Shining a Light on Blight: PART 1

Chestnuts: Immune to Blight In 2010, we received an email from a long-time customer who conducted some research he had done on our trees. The research used a group of hybrid American Chestnut trees from our farm, (namely Timburr American Hybrid Chestnut and Ken’s Select Hybrids), to determine the amount of blight resistance and cold tolerance. …

Continue reading “Shining a Light on Blight: PART 1”…

In praise of discovery and the spirit of sharing

Recently at Oikos Tree Crops we have been reflecting on some inspiring stories of plants and people we admire for various reasons. Here are three short stories we think you will enjoy. Mirabelle Plums represent one of the most widely distributed and highly coveted plums throughout the world. Part of the mystique is its label as …

Continue reading “In praise of discovery and the spirit of sharing”…

Organic Methods and Products used at Oikos Tree Crops

Organic controls work. Here is what we use.

How to Grow Sunchokes

One of the easiest perennial tuber crops to grow, sunchokes are widely adaptable to a variety of climates and soils.  Selections are based on flavor, texture, ease of cleaning and harvest as well as yield. Here are a few tips to help grow this species and keep your planting productive year after year. Spacing Requirements:  …

Continue reading “How to Grow Sunchokes”…

Perennial Solutions to Annual Problems

One of the constant challenges when faced with any horticultural endeavor is finding ways to eliminate or greatly reduce plants that are competing with your crop plant. Here are a few examples of ways to enhance what nature has already done: companion planting with perennials, tree and shrub crops where mutual coexistence is an advantage. …

Continue reading “Perennial Solutions to Annual Problems”…

The Legacy of the American Chestnut

It was only by accident that I found an American chestnut tree one summer …