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nafex - Re: [nafex] Fruit trees -- high water table

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  • From: Jerry Lehman <jwlehmantree@gmail.com>
  • To: mailing list at ibiblio - Northamerican Allied Fruit Experimenters <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [nafex] Fruit trees -- high water table
  • Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2017 16:25:57 -0500

On 1/6/2017 1:51 PM, sc wrote:
Hi, Ive been working at searching for a property. One I will check out next features a
soil type which is categorized under the "Rockaway Series".
Rocky, sandy, deep, supposedly well-dained soul, but there is a 14" clay
fragipan a couple of feet down.
A seasonally high water table is of special concern; water table during is just
18" - 30" under the soil surface during these times.
Also, the soil is very acidic (pH of 5).
My focus is on growing native persimmon, paw paw, native plums (P. americana,
P. munsiniana, P. angustifolia) and apples.
However, I would also like to grow Cornelian-cherry, sour cherry and
apricot.
In dealing with the issue of a high water table, the thought I had was to
clear 9 acres of upland woods (necessary for the creating space for the
projected orchard) and then dump all of the non valuable lumber and rock on 3
acres of the cleared orchard surface then overtop with a few inches of top
soil/sand.
On this 3 acres, i could plant apricot, stone fruits, etc.
I think persimmon, hickory, chestnut, paw paw would do ok with a seasonally
high water table just 2' below the surface?
It might not be the right site. Then there's the issue of pH. I'd Would
something like this work?
Hi Steve,

That 14 inches of clay hardpan a couple of feet down doesn't scare me and I like the sound of that much better than the previous one you asked about. The pH of 5 I don't believe is that detrimental and can be partially overcome with agriculture lime, I would think. Also if you have a few trees compost around them tends to neutralize pH, if it's acidic it raises the pH and if it's high it lowers pH. Or at least so I've read and been told. But when I was in Ukraine I saw them successfully growing pawpaws in the soil with pH 9 by having about 6 inches of mulch about 4 foot around each tree.

If these 3 acres are near you and the price is right I believe you should give a strong consideration.

Jerry




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