Eden Keeper
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15
Orchards
Fruits and Nuts
Here in zone 7 many types of fruits and nuts can be grown. Common fruits are apple, blueberry, peach, plum, pear, and grape including muscadine, while the most important nuts are pecan and walnut. Some other good fruits and nuts include blackberry, raspberry (where black raspberry is native), persimmon, fig, hazelnut, chinquapin (a small native chestnut). Somewhat lesser known or infrequently grown in this area are paw paw, mayhaw, elderberry, mulberry, gooseberry, juneberry (also known as serviceberry), black chokeberry, kiwi, and pomegranate although the later two are only marginally hardy and not native. Besides those on trees and shrubs there are a few of herbaceous fruits mostly strawberry, but also maypop, which is the native passionflower, and some hardy varieties of banana mostly grown as an ornamental. If global warming actually occurs look forward to growing citrus, avocados, olives, guavas, pistachio, and dates. Another rather difficult to aquire species native to swamps in the deep south is Ogeeche lime (O-gee-che), which is a tupelo rather than a citrus, and it is also one of the most prized honey plants.
Honey Plants
Although the nuts are wind pollinated many of the above fruits would benefit from insect pollination, therefore, to make the most of this a few hives could be placed in the orchard along with some important honey plants.
These can include cover crops such as clover and buckwheat, but certain trees are excellent honey plants as well, including black locust, sourwood, basswood, yellow-poplar, holly, and tupelo. Although mountain-laurel may need to be avoided since it is reported to produce toxic honey.
Pest and Diseases
Pests and disease may limit consistent crops or prevent some being grown totally organically such as all species in the genus Prunus, including peach, plum, apricot, almond, and cherries, due to peach borers. Climate is a factor whether it be late freezes or more condusive to some diseases. Ironically one of the most notable pest for paw paw is the zebra swallowtail butterfly larvae, thus the 'pest' is actually a reason for wanting to grow the plant.
Spacing
Each species of fruit and nut has a preferred spacing, which actually has as much if not more to do with roots and water than is does with branches and ventilation. Most orchards are planted on rectangular grids, but the roots grow in a circle rather than a square so a pattern that more closely approximates a circle would be better. The idea pattern is hexagonal where the base units are equilateral triangles rather than squares. One advantage is that more plants can be put in the same area without changing the spacing between them as shown in the figure where this is close to 4% more. Another advantage is the less sharp angle of turning to cross between rows (without trellises) having increments of 60o rather than 45o. Note that the rows will be narrower.
Honey Plants
Although the nuts are wind pollinated many of the above fruits would benefit from insect pollination, therefore, to make the most of this a few hives could be placed in the orchard along with some important honey plants.
These can include cover crops such as clover and buckwheat, but certain trees are excellent honey plants as well, including black locust, sourwood, basswood, yellow-poplar, holly, and tupelo. Although mountain-laurel may need to be avoided since it is reported to produce toxic honey.Pest and Diseases
Pests and disease may limit consistent crops or prevent some being grown totally organically such as all species in the genus Prunus, including peach, plum, apricot, almond, and cherries, due to peach borers. Climate is a factor whether it be late freezes or more condusive to some diseases. Ironically one of the most notable pest for paw paw is the zebra swallowtail butterfly larvae, thus the 'pest' is actually a reason for wanting to grow the plant.
Spacing
Each species of fruit and nut has a preferred spacing, which actually has as much if not more to do with roots and water than is does with branches and ventilation. Most orchards are planted on rectangular grids, but the roots grow in a circle rather than a square so a pattern that more closely approximates a circle would be better. The idea pattern is hexagonal where the base units are equilateral triangles rather than squares. One advantage is that more plants can be put in the same area without changing the spacing between them as shown in the figure where this is close to 4% more. Another advantage is the less sharp angle of turning to cross between rows (without trellises) having increments of 60o rather than 45o. Note that the rows will be narrower.
