Trees for zone 6

[Nomad]

Naturally, as soon as I sit down to write down all the trees I had planned...
My mind goes blank!

I'm planning on doing this in stages, but I need to decide what to plant first, variants (example, I want apple trees for all year, so 3 of each tree, or trees which will cross-pollinate is more like 9 apple trees total)

-bushes, vines etc will come later.

Its an odd situation, I may not be spending much time on my land for the next few years, so I may have a caretaker, or I may be relying on a timer to water the plants. Either way a well will provide water...

Its not going to be all at once, but I need to select the priority to the plantings.
Trees first, bushes later naturally. I'm looking for opinions on types...

Zone 6, not the best ground, lots of rocks, lots of scrub oaks... But it'll grow trees!

Many of the things I plan to plant I may not ever use (maple trees for example)
I just would like them there in years to come if I desire or have the need...
I'm also interested in getting in the ground the things which need the longer growing period.

Partial list:

Chestnut
Almond
Pecan (many)
Walnut
Hazelnut bushes

Raspberries (love them)
Blackberries
Blueberries
Wild strawberries
Elderberries

Muscadine vines

Sweet silver sugar maple (my aunt taps the ones in her yard)

Apples (macintosh for one, and a juicer, not big on cooked applies)
Pears (eating and drying)
Plum (eating)
Figs (eating and drying)
Pomegranate
Cherries (couple types, for eating and cooking)
Persimmon
Pawpaw

Ginseng (I'll let it grow, if I ever need the cash crop)

Additions, or recommendations...?

(not worried about things like onions etc at this time.)

[SarahS]

Try this: http://www.arborday.org/TreeInfo/Zon...mit=Look+it+up!

Arbor Day Foundation is great help with trees. Are you the same Nomad I know? If so, howdy neighbor!

[blue gecko]

They varieties you choose will make a difference. Here's a couple of links you might find useful:

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7201599_fr...zones-6-7.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/121571-l...uit-trees.html

http://www.almanac.com/plants/hardiness-zone/6

[Nomad]

Ouch ladies! That hurts!

I may have spent more time learning about firearms, but give me a little credit for brains! (hey Susan!)

I plan on having the forestry commission out, and I've looked up types
But I've never had a bing cherry or a Nanking...

What types am I missing, and what do you like, or recommend. (this way I can check time to maturation)

I don't want to just plant the commercial types of fruits, that would partially defeat the point!

[blue gecko]

(Sarah LOL) It's good to see you posting here Nomad.

Don't forget Chestnuts

http://www.chestnuthillnursery.com/D...TAKgodknYAT A

Edible Acorns, Heart Nuts, Butter Nuts, Pine Nuts etc

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscap...e=october_nuts

Your land has places that would work well for mushroom culture too. I get cultures from fungi perfecti.

Some more edible shrubs:

http://www.breadandrosesgardens.com/berry-shrubs.html

How are you going to water these new plantings?

[SarahS]

I just got a lovely fig tree, you can't beat figs. But the deer ate all my other fruit trees! For some reason, nothing bothers my enormous blueberry bushes.

Hey, and call Susan 'cause she probably knows all about the trees!

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by blue gecko

How are you going to water these new plantings?

Water Well goes first.

Depending on how things break:

1. If I get the offshore job I'll have 50% time off
2. If I have to take a onshore job first itll be rare weekends I make it up there.

- then I will have to rely on timers to fill drip containers, I may use an online security system like a buddy does at his Tx ranch to turn it on and off.

Or, Andy is getting divorced... He and I have talked about setting up some 'caretaker' deal.
That would be ideal, then I would have someone to water my trees!

I've got enough land to tuck him away in a corner and never notice!

[blue gecko]

We've been experimenting with drip systems here and are quite pleased with the results. We plan to expand it to include most of the permanent plantings with timers added to the system.

Something to remember when you're planting. The two most important things are the holes and regular water especially the first year/two summers. Hole augers can save you a ton of work right from the get go. Tree wells (dams of earth that ring the tree) can make a huge difference as well.

Starks has a great catalogue with a lot of information on good cross pollinators for different fruit trees.

Sorry to hear about Andy.

[AndreaCA]

Don't forget the apricot trees!