollination: Self-fertile. Provides excellent source of nectar for many pollinators including ants, butterflies, honeybees, flies, and hummingbirds.

Diseases and pests: Chokeberries are resistant to drought, insects, pollution and disease but have no serious insect or disease problems.

AroniaAll species listed are A.melanocarpa

Specialty Crops 17

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Walk-A-Way SystemGive your trees the best beginning

When you choose Forrest Keeling’s RPM-produced trees and shrubs, you’ve started with the best plants in the market. Here are three key steps to support your care for your new plants, and help ensure the success of your project. These are also steps in our legendary Walk-A-Way System. A PDF of this system can be found online at http://bit.ly/NI4nfo.

FEED—Give your trees extra nourishment to insure good first year growth. We recommend application of a slow-release fertilizer during late fall or winter, when your new trees are dormant. Our preference is a fertilizer with analysis of 22-5-6 and including IBDU (isobutylidene diurea) such as Scotts Field Fertilizer 22-5-6 with IBDU.

Minimum application rates should be in relation to your plant's drip zone circumference. Increased rates with slow-release fertilizer may improve growth and performance without adverse effect on trees.

Specialty Crops 17

Weed Barrier Mat Typical Installation

GUARD—Wildlife loves RPM-produced trees, too. Especially when they’re young and tender. Protect your new trees with a proper guard system that both protects and allows for growth. Our system incorporates a white, reclaimed rigid 24-30" length of PVC that wraps around your new tree’s trunk to reduce harm from rabbits, rodents, and deer. Even weed whips and mowers!

PROTECT — With cultivation, fertilization and water can also come weeds! This unwanted intrusion could be reduced with a weed barrier mat. Our favorite is a thin, water-permeable, 4' X 4' photodegradable polypropylene mat that can be secured in spring with landscape staples. For other sites, hardwood mulch is an easier, more economical and better environmental choice.


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Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) Pawpaw is the only member of the tropical custard apple family that grows in the temperate North and is not found in the tropics. It is a native of 26 states from Louisiana to Ontario, Canada, from the Atlantic west to the Mississippi and as far west as Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Specialty Crops 19

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Zones: 5-8

Soil requirements: Tolerates wide range of moist, well-drained soils with acid to neutral acidity (pH of 6.0 to 7.0). Preference is rich, deep, loamy soil with high organic matter content.

Cultural requirements: Pawpaws are a small understory tree that grows 15-20' in height and 30-40' in width. The trees prefer a humid climate with 30" of annual rainfall and at least 150 warm, frost-free days for ripening fruit. Pawpaws are hardy to -20 F.

Sun or shade? Provide full sun to partial shade. Best fruit production occurs in full sun.

Mature size: H: 15-30' W: 15-30'

Bloom time: April-May

Harvest time: Aug.-late Sept. or early Oct.


Fast Facts:

Best for rich, deep, loamy soil

High nutritional value; largest native fruit in

North America.Pawpaw fruits, usually three to six inches long, are high in nutritional value and the largest native fruit in North America.

With its delicious fruit and tropical-looking foliage, Pawpaw, Asimina triloba, is a unique candidate for any landscape that offers a moist site with part to full sun. The flavor of the pawpaw is described as a cross between a mango and a banana with the texture of custard. It is delicious raw, or cooked into dishes ranging from breads to beer to ice cream. Easy-bruising pawpaws have a short shelf life and don’t fit the current large-scale business model for farm-to-market.

Native Americans, explorers and pioneers ate pawpaw for pleasure and subsistence. However, the pawpaw fell out of popular use in the late 1800s. In the mid-1980s, plant geneticist Neal Peterson began his evaluation of Midwest varieties. After more than 20 years of selection, Peterson’s work resulted in six outstanding, patented Peterson Pawpaw® varieties.

ASIMINAPawpaw


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SpeciesPawpaw

Asimina

Native PawpawSweet native, grove-forming tree found throughout the eastern, southern and Midwestern United States, as far north as Ontario, Canada and as far west as southeastern Nebraska and eastern Texas. Occurs in well-drained, deep, fertile bottomlands and uplands. The pawpaw fruit is the largest edible fruit that is indigenous to the United States.

Allegheny®* Sweet, rich flavored fruit with a hint of citrus. Medium, firm texture with yellow flesh. Very productive tree, though the size of the fruit is smaller than other selections. Fruit size is typically less than 8 oz. Percent seed~8% by weight.

AtwoodTM

Unique flavored fruit reminiscent of a mango-banana-pineapple blend. Strong, 90o branching habit in comparison to other varieties. Medium-to large-sized fruits with few seeds ripen in September to a bluish-green hue. High yields of larger, commercially-desirable fruit. Disease- and pest-resistant.

BensonTM

High yields of round, medium-sized fruits that ripen early in the season and pack well. Excellent flavor combines mango-pineapple and banana.

ChappelleTM

Large, yellowish-green fruit ripens mid-season with creamy, sweet, banana-pineapple flavor of 250 grams on average. Fruits also have fewer seeds (5 percent seed by weight). Extremely vigorous and high-yielding, KSU-Chappelle™ is the third unique release from Kentucky State University.

MangoVery vigorous growing and early ripening selection. Fruit is large with yellow flesh and firm, smooth texture. The flavor is similar to a mango.

NC-1Fruit has few seeds; yellow skin and flesh; thin skin; early ripening, mid-September in Ontario and early September in Kentucky. Fruit size large; averaging 6 oz and 45 fruit per tree at KSU.

All species listed are A. triloba. *Peterson Pawpaw® cultivar

Orchard spacing: Space trees closely, 10-20 feet apart, to ensure good pollination. Pawpaws are insect pollinated and the trees self-infertile.

Pollination: Plant a minimum of two trees for proper pollination and fruiting.

Years to first fruit and harvest: Seedlings normally begin to flower and fruit in four to eight years, depending on seedling quality, location suitability, care and cultivation, and the tree’s genetic makeup (precocity). A grafted tree can begin flowering two to three years after planting. Prime bearing age is 10 to 12 years after planting.

Diseases and pests: Few problems, but primary issues are:

• Asmina webworm moth• Pawpaw Peduncle Borer• Leafspot • Fruit spot, sooty mold and

flyspeck • Black fungus rot • Phytophthora root rot • Sunscald

Specialty Crops 21

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OverleaseSelected from the wild in Rushville, IN, by W.B. Ward in 1950. Slow to bear, fruit with excellent flavor ripens early September in Kentucky and 1st week of October in Michigan. Fruit size large; averaging over 6 ounces each and 55 fruit per tree at KSU.

Pennsylvania GoldenFruit has yellow skin when ripening, golden flesh with very good flavor. Precocious and bears reliably. Matures late August in Kentucky and mid-September in New York. Fruit size medium; averaging 3-4 oz and 120 fruit per tree at KSU.

Potomac®*Sweet and rich flavor with firm texture and medium yellow flesh. Good production with above average size fruit. Upright grower with less spread than other selections. Fruit size is typically 12 oz or larger. Percent seed~4% by weight.

ProlificLarge fruit, yellow flesh; Precocious as well as high-yielding. Fruit ripens first week of October in MI. Fruit has excellent flavor.

Rappahannock®*These medium to large fruits are beautiful, well-shaped and symmetrical, whether borne singly or in clusters. The flavor is sweet and refreshing. Fruit has firm flesh and few seeds (3% by weight).

Shenandoah®*Smooth, custardy texture, with just the right balance of fragrance, sweet fruity flavor and agreeable aftertaste. Large fruit with few seeds (6% by weight) and a higher yield than many cultivars. Fruit often borne singly, so needs little thinning. Texture is firmer than wild pawpaws.

SunflowerPrecocious and partly self-fertile; yields reliably. Medium to large fruit, 5-6 oz.; yellow skin; butter-color flesh; few seeds; ripens early to mid-September in Kentucky and first week of October in MI. Yield is high, with an average of 75 fruit per tree at KSU.

Our Walk-A-Way system helps increase survivability. See page 17 for more details.

My favorite way to eat a pawpaw

is to cut the ripe fruit down the middle and scoop the flesh out with a spoon. Suck on the seeds and then spit them out. In this way you can experience the full complex flavor of the pawpaw from the initial aroma to the long lingering aftertaste. Can't get enough of dem pawpaws!

Neal Peterson, owner, Peterson Pawpaws


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Susquehanna™ *Outstanding for combining large size with rich pawpaw flavor, great sweetness and fleshiness, and firm buttery texture. It has the largest fruit of the Peterson Pawpaw™ varieties, sometimes weighing over a pound. With a firm texture and a thicker skin, it is less fragile than most and has the fewest seeds of any variety (3% by weight).

Tallahatchie™ *All-around high quality and named one of nine best Advance Numbered Selections. Exceptional flavor with a floral note, smooth texture. Bears medium to large fruits in clusters of five, each with few seeds. Ripens mid- to late-season.

Wabash®*Fruits have sweet and rich flavor with creamy, smooth and firm texture. The flesh color is yellow to pale orange. It has good productivity with fruit size typically 8-12 oz. Percent seed~6% by weight.

WellsFruit has green skin; orange flesh with excellent flavor. Slow to begin bearing. Ripens mid to late-September in Kentucky. Medium to large fruit size averaging 3-4 ounces per fruit and 65 fruit per tree at KSU.

SpeciesPawpaw

AsiminaAll species listed are A. triloba. *Peterson Pawpaw® cultivar

Judy's Pawpaw Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 8 egg yolks• 2 cups half and half• 2 cups heavy cream• 1 1⁄4 cups granulated sugar• 2 vanilla beans, split,

seeds scraped• 6 pawpaws (about 6 oz.),

split, pulp saved, seeds discarded

Instructions:

1. Place yolks in a large bowl and set aside.

2. Heat half and half, cream, sugar, and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming, about 5 minutes.

3. Whisk about 1⁄4 cup of the hot cream gradually into yolks.

4. Stir egg-cream mixture back into pot of hot cream.

5. Continue stirring, with a wooden spoon, until mixture coats back of spoon, 4-5 minutes.

6. Strain, cool, then stir pawpaw pulp into mixture and transfer to an ice cream maker. Process until churned and thick. Transfer to an airtight storage container and freeze until set, at least 4 hours.

Specialty Crops 23

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Hickory (Carya) Hickories produce one of the most delicious nuts in the Midwest. There are 12 species in North America. Wood is used to make furniture and flooring, and to smoke meats. Lush, shade-producing foliage and handsome fall foliage makes hickories a good choice for landscapes.

Specialty Crops 25

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CARYAHickory

Zone: Zones 5-9

Soil requirements: Native to low wood, river bottoms and stream banks, hickories prefer a rich, well-drained loamy soil.

Cultural requirements: Hickories require time and patience, but once established are sturdy and long-lived, up to 300 years. The trees tend to bear nuts in alternate years and offer best yields on sunny sites.

Sun or shade? Provide full sun to partial shade. Best nut production occurs in full sun.

Mature size: H: 60-80' W: 40-60'

Orchard spacing: Begin at a spacing of 25-35'


Harvest time: Sept.-Oct.

Life Expectancy: Long-lived, as much as 200-300 years

Fast Facts:

Best for rich, well-drained

loamy soil

Valued for lumber, adds flavor to smoked meats.

Hickory trees (Carya spp.) are split into two groups -- true hickories and pecan hickories -- distinguished by the number of leaflets on each leaf. Relative to other hardwoods, hickory trees are slow growing, but can live for hundreds of years. The fastest growing true hickory is the shagbark hickory (C. ovata).

Hickories and oaks dominate the North American hardwood forest. Most species offer edible large nuts that vary in size and taste. Carya laciniosa (shellbark hickory) offers the largest and best tasting nuts, while C. cordiformis (bitternut hickory) and C. glabra (pignut hickory) have bitter tasting nuts.


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SpeciesHickory

Bitternut (C. cordiformis)Medium to large, broadly columnar tree that grows to 80'. Reddish brown, bitter nut meats; Small fruit, 2 to 4 cm long, rounded, four-winged from the apex to the middle; thin husk is covered with small yellow scales.

Hican (C. Illinoiensis X C. laciniosa)Cross or hybrid species between a type of hickory and type of pecan. Most produce unfilled or flawed nuts, however, many prefer the flavor of the easy-to-shell hican nut to those of hickory. Forrest Keeling is developing several hican selections.

Mockernut (C. tomentosa)Medium to large tree with straight trunk and rounded crown. The fruits, 3.8 to 5 cm long, are difficult to extract from the substantial husk that splits nearly to the base when ripe; nuts have thick shell and sweet kernel.

Pollination: Hickories pollinate by air. It is best to plant two varieties or seedlings for successful pollination.

Years to first fruit: The trees tend to bear nuts in alternate years and may take eight to 10 years or more to begin producing nuts.

Diseases and pests: • No serious insect or disease

problems• Hickory bark beetle• Pecan weevil • Twig girdler

Carya

Specialty Crops 27

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Pignut (C. glabra)Small bitter fruits, 2.5 cm long and 2 cm wide, pear-shaped with thin, dark brown husk and thick shell

Shagbark (C. ovate)The common name comes from its loose-plated bark, which is wide and curls away from the tree at the ends and gives a distinctive, shaggy appearance. Grows best in humid climates, but is very hardy and will adapt to a wide variety of climates.

Shellbark (C. laciniosa)Commonly called Kingnut Hickory in reference to bearing the largest nuts of the hickories: 4.5 to 6.5 cm long and 3.8 cm broad, which occur singly or in pairs. Thick husk splits readily into segments to expose sweet nuts when ripe in early fall. Nut is flattened and ridged with thick, hard shell.

Fall is a great time for planting! Plantings benefit from still warm soil and winter's snows and rain.

Agroforestry projects can

become profitable earlier with the faster flowering and fruiting of RPM-produced trees and shrubs. And, their accelerated growth means greater survival, too!Dr. Gene Garrett, professor emeritus, Center for Agroforestry-University of Missouri, Columbia


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Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) Pecans are North America’s largest commercial crop of native fruit or nuts and produce 75% of the world’s production—as much as 400 million pounds annually. Provides valuable wildlife food and cover, erosion control in floodplains and prized lumber and veneer.

Specialty Crops 29

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Zone: Zones 5-9

Soil requirements: Site should be deep upland or bottomland soil with moderate to good internal drainage and topsoil depth of three feet or more. Water table should not be closer than six feet from soil surface. Soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Smooth level sites facilitate mechanical harvest.

Cultural requirements: Pecans require time and patience, but once established are sturdy and long-lived.

Sun or shade? Full sun

Mature size: H: 65-130' W: 40-75'



Years to first fruit: Four to 12 years depending on cultivar, with harvests September through October.


Fast Facts:

Best for humid climate and well-drained

soils.

Healthy, sweet nuts.Largest member of the hickory family, the pecan

(Carya illinoinensis) is native to the rich, moist soils of North American bottomlands, especially of the Mississippi Valley. Its characteristic tall, straight trunk with symmetrical, broadly oval crown is a common silhouette on farms and family homesteads throughout the Midwest and Southern United States.

The pecan’s sweet edible nuts are favored by wildlife and people, and are also full of health benefits. Pecan has the highest level of antioxidants among all nutmeats. Growing pecans requires patience and a long-term commitment. However, pecan trees can grow and produce quality nuts for decades with minimal effort and expense. Some commercial pecan plantings are well over 75 years old and still very productive.

CARYAPecan


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SpeciesPecan

HarkScab-resistant species with slightly rounded, thin-shelled nut with light meat. Nuts have thick husk that hold nuts until after a hard freeze, and average 7.35g/nut and 56% kernel. Trees and exhibit shaggy bark and have naturally spreading habit, which helps prevent wind breakage. Good production of nuts primarily borne in clusters of three. Type 1 Pollen.

KanzaOriginally from a controlled cross ('Major' X 'Shoshoni'). USDA release was tested as 55-11-11; 77 nuts/lb., 52% kernel; Medium-sized kernels golden in color. Released for its ability to produce good yields of high-quality nuts in the northern pecan producing regions (Zone 6b). Protogynous, with late pollen shed and early pistillate receptivity. Kanza has superior cold hardiness and excellent scab resistance. Type 2 Pollen.

Lakota'Lakota' originated from a controlled cross ('Mahan' X 'Major'). It was tested as 64-6-502 and released cooperatively by USDA-ARS and the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Kansas State University in 2007. There are 59 nuts/lb., with 62% kernel. Kernels are cream to golden in color. Nuts shell out easily into full halves and are very attractive. Time of spring bud break is like 'Kanza' and 'Pawnee'.

'Lakota' is protogynous, with early to mid-season receptivity and mid to late season pollen shed (like Kanza). Good pollinizer for, and well pollinized by, 'Pawnee'. Time of nut maturity is early, about two weeks after 'Pawnee'. Has performed well in tests in the northern pecan production areas of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas. Trees are vigorous, upright in growth habit and develop strong limb angles and a wind-resistant tree structure. 'Lakota' is very resistant to scab disease, with medium susceptibility to yellow and black aphids. Type 2 Pollen.

All cultivars are grafted on C. illinoinensis root stock.

Carya

Pollination: Pecan are dichogamous, with staminate and pistillate flowers opening at different times, so a cultivar cannot pollinate itself. Pecan orchards require at least one protandrous cultivar (Type 1) and at least one protogynous cultivar (Type 2) for successful pollination.

Orchard spacing: Orchards will begin at a 35' x 35' (35 trees per acre) with three tree thinnings over 40 years. Recommended spacings are 50' x 50' (17 trees per acre) in years 8 through 20, 70' x 70' (eight trees per acre) in years 20 through 40 and 100' x 100' (four trees per acre) in years 40 through 80.

Diseases and pests: The pecan’s ability to withstand wetter soils leads to fewer deadly pests and diseases than other fruit and nut crops.

• Cotton root rot • Crown gall • Nematodes • Aphids• Phylloxera • Spider mite • Fall webworm • Pecan nut casebearer • Hickory shuckworm • Pecan weevil

Specialty Crops 31

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Other notes:MajorOne of the best-flavored pecans for USDA zones 5-9. Cold-hardy trees produce 77-80 medium-sized nuts per pound of excellent quality and high oil content. Prefers moist soil. Pollinator to Kanza, Lakota and Oswego. Type 1 Pollen.

OswegoSeedling selection of the cultivar ‘Greenriver’. This KSU-OF1 clone has twice the yield of ‘Greenriver’. Scab resistant. Protogynous. Type 2 Pollen.

PawneeCross of ‘Mohawk’ x ‘Starking Hardy Giant’; Earliest ripening, large-fruited pecan for northern states. There are 56 nuts/lb. with 59% kernel fill. Light colored kernel with excellent quality. ‘Pawnee’ is protandrous and is a good early season pollinator. Kanza and Lakota will pollinate ‘Pawnee’. Smaller mature size than other cultivars making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces and home orchards. Type 1 Pollen.

ShepherdNative selection that produces well-filled, easily shelled, oblong nuts of good shape maturing in late fall with 65 nuts per pound with 53% kernel. Pecan scab resistant. Selected from specimens in Chariton County, Missouri. Type 1 pollen.

Harvesting nuts: Pecan shucks split open and peel back from the nuts when mature. This allows nuts to shake free. Shucks must be split before the first killing frost or the nuts will remain as “stick-tights” with shucks.

Prepare orchard for harvest by mowing groundcover and removing debris. When 70-80% of nut clusters have opened shucks and kernel moisture is below 10%, shake a test tree for 10 seconds to see if at least 80% of the nuts drop.

Forrest Keeling brings nearly seven decades of experience to your special project.


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Chestnut (Castanea) Crosses of the Chinese and European chestnut offer excellent, sustainable farm products. Chestnuts are a growing agroforestry industry for the Midwest. Cold-hardy to -20F, species grow well throughout USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8.

Specialty Crops 33

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CASTANEAChestnutIn 1904, the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) came into the United States from Asia. Between the blight and heavy harvesting, the American chestnut population was decimated within a few decades.

Three Castanea species are native to the U.S.— American chestnut (C. dentata), Allegheny chinkapin (C. pumila var. pumila), and Ozark chinkapin (C. pumila var. ozarkensis).

Blight-resistant chestnuts, which provide the basis for world-wide chestnut production are the Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), European chestnut (C. sativa) and Japanese chestnut (C. crenata). "Korean" chestnuts belong to the Japanese or Chinese species.

Each bur contains one to three nuts with a starchy texture like potato but with a mild nutty flavor. Nuts are used mainly in baked goods and as a low-fat, vegetarian ingredient that can be used for a wide range of dishes. Chestnuts and chestnut flour are gluten-free.

Origins and comparisons of cultivars:

There are great differences between cultivars, but also genetic variation within all chestnut species, especially the Chinese, European, and Japanese hybrids. Consider the best species to thrive on your site and best produce for your intended purposes.

The main drawback to chestnut seedlings, especially those from European or Japanese hybrids, is variation in ripening date and nut size. Chinese chestnut hybrids tend to produce seedlings like their parent stock.

Forrest Keeling’s grafted chestnut cultivars offer many advantages including yield consistency, nut quality and chestnut blight resistance.

Zone: Zones 4-8

Soil requirements: Grow in moist, deep, well drained, rich loams with pH of 6.5 to 7.0.

Cultural requirements: Chestnuts are a medium sized tree that matures to about a 40' height and width.

Trees are tolerant of summer heat and humidity and do well in dry conditions after establishment. Chestnuts will not self-pollinate. Plant two or more trees for proper cross-pollination.

Sun or shade? Full sun

Mature size: H: 40-60' W: 40-60'


Years to first fruit: Bearing begins three to four years after planting with full production by year seven.

Fast Facts:

Best in midwest; blight resistant

Low-fat nut, makes gluten-free flour, strong wood


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Improved Chinese ChestnutMedium to large understory tree with broad crown. Native trees have two to three small fruits (2-3 cm diameter each) in each spiny cupule. Chinese chestnuts grown from seed of superior selections readily cross-pollinates with other species of chestnut to form hybrids.

Benton HarborMore vigorous cultivar than most Chinese chestnut trees but willowy habit. May break branches in wind, but grows back quickly. Best yields for Michigan orchards with excellent quality, medium to large nuts, 34-38/lb. Blight-resistant. Do not plant within 500-1000 feet of ‘Colossal’ trees.

EatonSweet, flavorful, medium nuts (32-40/lb.) mature in late Sept. and store well. Cold-hardy cultivar with large, spreading growth habit. Fertile pollen is resistant to chestnut blight.

Gideon Disease- and cold-resistant hybrid Chinese chestnut cultivar with spreading habit and consistent high yields of uniform, attractive easy-to-peel nuts (28-38/lb.) with excellent flavor. Early harvest time.

SpeciesChestnut

Orchard spacing: Plant trees on 20' centers with the planned removal of alternate trees so mature trees are spaced 40' apart. Calculation of planting trees and future pruning should allow space for pollinators.

Pollination: Chestnut are mainly pollinated by wind and require cross-pollination between different trees with the same bloom time within 200 feet of each other to set nuts. All species of chestnuts can pollinate each other, but hybrids often produce no pollen (e.g., “male sterile”). When planning your orchard, be sure to include fertile pollen source trees.

Diseases and pests: • Phytophthora • Oak root rot • Oriental chestnut gall wasp • Chestnut weevil

CastaneaAll cultivars of Chinese Chestnuts are grafted on C. mollisima root stock. Improved Chinese Chestnut is a non-grafted seedling.

Specialty Crops 35

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Homestead Consistent producer of medium-to-large nuts (30-40/lb.) with sweet flavor and firm texture. Blight resistant and cold hardy. Nuts ripen in late-September.

PeachSlow growing, blight-resistant Chinese chestnut selection that matures mid-season. Typical large nut yields are compromised by very low temperatures. Nuts have less flavor.

Qing (pronounced ‘ching’)Fertile hybrid cultivar. Blight resistant trees with compact crown and heavy production of very large sweet nuts that mature mid-season, peel easily and store well.

Sleeping GiantFertile hybrid cultivar with proven blight resistance and large, spreading tree habit. Bears many small to medium-sized sweet, easy-to-peel nuts that mature early in season. Often grown for timber.

Forrest Keeling grows a variety of chestnut species in seedling and grafted RPM-produced trees, including open-pollinated, improved chestnut seedlings. Two of these seedlings were developed by Bond Selection Orchards near Mexico, Missouri.

C. mollissima 'Bond Orchard SelectionTM 20817' from the Dunston variety

C. mollissima 'Bond Orchard SelectionTM 20818' from the Qing variety

With proper plant husbandry, all RPM-produced chestnuts begin bearing fruit in three to five seasons—years earlier than traditionally produced trees! All Forrest Keeling Chinese chestnut exhibit good uniformity in phenotype of seedling trees and chestnuts, excellent hybrid vigor and hardiness, superior nut production, pest resistance and diverse site tolerance.


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SpeciesChestnut

Castanea

Bouche de BetizacHybrid of the Bouche Rouge and Japanese chestnuts with exaggerated upright habit and good production. Burrs produce three equally sized nuts, which fall from the burr in early- to mid-season. Refrigerated nuts store up to four weeks. Does not produce pollen. Best pollinators for Bouche de Betizac include Belle Epine, Precoce Migoule, or Marival. Blight- and cold-tolerant to -30oF.

ColossalPrimary chestnut cultivar planted in U.S. in recent years. Pollen is sterile. Trees must be planted in rows next to European/Japanese cultivar or Korean cultivar pollen source, such as ‘Precoce Migoule’ or ‘Labor Day’. Fast-growing trees have large, spreading crown and produce excellent, early yields of large, round to triangular nuts, 20-30/pound, which are sweet after curing. Nuts mature in early October. Cold-tolerant to -20oF. Susceptible to blight.

Labor DayCultivar with good, consistent nut production of medium-sized, sweet nuts (32-40/lb.) Selected from parent tree with Korean or Japanese chestnut genetics (likely, C. crenata). Prolific pollen shed early in season. Good pollinator for early flowering hybrids like, ‘Colossal’, ‘Bouche de Betizac’ and ‘Precoce Migoule’. Resistant to chestnut blight.

Cultivars below are grafted hybrids of C. sativa x C. crenata.

Chestnut is one of our top

three agroforestry crop trees.

Lupe Rios, Forrest Keeling production, research and development manager

Specialty Crops 37

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MarigouleSlow-growing French hybrid with mid-season fall of medium to large nuts in the burr. Moderate production of nuts that are sweet and easy-to-peel after curing for a few days. More upright habit than most hybrids. Blight-tolerant and resistant to root rot. Cold tolerant to -30oF. Excellent pollinator for pollen sterile hybrids including Colossal, Bouche de Betizac, and Marrone.

MarsolFrench hybrid with large to very large nuts that have good flavor and fall free of the burr in mid-season. Trees have strong, upright habit and bud early in spring. Good pollinator. Cold tolerant to -30oF. Resistant to root rot.

MarivalFrench hybrid with upright habit that offers average production. Large, deep red nuts fall free from the burr in mid- to late-season and store well. Prolific pollen production that can pollenate trees over 150 feet away. Blight resistant and cold tolerant to -30oF. Resistant to root rot.

Precoce MigouleFrench hybrid between European chestnut (C. sativa) and Japanese chestnut (C. crenata). Vigorous with upright growth with copious, early pollen suitable for pollenating ‘Colossal’. Medium to large, slightly flattened nuts (28-32/lb.), which mature earlier than ‘Colossal’.

Chestnuts are a profitable

crop because of their nutritious, low-fat nuts. But, the tree itself is attractive enough to be an ornamental.Wayne Lovelace, Forrest Keeling president


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Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) Persimmon fruits are a valuable food source to wildlife. Persimmon fruit is high in vitamins A and C. The bright orange color and delicious, sweet flavor compliment many other foods.

Specialty Crops 39

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Zone: Zones 4-9

Soil requirements: Persimmons are adapted to a wide variety of soil types. They are tolerant of wet soils and do well on light sandy soils. Once established, they can withstand considerable drought.

Pollination: Persimmons are dioecious, bearing staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers on separate trees. Almost all American persimmons require pollination from one staminate pollinizer for every five to six trees of the female, fruit bearing cultivar.

Sun or shade? Can tolerate some shade, but requires sun for ripening fruit.

Mature size: H: 35-60' W: 20-35'

Bloom time: April-June


Fast Facts:

Best for all soil types.

Healthy, sweet fruit, high in

Vitamins A & C.The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), also known as the common persimmon, is native from Florida to Connecticut, west to Iowa and south to Texas.

Persimmons are easy-to-grow and tolerate winter temperatures to minus 25 degrees F. They are commonly seen along fencerows, roadsides and field edges the slow-growing tree produces small bell-shaped flowers in late spring.

In fall, a persimmon tree’s foliage is a brilliant array of reds, oranges and yellows. After frost, mature persimmon fruits turn fiery orange and taste like an apricot.

DIOSPYROSPersimmon


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SpeciesPersimmon

Persimmon (native)Medium sized, grove forming tree that is found from southern Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas and north to Iowa. The tree has been cultivated for its fruit and wood since prehistoric times. The fragrant summer flowers are dioecious, so one must have both male and female trees to produce fruit. Most cultivars are parthenocarpic, meaning seedless fruit will set without pollination.

Early GoldenA selection from Illinois where it ripens in September. Sweet flavored, medium to large size fruit with yellow flesh and thin skin. Few seeds.

ElmoA hand pollinated cross of Golden Supreme x Garretson. Nice orange, flavorful fruit with no black spots. Disease and pest-resistant.

F-100Male selection of native persimmon excellent for pollination of other selections. This Claypool selection bears perfect flowers with both male and female parts in addition to flowers in varying degrees of progression from pure male to perfect.

GarretsonHardy to zone 4b - A seedling of Early Golden. It is a relatively early ripener and has been noted to ripen as far north as Geneva NY and Grant MI. The small to medium sized fruit is a rich orange color, soft with good flavor and small seeds. High yields. Ripens early October.

Lena (also ‘Mitche’ or ‘Mitchellena’)Winner of Mitchell Persimmon Festival in 1955. Fruit is squat and soft with tender skin and an attractive red color. Good in cooked products. Flavor holds up well in frozen pulp. It ripens early and over a long period.

MeaderVery cold hardy selection; hardy to zone 4a. Medium sized, firm fruit is approximately 1.5" in diameter and has few seeds. It has an outstanding, very sweet flavor. Tree habit is narrow, with large ornamental dark leaves. Seedless and self-fertile.

All selections are grafted except native.

Cultural requirements: Persimmons are one of the easiest fruit trees to grow and live 50-75 years. They have almost no pest or disease problems. Persimmons prefer moderately well drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Trees can be kept small with pruning. After tree form is established with modified central leader, confine pruning to light thinning and heading back excessively vigorous growth. Persimmons flower and bear fruit on the current seasons growth.

Years to first fruit: Five to six years for native selections, two to three years for grafted trees.

Harvest time: Oct-Nov (Fruit must experience frost to soften and become sweet.)

Diseases and pests: • Phytophthora root rot • Crown gall • Persimmon wilt • Twig girdler • Persimmon borer • Sunscald • Angular leaf spot • Persimmon psylla • Scale insects• Fall webworm• Anthracnose

Diospyros

Specialty Crops 41

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Nikita's GiftTM

Unique, self-fertile hybrid of American and Asian persimmons developed in the Ukraine. Hardy to -10oF in zones 6 to 9. Bears first crop of fruits in about three years. Sweet fruits ripen to red-orange in mid- to late October, are about 2.5" in diameter and slightly flattened. Trees are smaller than the native American persimmon, maturing to a height of 10-12 feet. Striking orange fall foliage.

ProkSelection from New York. Large fruit, 2.25" average size. Fruit are nearly seedless and the tree is a good producer. Tree is very ornamental with large, attractive leaves.

RosseyankaHybrid of D. virginiana x D. kaki. Fruit tastes like a blend of soft Asian persimmon and ripe native persimmon. The fruit is seedless and larger than native persimmon. The foliage is a nice orange color in the fall.

YatesHardy to zone 5a — Selection from Indiana fruit have excellent flavor, are large, averaging 2 ½" in diameter, and have few seeds. Fruit will be smaller and seedless if no pollinizers grow within ½ mile. Ripens in late August-early September. A very productive tree. Self-fertile.

RPM-production creates unsurpassed root mass for easier transplanting and faster growth

Grafting allows us to create

genetically identical trees with the same desirable characteristics, which is critical for commercial plantings and orchards.Lupe Rios, FKN production manager


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Walnuts (Juglans) Long-lived and durable, walnut is North America’s second largest nut crop. Several North American Juglans species are used for lumber, however only eastern black walnut (J.nigra) is also propagated for its edible nutmeats.

Specialty Crops 43

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Black walnut is a large tree, which matures at 70-100' in height. Its wood is prized throughout the world for its beautiful color, strength and durability. Black walnuts strong-flavored nutmeats have the highest protein content of tree nuts and are encased in thick, sturdy husks.

Butternut is also called white walnut or oilnut. The fast-growing native hardwood is similar in shape to black walnut, but smaller. Its large, sharply ridged, oval fruits earned it the nickname of lemon-nut. Both the sweet nuts and the workable wood are valued; the tree is also a source of medicine, dye and sap sugar.

More cold tolerant than black walnut, butternut occurs throughout the northeastern USDA zones 3-8 and at elevations up to 4,900'. Butternut is intolerant of shade and competition as well as disturbances from wind damage and fire. Conservation plantings and protection of natural regeneration sites are helping restore populations.

Best for deep, fertile soil

Edible nut, wildlife food and valuable lumber

Fast Facts:Zone: Zones 4-8

Soil requirements: Black walnut grows best in deep, fertile soil that is moist but well drained. Ideal soil pH is 5.0 to 7.5. For optimal results, trees should receive six to eight hours of sunlight, 42-45 inches of precipitation and 140 or more frost-free days per year.

Cultural requirements: Walnuts of all species are long-lived. Orchards can remain productive for more than 50 years.

Sun or shade: Full sun

Mature size: H: 50-75' W: 50-75'




JUGLANSWalnuts


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Native Butternut or White Walnut (J. cinerea) Slow-growing tree. Its nuts are prized by wildlife. Sap used commercially for syrup production.

Black Walnut Fast growing Missouri native tree of bottomland and open fields. Beautiful, fine-grained wood prized for woodworking and quality veneers. Nutmeats are enjoyed by humans and wildlife.

Improved Seedling Produced from orchard collected seed of Purdue 1. Selected for timber quality however the parent tree bears abundant crops each year with nut set on lateral shoots.

Emma Kay Medium to large-sized nut, 34% kernel; good cracking qualities. Excellent flavor. Prolific, heavy producer. Protogynous.

SpeciesWalnut

Years to first harvest: Depending on cultivar and precocity, trees begin bearing nuts in three to seven years. Like most nut trees, walnuts tend to bear in biennial cycles with a heavier crop year followed by a lighter one. Best nut production begins when trees are 30 years old.

Pollination: Staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers of walnut cultivars open at different times, which prevent a tree from self-pollination. Cultivars with male flowers opening first are termed protandrous. When the female flowers open first, the cultivar is protogynous. Black walnut orchards must contain at least two walnut cultivars, one each protandrous and protogynous, for proper pollination and best yields.

Diseases and pests: • Anthracnose• Walnut Blight• Walnut Leaf Blotch• Deep Bark Canker and

Shallow Bark Canker • Honey Fungus• Verticillium wilt • Insect pests• Butternut Canker

JuglansAll species listed are J. nigra, unless otherwise noted.

Specialty Crops 45

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Quick Crop Mild flavor; light-colored, easy-to-shell nuts. Bears in two to three years after planting. Protogynous.

Sauber Large, high-quality nut, about 48% kernel. Cracks well. Excellent production with 20-25 nuts per pound. Protandrous.

Sparrow Medium-sized nut with excellent cracking qualities. Sweet flavor. Prolific annual bearer. Protogynous.

Thomas Black Produces a large, thin-shelled nut that cracks easily. The kernels are large and plump with a light color. Rich walnut flavor. Protogynous.

Orchard spacing: Space black walnuts 40'-80' apart and no closer than 50' from other trees and shrubs due to a natural toxic substance produced by the roots of black walnut (J. nigra L.) and Butternut (J. cinerea L.), juglone (5-hydroxy-alphanapthaquinone).

Susceptible plants include tomato, potato, blackberry, blueberry, azalea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, red pine and apple. The ‘danger zone’ for these plants is within the drip line of walnut trees and up to a radius from the trunk of 80 feet. The ‘zone’ increases each year as the tree grows.

Not all plants are sensitive to juglone. Some plants, like Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), thrive near walnut trees if there is sufficient sunlight and water. Juglone is poorly soluble and does not move very far in the soil. Horses and humans may have allergic reactions to black walnut chips or sawdust, or to pollen produced by spring tree blossoms.


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Plum (Prunus)Fruits of the American plum, chokecherry and black cherry are used to craft pastries, preserves, wine and certain liquors. The fruits are also enjoyed by wildlife and the nectar-rich flowers benefit bees and honey production.

Specialty Crops 47

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Zone: Zones 3-8

Soil requirements: Soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.5. All ‘Prunus’ species occur in rocky or sandy soils in wooded areas, pastures, along streams, but will tolerate dry soil. Flowers and fruits best in sun.

Cultural requirements: Adapted to coarse and medium-textured well-drained soils, but not fine soils. Little tolerance to shade or fire.

Sun or shade? Full sun to partial shade. Best fruit production occurs in full sun.

Mature size: H: 15-20' W: 8-15'

Pollination: Self-pollinating.

Orchard spacing: 10-14' apart within rows 16-18' apart.

Years to first fruit: 2 years

Harvest time: Aug.-Sept.


Fast Facts:

Best for moist, well-drained soil

Healthy, sweet fruit, high in

Vitamins A & C.American plum and chokecherry are shade tolerant trees. The multistem trees have a rounded habit, mature at 15-20' in height and sucker freely to form thickets or small groves. Their vigorous root systems make them a good choice for erosion control and conservation plantings.

The native plum is among the earliest to bloom in spring with abundant, fragrant white flowers. In late summer, sweet red plums follow. Fall foliage turns attractive hues of golden yellow to ruby red. Chokecherries also have white spring flower clusters. Red fruits ripen to purple in fall.

The chokecherry bears clusters of fruits and its leaf is dark green above with a paler underside and a finely serrated margin. The black cherry bears single fruits. Its leaf has numerous blunt edges along its margin and is dark green and smooth.

PRUNUSPlum


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SpeciesAmerican plum,

chokecherry and black cherry

American Plum (P. americana)This small, understory tree grows to 35 feet. Has scaly, black bark and spreading, rounded crown. Fragrant, white, spring flowers are borne in showy, flat-topped clusters. Abundant 1” fruit ripen to shiny red and yellow in late summer to early fall. Fall foliage turns attractive hues of golden yellow to ruby red.

Many species of birds and other small wildlife enjoy the fruit. The soft mast of native trees like American plum is an important component of Forrest Keeling’s Permaplot and similar perennial wildlife food plots. Because it spreads by roots, American plum is used in erosion control and other conservation remediation projects. The plums are eaten fresh and used in jellies and preserves. Numerous cultivated varieties with improved fruit have been developed from this native species. Native American plum appears to be disease-resistant unlike domesticated plums.

Diseases and pests: Native Prunus species are disease-resistant.

Other notes: All parts of American plum, except the flesh and skin of the plums, contain the toxin hydrocyanic acid. Branches are thorny.

Prunus

Specialty Crops 49

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Chicksaw Plum (P. angustifolia)Twiggy, thicket-forming tree similar to American plum. Fragrant white flowers bloom in spring in flat-topped clusters. Yellow fruit matures to red in late summer. Branches have thorny side branches. Pale-yellow fall foliage.

Chokecherry (P. virginiana)Naturalizing understory tree to 30 ft. tall. Dense clusters of white spring flowers followed by red chokecherry fruits that ripen to to dark purple in June to August. As the common name suggests, chokecherries are sour especially when immature. As they ripen, they can be made into preserves and jelly.

Wild black cherry (P. serotina)Black cherry is a deciduous tree, which can mature to over 100 feet. White flowers held in drooping racemes. Dark red fruit ripens to black. Crushed foliage and bark have distinctive cherry-like odor and bitter taste. Fall foliage is yellow.

Wild black cherry is native throughout the eastern U.S. and west to central Texas and mountains of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. Open-grown trees develop an oval crown with spreading, arching branches. Crowded trees grow tall and slender. Crushed foliage and bark have distinctive cherry-like odor and bitter taste, owing to the same cyanide-forming toxic compounds, such as amygdalin, found in the wood and leaves of some other woody members of the Rosaceae.

This widespread species is the largest and most important native cherry. The valuable wood is prized for furniture, paneling and professional instruments. Wild cherry syrup, a cough medicine, is obtained from the bark, and jelly and wine are prepared from the fruit. While the fruit is edible and used in beverages and cooking, other plant parts are toxic, due to the amygdalin. Wild black cherry was one of the first New World trees introduced into English gardens. The first record of planting in Europe was in 1629. It is now highly invasive there and in northern South America.

Other notes:


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Elderberry (Sambucus) Elderberries are used in preserves, wines and pastries. The shrub is attractive to wildlife for both its fruit and dense branching for nesting and cover.

Specialty Crops 51

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SAMBUCUSElderberry

Elderberry, or American elder, is a short, deciduous shrub that occurs along streambanks, in moist woodlands, thickets and fence rows. The distinctive, large, flat-topped flower clusters appear in spring and attract butterflies and other pollinators. Clusters (cymes) of tiny, dark purple to black berries appear in late summer and early fall.

Elderberry is used in preserves, wines and pastries. The elderflower has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, and is used in nutraceutical preparations. The nectar-rich flowers are beneficial for bees and honey production. Its vigorous root system and dense branching makes the shrub a natural choice for conservation plantings, windbreaks and erosion control. Best used massed and allowed to naturalize.

Zone: Zones 3-8

Soil requirements: Elderberry tolerates a variety of conditions but does best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. They do not tolerate poor drainage.

Cultural requirements: Keep well-watered and mulched during the first year of establishment. Best fruit production occurs in full sun.

Sun or Shade? Provide full sun to partial shade.

Mature size: H: 5-12' W: 5-12'

Orchard spacing: 3 to 12'

Harvest time: Aug.- Sept.

Bloom time: June-July

Life expectancy: 20 years

Fast Facts:

Best for humusy soils, wet or dry

Edible in wine, jams and pastries. Attracks bees.


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SpeciesElderberry

Adam'sOld timer's favorite for making wine and jellies. Heavy producer of large berry clusters. A hardy native plant, easy to grow.

Bob GordonSelected from the wild near Osceola, MO. Produces large clusters of berries on first year shoots, as well as smaller clusters on older shoots. Medium to large berries.

RanchPlants are shorter and more compact than most elderberry varieties, so berries are easier to reach for harvesting.

WyldewoodSelected from the wild near Eufaula, OK. Produces large clusters of berries on first year shoots as well as smaller clusters on older shoots. Medium to large berries. Large, vigorous, upright shrub.

YorkLargest berries of all American cultivars. Hardy, vigorous, highly productive 6-8' bush.

Years to first fruit: Elderberries fruit well in their second year. Many new canes sprout each year and reach full height in one season with lateral branches in the second.

Fruit is produced on the tips of the current season's growth, however second-year elderberry canes with good lateral development are the most fruitful. Remove all dead, broken or weak canes in late winter while the plants are dormant. Strive for an equal number of one, two, and three-year-old canes.

Diseases and pests: • Canker• Rust• Powdery mildew• Leaf spot• Japanese beetle• Cane borers• Eriophyid mite• Spider mite• Aphid

Other notes: Leaves, stems, roots, and unripe fruits of S. canadensis are toxic due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids.

SambucusAll species listed are S. canadensis

Specialty Crops 53

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agroforestry projectsNRCS cost share for

Specialty crops and other income-producing trees and shrubs can generate additional income for landowners from timber, nuts and fruit. In addition, these plantings naturally create conservation benefits like erosion control, stormwater filtration, wildlife habitat, lend natural beauty and help protect livestock with cooling shade and protection from wind.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers several voluntary programs to provide financial reimbursements to eligible landowners and agricultural producers who manage their land in a sustainable manner. The financial assistance can cover planning and application of conservation practices that save energy, improve soil, water and air resources and protect wildlife on these private lands.

Agroforestry blends agriculture and forestry practices to improve productivity, increase profitability and enrich the stewardship of our natural resources including carbon offsetting and reduction of greenhouse gas.

Cost share programs are particularly suited to agroforestry and specialty crop projects. Add to this the increasing commercial interest in woody specialty crops including elderberry, aronia, chestnut and pecan and it’s easy to predict a bright future for these compatible systems and growing government cost sharing.

Examples of available NRCS programs include:

• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) – helps agricultural producers maintain, improve and expand conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Payments are proportionate to conservation performance.

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – helps agricultural producers address and correct natural resources concerns.

Contact your local USDA office for more details.

Specialty Crops 53


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Notes

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Planting Plan

88 Forrest Keeling Lane • Elsberry, MO 63343 573-898-5571 • 800-356-2401 (toll free)

[email protected] (email)www.ForrestKeeling.com

specialt ropsdiseases of the root system however, verticillium wilt infects the roots and causes...

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