Fire Blight is a bacterial infection that is easily spread Purchasing locally adapted cultivars developed from by bees. There is no cure for it once it is established. wild Mayhaws such as ‘Maxine’ are recommended The bacteria that causes it, propagates around freshly over making wild collections. These cultivars have a cut limbs and injuries. Treat with copper fungicides or known level of performance and reduce issues of dis- Streptomycin to prevent spread of bacteria. Strepto- ease and frost damage. They are uniform in growth mycin can be found in products such as Agri-Mycin and and will create a much more productive nursery. May- Bonide Fire Blight Spray. Copper fungicides include Tri haw seeds hold true to the tree that it came from, so -Basic Copper Sulfate and Kocide. There are also re- expansion of the orchard is possible through collected sistant cultivars such as Hope 13 and Maxine. seed and cuttings from purchased material.

Quince Rust is a fungal infection that creates powdery rust like lesions on leaves and fruit. Trees should be treated with a broad-spectrum fungicide when in  Find a location for the orchard with suitable soils bloom to prevent fungal infections and fruit loss. that is near a water source and electricity, if possible, Products such as Rally and Immunox Multipurpose in Spring of 2020. Fungicide will control this disease. It is harbored in  Lay out orchard and plant purchased trees. Fertilize eastern red cedars and may be prevalent where these at planting with slow release fertilizer and water trees are near Mayhaws. trees in to seal off the roots, May-June 2020.

Deer and rabbits will browse and destroy young trees.  Irrigate as needed through the summer to maintain Containerized plants should be fenced to protect them growth, Summer 2020. Species Information Soils from browse damage. Common insect pests include  Make cutting from purchased trees in the following plum curculio, aphids, flat-headed apple borer, white spring after they have started to put on leaves and Western mayhaw, crataegus opaca, is Mayhaws will tolerate wet and very flies, and foliage feeders. Plum curculio, if present, root them in growth media, Spring 2021. a small deciduous tree that grows in acidic soils. Wild mayhaws are typi- may require an insecticide application program to  Move the rooted material to the High Tunnel House the forests of the southeastern United cally found in low flooded areas and prevent extensive damage to the crop. to promote rapid growth, April-March 2021. States. Reaching 30 feet in height along creek banks, but flooding is not

 Transplant to the field when root bound in contain- with trunks approximately 8 inches in required to cultivate trees and produce ers, May-June 2021. diameter, they are typically found in fruit.  Continue process until orchard reaches desired size.

low areas that receive periodic flood- Mayhaws ripen from mid-April to early May depending ing or partial shading. They are mem- For optimal growth Mayhaws require on the tree. In pond or swampy areas, Mayhaws may USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service bers of the Hawthorne family and full sun with moist, well drained soils be scooped off the water with fine meshed nets. with a pH of 6-6.5. Soil testing is re- Ponded areas are not required for production and a 101 S. Main Street come with or without thorns. White blooms appear in late February or ear- quired to determine soil pH and nutri- bed sheet or tarp spread under the tree works well for Temple, Texas 76501 collecting fruit that falls from the trees either naturally ly March and produce small, red to or- ent levels. 254-742-9800 or by vibration. Fruit is subject to sun scalding and be- ange, crabapple like fruits toward the gins to rot quickly when in contact with the ground or ______end of April and the beginning of May. For soil testing requests, please impermeable membranes, such as plastic tarps. Some East Texas Plant Materials Center The fruit is used to make tart jellies, contact Pittman Labs at 936-645-3276 or Steven F. Austin State trees will hold fruit longer than others, and ripe berries 6598 FM 2782 syrups, and juices that are highly may be picked straight from the tree. University Soils Lab at 936 468-4500. Nacogdoches, Texas 75964 prized.

936-564-4873 *Pictured above are the Mayhaw trees ready for harvest at LSU AgCenter. Natural Resources USDA is an equal opportunity provider, 936-552-7924 (Fax) Conservation employer, and lender. Service shaking. It is very Fire Blight resistant and is

considered the best tree taken from the wild There are many commercial cultivars of trees by many producers.  Plant cuttings in a small container with well Trees should be pruned to resemble an upside- available with many different attributes. Some are drained potting mix. down umbrella with cutting being done in winter heavy fruit producers, some hold fruit longer,  Double G: A cross of Texas Star and Royal Star,  Cover the containers with a plastic bag or and early spring before blooming. Some cultivars some are more disease resistant, and some pro- the fruit is dark red with red pulp. This variety some other covering that will allow transfer such as Maxine and Double G require little to no duce exceptionally large fruit. An internet search requires no manual shaping via pruning. It of light and maintain high humidity. There pruning to achieve desired growth forms. Cut out can reveal a lot of information on cultivars availa- produces fruit at an earlier age than other cul- are many commercially available trays for limbs that cross over one another and also cut tivars. It blooms around March 10th. It holds ble from various nurseries. When selecting culti- this process available. out any limbs that are lower than about 4 feet fruit well but has some susceptibility to fire vars avoid early blooming varieties as they will en-  Place potted cuttings in indirect lighting as from the ground. blight. direct sunlight will scorch plants in the plas- counter freeze damage and crop loss in East Tex- tic containers. A greenhouse heating pad as.  Red Champ: A hybrid of Maxine and Double G, under the pots will expedite rooting. Many cultivars have been produced from cuttings it has good fire blight resistance. It is a heavy  Check frequently for rooting and transplant Annual application of 5-10-10 at a rate of one or seed from superior wild trees in East Texas and producing cultivar with large, dark red fruit. It to larger containers once root growth has pound per inch of trunk should be applied to ma- western Louisiana. These would make excellent blooms around March 15th and will release ture trees in February or early March. Another established. Containers may then be nursery stock and some of the top choices include: about 95% of its fruit with a single shaking. application can be made in August through Sep- moved to a greenhouse, shade house, or tember if trees are not growing vigorously. Make other protected area until ready to plant in  Maxine: Originated from a tree located in De- certain there is adequate water via rainfall or irri- an orchard. Ridder, LA. It is a very late bloomer which re- gation during the late summer application of fer-

duces freeze damage crop losses. Blooming tilizer to prevent leaf scorching. One-year old Mayhaws cuttings may also be grafted to existing trees should receive a ½ pound of 5-10-10 in Feb- typically occurs around March 20th. It has an root stock or other hawthorne root stock. Parsley ruary and ¼ pound of 5-10-10 in March and May. excellent natural tree shape and requires little hawthorns accepts grafts from mayhaw readily. Fertilizer should be broadcast evenly under the pruning. It is a heavy producer that holds fruit There are many types of plant grafts, and the pro- drop zone of trees and do not apply fertilizer well and will release 95% of the fruit with one cess requires some specialized tools. Timing is within 8 inches of the trunk. Seedlings in contain- critical and should be done to root stock in spring ers will benefit from light applications of Osmo- as it starts to show new growth. An excellent cote every few months. planted in early spring. Ripe fruit may be planted write up and video on grafting fruit trees can be Mayhaws can be grown from seed, root and stem in containers and left outside to over winter and cuttings, or by grafting onto a rootstock. Trees stratify naturally but is less reliable. found at: https://www.mossyoak.com/our- bloom between February and March and set fruit obsession/blogs/how-to/step-by-step-guide-to- Mayhaws require moist soils and need irrigation. Soft wood cuttings may be rooted by taking in late April and early May. Ripe fruit can be har- grafting-fruit-trees Drought periods will stress trees and reduce their cuttings from new growth of existing trees. vested for seed. Seed viability varies greatly be- productivity. Young trees are susceptible to loss Cuttings should be about 6 inches in length and tween trees, but unlike many fruit trees, the seed- and damage from dry periods and require ade- lings hold true to the characteristics of the tree will included some of the following steps: quate moisture to develop strong, deep roots. they were produced from. Propagation by seed is  Remove all but the top two leaves and cut Mayhaws are long lived and may reach 30 feet in Drip emitters placed at every tree are an excel- slow. Seed requires 12 weeks of cold stratification them horizontally to reduce water loss from height and canopy diameter. For permanent lent, highly efficient way to supply adequate (store in plastic bag with moist paper towel or leaf pores. A root promoting hormone dip nurseries, plant trees 15-20 feet apart with 18 to moisture to the trees. Trees may be grown in damp sand in the refrigerator) and may take up to applied to the cut end will increase the 20 feet between rows. This spacing should yield ponded areas and flooded to irrigate, or tradition- 18 months to germinate. Stratified seed should be chances of successful rooting. 109-160 trees per acre. al sprinklers and soaker hoses may be used under trees.