Black Walnut Trees Grow Up Fast

Black Walnut Trees Grow Up Fast AG WORLD Ag World 21-2-21 It used to take about 90 years before black walnut trees were ready to be cut for timber, but new "genetically superior" black walnut trees developed by Purdue University reach maturity in only about 30 years, says Jack Meyer, who's planted about 1,000 of the trees on his Geneva, Ind., farm. The new trees cost more than conventional seedlings but grow much faster and straighter, says Meyer, who was so impressed with the trees that he became a dealer. "In the old days you planted a bunch of trees back in the woods and hoped they would live and that deer wouldn't eat them. Growing these new varieties is more like farming," says Meyer. "I plant them in rows, irrigate them, prune them twice a year, put shelters around them, etc. I plant 140 trees per acre in rows 20 ft. apart and space the trees 15 ft. apart within the rows. We plant them in a æcheck' pattern the way corn was grown 30 years ago." During more than two decades, Purdue University researchers collected and grafted wood from over 400 superior black walnut trees from all over the Midwest. Through genetic evaluation in university clone banks, this group was narrowed to nine cultivars, each of which has since been patented. Two of the cultivars are available commercially - Purdue Number One and Tippecanoe Number One. Both are said to possess rapid growth and perfect form. In addition, Purdue Number One is a prolific nut bearer. Forest geneticist Dr. Walker Beineke says that if you plant the more common varieties of black walnuts, only a handful of the trees will produce veneer-quality wood, even with the best care. "Except for those damaged by outside forces such as lightning, all of the trees produced by these patented varieties should be veneer grade." Meyer planted his first trees three years ago as 14-in. seedlings and has some that are already 10 ft. tall. A few of them even have nuts on them although nuts aren't normally expected until the seventh year. "In dry weather we usually water the trees twice a week for two or three hours at a rate of 1 gal. per tree per hour. We also apply liquid fertilizer to the trees once or twice a year," he says. He places 4-ft. tall plastic tubes around young trees. "They protect the trees from deer and other animals and boost growth because they keep the temperature around trees about 10 degrees warmer. The tubes also allow me to spray Roundup so that I can kill weeds without killing the tree." Grafts of the new trees are available from Purdue and from dealers each spring in limited quantities. When you order seedlings or grafts, you get a 12-page instruction manual and a video tape on taking care of the trees. The American Black Walnut Association will also provide in-formation periodically during the year. Prices for seedlings and grafts range from $6 to $19 apiece. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jack Meyer, 163 S. Drive, Geneva, Ind. 46740 (ph/fax 219 368-9498).

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