permaculture

[johnny gregory <johnnyg8@bellsouth.net>]

Hi, Georg,

    I plan to plant paulownias on my organic farm for intercropping but on
24' or 30' centers so not to create total shade for the understory vegetable
and herb and flower crops. I enjoyed what you brought out- that their deep
roots you mention should not compete with crops. I'd read about the Chinese'
use of paulownias for intercropping in a Jade Mountain catalog (now merged
with Real Goods). The info was given that about a 15% increase in moisture
occurs when paulownias are planted over and around understory crops. That
could really help in dry years.

    The NCSU's Upper Piedmont Research Station in Wentworth, NC near
Reidsville has an acre stand on 12' centers. In summer there is full shade
due to the trees' big leaves. In winter they look like so many phone poles.

Johnny Gregory
Greensboro, NC

Message: 2
From: "georg parlow" <georg@websuxxess.com>
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] paulownia
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 19:15:31 +0100
Reply-To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org

> > the dense surface roots for interplanting.  Ever considered the eastern
US
> Be sure TP roots have plenty of room for

(TP=tomentosa paulownia?)

hm? i had a small paulownia in one of my gardens for 4 or 5 years - first i
kept cutting it back totally in winter and also cutting all but 1 shoot in
spring, in order to make a showy display of huge leaves in the back of the
border. then my mother fell in love with this vigorous grower ("symbolizes
strength for me.."), so i let it grow. havent notices "dense surface
roots" - aamof i planted beans all around it one year and had them climb
it - they didnt do to well, tho. i figured, that they didnt have enough
light, but maybe i was mistaken.

but... i keep reading, that the chinese use(d) paulownia in light agroforest
systems, because they are deep rooters that do not compete with the
intercrop? please elucidate my confusion.

greetings
georg