how to grow mayhaw trees

Mayhaw trees should be planted in moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5 and should be planted roughly 20-30 feet apart to allow for limb growth. Established trees will benefit from yearly fertilization of one pound of 5-10-10 per inch of trunk diameter.

1. How long does it take for a mayhaw tree to produce fruit?
2. How fast does a mayhaw tree grow?
3. Are mayhaw trees self pollinating?
4. How do you plant a mayhaw tree from seed?
5. Where is the best place to plant a mayhaw tree?
6. How tall do mayhaw trees get?
7. What does mayhaw fruit taste like?
8. How do you fertilize a mayhaw tree?
9. Where can I find mayhaw berries?
10. How do you make mayhaw jelly juice?
11. What kind of fruit trees grow in Louisiana?
12. Can you eat mayhaw berries?
13. How do I identify a mayhaw tree?

How long does it take for a mayhaw tree to produce fruit?

Harvest the fruit when the tree begins bearing, two to three years after planting. Mayhaw ripens in April or May.

How fast does a mayhaw tree grow?

Mayhaw trees can be slow to come into good production. Of the better cultivars, six-year-old trees have produced 10 to 20 pounds of fruit per tree per year, and nine-year-old trees have produced 25 to 40 pounds of fruit per tree per year at an orchard spacing of 15 feet in the row by 20 feet between rows.

Are mayhaw trees self pollinating?

A large majority of the favored mayhaw varieties in orchards are grafted clones of trees selected from the wild for certain outstanding characteristics. ... Most mayhaw varieties are believed to be self-pollinating.

How do you plant a mayhaw tree from seed?

Growing New Mayhaws by Seed

Soak the mayhaws in warm water for a few days to loosen the pulp, then place the clean seeds in a container filled with damp sand. Store the seeds in the refrigerator for at least 12 weeks, and then plant them outdoors in late winter.

Where is the best place to plant a mayhaw tree?

Mayhaw trees should be planted in moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5 and should be planted roughly 20-30 feet apart to allow for limb growth.

How tall do mayhaw trees get?

& Arn., mayhaw, grows from southwest Alabama west to southern Arkansas and east Texas. It is a small tree or a large shrub with a relatively large trunk that grows up to 30 feet tall and 8 inches in diameter, with narrow, rounded crown.

What does mayhaw fruit taste like?

My family loves mayhaws. ... In the wild, mayhaw berries look very much like cranberries or small crabapples. They vary in taste, but the berries are usually fruity and tart. Most would say they're far too tart to eat straight from the tree—and that's where the jelly comes in.

How do you fertilize a mayhaw tree?

Fertilize the trees with 1 pound of 10-10-10 per inch of trunk diameter in early spring, up to a maximum of 5 pounds per tree. Repeat in July if the trees look pale. First-year trees should receive 1/4 pound of 10-10-10 in May and 1/4 pound in May and July.

Where can I find mayhaw berries?

Mayhaws grow in moist soil in river and creek bottoms under hardwood trees. The fruit ripens in late April through May, thus the name may-haw. The fruit is also found in bayous surrounding lakes, such as Caddo Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border.

How do you make mayhaw jelly juice?

To Prepare Juice or Jelly Stock:

Measure or weigh fruit and put in large saucepan. For each gallon (4 quarts or about 4 1/2 pounds) of mayhaws, cover with 3 quarts (12 cups) of water. For 2 quarts of fruit (a little over 2 pounds), cover with 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook gently for about 30 minutes.

What kind of fruit trees grow in Louisiana?

A large number of fruit trees that can be grown successfully in Louisiana include figs, blueberry, blackberry and citrus in south Louisiana, and even more types can thrive in northern parishes. One key to success with most home fruit trees is being aware of your soil type.

Can you eat mayhaw berries?

The fully ripe fruit is edible raw but is not a desirable fruit for eating out-of- hand. The mayhaw is most often used in jelly, which we eat for pleasure rather than for its nutritional value.

How do I identify a mayhaw tree?

Mayhaw generally grows as a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with thorns and moderately small leaves of varying shapes depending on the species. The flowers of five white petals, sometimes six, bloom before the leaves appear. Mayhaw fruit are small (1/2 to 2/3 inches in diameter), round, fragrant, acid and juicy.