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food plotting arould black walnuts?

LoessHillsArcher

LoessHillsArcher

PMA Member
Hey fellas, we're working on an interior food plot and it has quite a few medium sized Black Walnuts in and around the plot. We've cleared out the plot pretty much but left most the BWs for now but was wondering if a fall planted oat/rye plot would grow near these trees? I've heard they release some "toxins" that kill other plants. Dbltree said he had troubles with a plot near a monster BW but was looking to see if others had experience in a similar situation. Thanks guys, here is a pic of the setup and trees.
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one of the larger trees near the plot..
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It's been awhile since I read about this, but back a few years ago I had a garden that was really struggling. It turns out that a nearby black walnut was hurting me. I believe the chemical that caused the issue was juglone, but I haven't double checked the spelling.

Google that though and I think you will get on track from there.
 
Good post Double...I specifically recall my tomatoes struggling near the walnut tree(s) and they were listed as such. But according to the article, several other plants seem to grow just fine near walnuts. Interesting stuff.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">several other plants seem to grow just fine near walnuts </div></div>

I kow that brome grass will grow just fine so field rye may do ok although I was thinking I had problems with it. Been too long perhaps 20 years ago but I think rye and oats would be a better bet then say clover or brassicas. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
The last two years I have had good luck with an oats/rye mix between rows of walnuts. Trees are 10-15'. Not sure, but larger trees may produce larger amoiunts of toxins. Rye is cheap, give it a go.
 
Fescue is another good choice to grow around walnuts /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

I have heard people grow clover under the walnuts for ground cover, weed supression and also to hay, but have never tried it myself. I would say rye/clover mix would be fairly cheap for that area to see if either would take. I would go with a shotgun approach to clover, red, ladino and alsike to see what ones works the best and it will take over the plot for ya.
 
I never did find any straight answer on rye/oats vs. black walnuts on the web but I was looking at intercropping done at tree farms. Some people when they grew rows of walnuts they also would plant various crops between the rows to be harvested and sold for additional income. Again nothing was said about rye/oats but winter wheat was one. One thing I've noticed from the reading I have done is nothing similar to rye/oats that I recognized was on the "do not plant list"...seems more plants closely related to rye/oats were on the "ok to plant list".

Thanks again for the help guys...I think we'll be the guniea pig here and give rye/oats and perhaps winter wheat a shot! Might even try and plant clovers in there this spring to have a plow down for Sept. planting...and see what types of reactions we get! I'll try to remember to update our results
 
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