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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] autumn Olive allelopathy?

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  • From: Hector Black <hblack@twlakes.net>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] autumn Olive allelopathy?
  • Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 17:48:46 -0500

This is an interesting thread. We've been growing autumn olives for 26
years here in middle TN. They haven't given us a problem because we mow our
fields and orchard and they have proved very beneficial. As you know, they
fix nitrogen so we have used as them as nurse crop for our nut trees. Never
had a problem with alleopathy. Weeds nearby grow huge, but the autumn olive
gives dense shade which may be at least in part, the reason for the lack of
plant life underneath. They have stimulated the growth of our pawpaws,
brambles, currants as well as nut trees.

But the best part is the fruit. There are thornless varieties which have
larger fruit and are very productive. Some of them turned out to have 17
times the lycopene of tomatoes. Check your ARS website for research done at
Beltsville. Evidently also plenty of other anti-oxidants. The USDA is
working on pruning methods that would allow mechanical picking and hoping to
find large scale growers and users. We find the jam very tasty - use it
like cranberry sauce. I'm getting a small clientele at the farmer's market.

Hector Black zone 6 middle TN
PS We've also had Goumi for 27 years with absolutely no spreading.
Autumn olive will come up from seeds. Regular mowing takes care of them.
We have also seen them in the woods, I think always where a tree has fallen
leaving a spot of sunlight. Since they are a pioneer species, their
function is to turn poor soil into fertile soil and eventually be overgrown
by large trees. We've seen seedling black walnuts come roaring up through
the autumn olives, feasting on all that excess nitrogen and putting out
wonderful vigorous growth.
----- Original Message -----
From: "tanis cuff" <tanistanis@hotmail.com>
To: <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 12:47 PM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] autumn Olive allelopathy?


> Autumn olive is becoming a troublesome invasive exotic in some places.
Yes,
> the blossoms smell great, and the fruit is useful or at least helpful to
> wildlife. But it can take over !
>
> I wonder whether it is truly allelopathic. It grows fast and forms a
thick
> canopy; I bet it simply robs other plants of water, nutrients, and light.
> No toxic exudates needed.
>
> tc, s.WI
>
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: JRobbFarm@aol.com
> Reply-To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
> To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [NAFEX] autumn Olive allelopathy
> Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 19:12:12 EDT
>
> We have encouraged Autumn olives on our farm, and I have long rows of
them
> on the edge of my biggest field. Walking by them when they are in bloom
is
> an
> incredible experience, the fragrance is almost palpable. Song birds and
> deer
> both love the fruit. They are hardy and very easy to prune into hedges or
> as
> one writer suggests, into a forest. I did not know they were
allelopathic,
> still, they are worth having.
> Jeff Robbins
> taking a break from harvesting apples...
> zone 7, Ohio River Valley
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