Native Hunter Apples 2023

[BrushyPines]

The following is from my topworking notes. I typed this in my phone for future reference on when to cut scions. I like to put off cutting until as late as reasonably possible. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Around March 30 would be a good time to cut persimmon scions. On 4/6/25 I saw one wild persimmon starting leaves but no others. On 4/8/25 I still could not find another persimmon starting to leaf out. On 4/16/25 I saw tiny leaves on about 1/3 of trees.
In 2024 topworked 5 persimmons at home. These done on 5/7/24 and they did great, but a little earlier on some trees might be better.

Thats interesting. I would've thought mine would wake up earlier being in the deep south.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

and Deer Magnet is November dropping.

Where does one get a Deer Magnet pear?

 

[Native Hunter]

Where does one get a Deer Magnet pear?

Bows, Deer Magnet is a persimmon rather than a pear. Blue Hill and several other places sell it.

 

[Teeder]

Bows, Deer Magnet is a persimmon rather than a pear. Blue Hill and several other places sell it.

I got mine from Ryan. 7-8' tall now.

 

[Native Hunter]

These Prok persimmons are as big as some small apples and the taste is incredible.

 

[BrushyPines]

Quit rubbing it in, Native!

 

[Native Hunter]

View attachment 83711

Quit rubbing it in, Native!

Those look like a good number of my native trees - and the deer GOBBLE all of them up regardless of size!!!!

 

[b116757]

Mine have a hard candy shell

 

[BrushyPines]

Those look like a good number of my native trees - and the deer GOBBLE all of them up regardless of size!!!!

Yes they do! I feel guilty snacking on a few when I walk by it. Just can't help myself!

 

[BrushyPines]

Mine have a hard candy shell
View attachment 83712

Bur?

 

[b116757]

Bur?

Yes

 

[Native Hunter]

Kieffer in a spot with better than average soil and good moisture.

 

[blueKYstream]

I haven't been able to get an apple or pear through July yet with squirrels and/or raccoons. Fortunately, the persimmons seem to make it at this early stage for me. I tried numerous persimmons at England's Orchard the past couple years. I still like Prok as one of the better ones. Every person seems to like a different variety though. I'm jealous of the smorgasboard you have!

 

[Native Hunter]

This is Kenner Seedling yesterday. Still holding lots of apples, and deer have picked a lot of the low ones. It now looks like this might be my best deer apple.

 

[SwampCat]

Did it take awhile for your deer to eat apples - or was it a natural. Mine still dont eat apples or pears.

 

[Native Hunter]

Did it take awhile for your deer to eat apples - or was it a natural. Mine still dont eat apples or pears.

I have an interesting story about that.

I have a 20 acre place where there are no apples anywhere around. One year I put out some corn to do a trail cam survey and had every deer around immediately coming. I had an overabundance of apples at my other place, so I picked up a couple of five gallon buckets and dumped with the corn. I never had another deer on cam at that spot in the next few weeks - it scareed them to death!!!

However, to better answer your question - I don't think it took long for the deer where I planted the trees to immediately start liking the apples and pears. As they gradually began to produce, the deer took right to them.

You've heard me say it before, but my problem with apples is getting them to drop at the right time - my location is much different than up North where lots of apples fall during October and November. Here, most apples won't even go into October, and most crabapples just keep hanging on all winter and turn into dried up mummies. That's why I'm excited about this Kenner Seedling - it could be my best deer apple because it is going to make it to our gun season in November.

The action around this tree has been insane. Every buck on my place comes to check for apples, and many times it will still be in shooting light.

 

[SwampCat]

I have an interesting story about that.

I have a 20 acre place where there are no apples anywhere around. One year I put out some corn to do a trail cam survey and had every deer around immediately coming. I had an overabundance of apples at my other place, so I picked up a couple of five gallon buckets and dumped with the corn. I never had another deer on cam at that spot in the next few weeks - it scareed them to death!!!

However, to better answer your question - I don't think it took long for the deer where I planted the trees to immediately start liking the apples and pears. As they gradually began to produce, the deer took right to them.

You've heard me say it before, but my problem with apples is getting them to drop at the right time - my location is much different than up North where lots of apples fall during October and November. Here, most apples won't even go into October, and most crabapples just keep hanging on all winter and turn into dried up mummies. That's why I'm excited about this Kenner Seedling - it could be my best deer apple because it is going to make it to our gun season in November.

The action around this tree has been insane. Every buck on my place comes to check for apples, and many times it will still be in shooting light.

I broadcast an acre of purple hull peas one year for the deer. They didnt touch them. We picked a lot and gave a lot away. Did the same thing the next year - deer wouldnt touch them. Third year, I thought if the deer arent going to eat them, I will plant them in rows to make picking easier. They ate them up as soon as they sprouted - and have since then