What to plant on property with Black Walnuts?

Charles Clear

5 year old buck +
Well, I am a newbie and I learned the hard way about trying to grow apples near Black Walnut trees. My question is: What can I plant that won't be bothered by Black Walnuts? My pears seem to do pretty good, but is there any other fruits I could grow there?
 
I think it is hard to get good info on what will and won't work. Local conditions and soil are maybe more important than blanket yes/no list for juglone tolerance. Your experience in that pears do well. Are your pears seedlings or grafted trees? If grafted, what rootstock?

I am slowly turning a black walnut stand into a persimmon and paw paw orchard. I may add chestnuts later. I plan to add pears and a few apples on the upper side / south edge but plan to remove walnuts from near the edge first.
 
The Pears were all bought at Walmart on clearance years ago. Kieffers. Several are bearing fruit. It's low lying by a small spring. Dirt is very rich and black. I have a 12 foot tall Persimmon down there and and a lone Paw Paw that's about 6 foot tall. Apples are really the only thing that has died down there.
 
American plum should do well.
 
We have wild apples and pears growing near walnuts, i just learned about walnuts being toxic, but we have wild apple trees and pears withing yards of walnuts and the trees are healthy and produce. Maybe get some seed grown rootstock.
 
It might not be the walnuts that are the problem, it's more likely to be the wet ground. Most apple rootstocks prefer well drained soil. I am sure some do better than others, but the moist soil might be your real culprit.
 
Well, I am a newbie and I learned the hard way about trying to grow apples near Black Walnut trees. My question is: What can I plant that won't be bothered by Black Walnuts? My pears seem to do pretty good, but is there any other fruits I could grow there?

Where I have black walnuts growing ... there is nothing else there but grass and "some" weeds.

Amazing how barren and mono-typical these spots become ... no trees, conifers, shrubs, fruit trees etc. This is on any type of soil conditions.

The root system which is typically as large as the trees crown spreads the soil impact.

Remove or waste a lot of time ... good luck
 
I agree with tree spud, if you want apple trees walnuts need cut back. I think it takes a few years depending on soil for the toxin to leave the soil.
 
Thank you everyone!
 
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