What are the oak trees that produce the quickest?
- Thread starter Hillfarm
- Start date
My DCO's were planted bare root 12/14 and started producing a few viable acorns in fall 2018
i have sawtooth oak planted bare root 1/16 growing well but not producing yet
i planted 100 bare root chinkapin oaks bare root 11/18
All of above are reported to be quick producers
bill
i have sawtooth oak planted bare root 1/16 growing well but not producing yet
i planted 100 bare root chinkapin oaks bare root 11/18
All of above are reported to be quick producers
bill
Those time parameters have a prerequisite of optimal growing conditions and gardening expertise to accomplish. Kentucky has a growing season at least one month longer than I have here in northern Michigan.
I have 2 DCO's that I got for free with an order I placed with a nursery about 18 years ago. They appear to be crossed with SWO. They almost perished and were mere toothpicks when I began to learn how to grow them properly. One started producing after about 10-12 years at 8 feet tall.
I have been growing Bimundor for about 10 years and have about 20 of them planted out. One started producing at 8 feet tall and 6 years old. Others are 15-20 feet tall, 10 years old, and have not produced yet. These are also crossed with another variety of white and I did not get them from a nursery.
I have 3 Burgamble, pure strain, that are supposed to produce in 3-5 years. Two of them started producing at 8-9 years old, 8 to 10 feet tall, and also came close to failure during the process.
I have 2 DCO's that I got for free with an order I placed with a nursery about 18 years ago. They appear to be crossed with SWO. They almost perished and were mere toothpicks when I began to learn how to grow them properly. One started producing after about 10-12 years at 8 feet tall.
I have been growing Bimundor for about 10 years and have about 20 of them planted out. One started producing at 8 feet tall and 6 years old. Others are 15-20 feet tall, 10 years old, and have not produced yet. These are also crossed with another variety of white and I did not get them from a nursery.
I have 3 Burgamble, pure strain, that are supposed to produce in 3-5 years. Two of them started producing at 8-9 years old, 8 to 10 feet tall, and also came close to failure during the process.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I haven't planted any hybrid oaks or DCOs. However, about 13 - 16 years ago I planted a broad mix of different red oaks and white oaks. Many of those trees are already making many, many acorns.
I can tell you that what you read in books about how long it takes most oaks to produce acorns has not worked that way for me. Mine started producing much sooner. If anyone is interested I can take some pictures soon of some 13 - 16 year old oak trees. I think you would be surprised at how big they are.
I can tell you that what you read in books about how long it takes most oaks to produce acorns has not worked that way for me. Mine started producing much sooner. If anyone is interested I can take some pictures soon of some 13 - 16 year old oak trees. I think you would be surprised at how big they are.
catscratch
Well-Known Member
"Allegheny chinkapin produced nuts very quickly for me." More evidence that it depends on a lot of different factors. I have AC that I planted several years ago that have barely grown more than a few inches (the one's that are still alive). I suspect they will never produce a nut for me but I continue to care for them anyway.
I've had good luck with the Sawtooths we've planted. Burr or burr hybrids that grow native on the place produce while still a small tree. I don't know how old they are but they tend to produce by the time they are 10-12ft tall.
I've had good luck with the Sawtooths we've planted. Burr or burr hybrids that grow native on the place produce while still a small tree. I don't know how old they are but they tend to produce by the time they are 10-12ft tall.
Jack Terpack
Well-Known Member
When we bought our PA property 15 years ago we had a field day with a lot of the younger kids in the family. It just so happened that we found a lot of acorns under one of the really huge old white oaks. The kids promptly filled their pockets with them. When we got home, they wanted to plant them in pots, so we did. The next year they took them back to PA and planted about 15 of them in an old logging deck. Nobody expected them to make it. Ten are still alive and about 12 feet tall and 10 of them have produced acorns for the last 4 years. A forester told us that was impossible until we showed him. He verified they were white oaks and took pictures. Mother nature doesn't read all these fancy books. She just does her own thing.
On the other hand, we planted 12 apple trees that same year. They were bought at a nursery and of those, 4 have never produced a single apple. Go figure.
j-bird
Well-Known Member
proper tree for the proper condition will go a long way...
Also consider that fast growth tends to mean a shorter life cycle and weaker timber... Pin oak grow fast as well, but because of that they are not nearly as valuable for timber. So you may want some to produce as soon as possible, but you may also want to plant some for a more longer lasting affect.
I read somewhere that sawtooth in particular can grow fast and produce in a short time frame, but also do not live near as long and can decline fairly quickly as well. Diversity...even in oaks, is a good thing.
Also consider that fast growth tends to mean a shorter life cycle and weaker timber... Pin oak grow fast as well, but because of that they are not nearly as valuable for timber. So you may want some to produce as soon as possible, but you may also want to plant some for a more longer lasting affect.
I read somewhere that sawtooth in particular can grow fast and produce in a short time frame, but also do not live near as long and can decline fairly quickly as well. Diversity...even in oaks, is a good thing.
Hillfarm
Member
Without any knowledge of the subject, reading online forums, like this and other sites, is where I gathered info.
Diversity is my goal. I tried to plant trees that would produce early (3-5 years like Allegheny Chinquapins and DCO's), moderately (5-8 years hybrid oaks, Chinkapins and Swamp White oaks) and normal bearing trees (15-50 years White, Black, N. & S. Reds, Shumard oaks ect) at every funnel and stand location. This way after they initially started bearing nuts, there would always be more on the way and I could see the fruits of our labor sooner.
Hillfarm
Member
Do sawtooths spread out to become invasive where you live? This is the only reason I didn't plant them originally.
I never thought of tubing the chinquapins. I may consider doing some.
Fishman
Active Member
While I don’t feel that sawtooths are invasive, some people rightfully do have concerns about planting a non-native species. My dad has planted 10-15 sawtooths over the past 15 years, while his neighbor planted 30-40 sawtooths over 25 years ago. I have not found a single volunteer on approximately 140 acres. Sawooths do not do well unless they have full sunlight.
I am not sure if you grow your own trees or plan to acquire them from a nursery, but some research suggests that if you get high quality seedlings of any species that they than can produce acorns in less time than previously thought.
This paper examining northern red oak and white oak suggests that using seedlings with more than six well developed first order lateral roots (FOLR) can lead to early acorn production. FOLR are the side roots off the taproot. While air pruning develops lots of FOLR, even seedlings grown in pots can develop high numbers of FOLR. I think everyone already know this, but if you have a choice between seedlings, use the one with the best root system. The researchers of the paper suggested that “Selecting oak seedlings possessing the best root systems and the most desirable stem characteristics for outplanting in natural forested areas can also lead to acorn production in less than 10 years.”
The authors followed up their research and produced this paper. They grew northern red oaks that averaged over 20 feet tall in 10 years. They used the best of the best seedlings and saw some of the northern red oaks producing acorns in their fourth year.
Some of their conclusions are interesting when it comes to trying to determine when a species of tree will produce acorns. They state that “In the past scientists may have overemphasized the effects of tree age on initiation of acorn production. After observing natural forest stands, scientists may correlate acorn production too closely with years after outplanting. Our observations clearly indicate that crown vigor, combined with genetic potential, may be an overriding factor in early acorn production.”
These words from the researchers have already been stated here, but bear repeating. “To obtain early acorn production even with the best quality seedlings, interspecific competition must be reduced so that the crowns are exposed to full sunlight during early development.” Use the best seedlings, reduce competition, provide plenty of sunlight, and you may be surprised how quickly you can get acorns from trees, even species that are not known to produce acorns at an early age.
I am not sure if you grow your own trees or plan to acquire them from a nursery, but some research suggests that if you get high quality seedlings of any species that they than can produce acorns in less time than previously thought.
This paper examining northern red oak and white oak suggests that using seedlings with more than six well developed first order lateral roots (FOLR) can lead to early acorn production. FOLR are the side roots off the taproot. While air pruning develops lots of FOLR, even seedlings grown in pots can develop high numbers of FOLR. I think everyone already know this, but if you have a choice between seedlings, use the one with the best root system. The researchers of the paper suggested that “Selecting oak seedlings possessing the best root systems and the most desirable stem characteristics for outplanting in natural forested areas can also lead to acorn production in less than 10 years.”
The authors followed up their research and produced this paper. They grew northern red oaks that averaged over 20 feet tall in 10 years. They used the best of the best seedlings and saw some of the northern red oaks producing acorns in their fourth year.
Some of their conclusions are interesting when it comes to trying to determine when a species of tree will produce acorns. They state that “In the past scientists may have overemphasized the effects of tree age on initiation of acorn production. After observing natural forest stands, scientists may correlate acorn production too closely with years after outplanting. Our observations clearly indicate that crown vigor, combined with genetic potential, may be an overriding factor in early acorn production.”
These words from the researchers have already been stated here, but bear repeating. “To obtain early acorn production even with the best quality seedlings, interspecific competition must be reduced so that the crowns are exposed to full sunlight during early development.” Use the best seedlings, reduce competition, provide plenty of sunlight, and you may be surprised how quickly you can get acorns from trees, even species that are not known to produce acorns at an early age.
I have some sawtooths that took 10 and some burrs that took 8,I would mix them up as they aren't the quick fix just like fruit trees or food plots aren't either but put them all together and along with native forage there should be something around to eat all year.Unless you have some big trees they may not put off enough to notice for along time but any tree planted is a benefit
THE LLC
Well-Known Member
They are not invasive. Lord knows I wish they were. Be nice to have an invasive that produced acorns like they do.
Chipdasqrrl
Active Member
This thread is getting me excited about my upcoming white oak planting. They will be planted in full sun, so If I can baby my trees for the first few years, maybe a lot of them will drop acorns after 10 years.
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