I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
#8101842
03/17/24 03:59 PM
03/17/24 03:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,299 Ontario, Canada
slydogx
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Well, back in November, I found a hedge apple tree on the farm I hunt. I figured I'd like to start me a few Osage trees from seed as I'd had good success before with the 2 dozen seeds I planted. Of course, back then I lived on an acre and a half and had some space... Let's see how this goes. These all cold stratified over winter in a bucket full of leaves.
Just happy to be here.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8101855
03/17/24 04:14 PM
03/17/24 04:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,870 Pennsylvania
patrapperbuster
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You're going to corner the market on Osage Good luck!
Till that day.....
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8101942
03/17/24 05:52 PM
03/17/24 05:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,299 Ontario, Canada
slydogx
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Forestman3 You let the fruit sit over winter then pull it apart any take out seeds. Very messy job.
Just happy to be here.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8101968
03/17/24 06:15 PM
03/17/24 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,299 Ontario, Canada
slydogx
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I mashed them into water and then used a colander to strain them. I assume that the gel slows germination like with tomatoes, so I washed it all off. What you described would likely work though. I'm planting individual trees and distributing seedlings to friends, hunting permission properties, and offering some to the regional scout campground.
Just happy to be here.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8101977
03/17/24 06:23 PM
03/17/24 06:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
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Around here they rate right along with cedar trees, Russian olive, musk thistle..they will take over a pasture and ruin it if you don't keep after them.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8102189
03/17/24 08:58 PM
03/17/24 08:58 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
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BTLowry
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Didn't know anyone planted those intentionally Make good fence posts and bows I have a friend that found some posts that were in a certain type of soil (don't remember) and the posts took up minerals and things from the soil/ They call it green hedge and it makes some good looking duck calls. Also pretty pricey when you can find it
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8102197
03/17/24 09:04 PM
03/17/24 09:04 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
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slydogx
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I grew a few and they were fast growing. Probably a foot a year. Like a mulberry
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Providence Farm]
#8102210
03/17/24 09:13 PM
03/17/24 09:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
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I cut a hedge row in 1980 and they're just about too big to cut now. The north and south rows grow straighter posts than an east to west row.. out farm had 3/4 mile of them. Great firewood but you have to have a solid stove. They get HOT
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Gary Benson]
#8102217
03/17/24 09:18 PM
03/17/24 09:18 PM
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Providence Farm
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I cut a hedge row in 1980 and they're just about too big to cut now. The north and south rows grow straighter posts than an east to west row.. out farm had 3/4 mile of them. Great firewood but you have to have a solid stove. They get HOT I may just have to plant some. Would be a fun experiment to try to build a natural animal enclosure. I would have thought they were slow growing since they make such good fence post but black locust is fast and also good fence post and fire wood.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Gary Benson]
#8102220
03/17/24 09:21 PM
03/17/24 09:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,160 Marion Kansas
Yes sir
"Callie's little brother"
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"Callie's little brother"
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I cut a hedge row in 1980 and they're just about too big to cut now. The north and south rows grow straighter posts than an east to west row.. out farm had 3/4 mile of them. Great firewood but you have to have a solid stove. They get HOT They grow back very fast when they already have an established root system.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8102467
03/18/24 08:53 AM
03/18/24 08:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 330 North Central Kansas
Orlando
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My experience is it takes 25-30 years for a new hedge tree to produce posts. Cut trees may produce posts a bit sooner. They make the best wood posts...but are earned - best to cut when it's cold and you can wear a lot of clothes for protection. If you are wanting posts, it is a nice trait they grow back. If not wanted to grow back, better hit them with some herbicide or you will have a mess.
They burn really hot, but in a campfire will pop a lot (keeps the fellow campers hopping). Squirrels like to eat the seeds while deer and cattle eat the leaves.
Osage Orange are one of my favorite trees, but can get out of hand.
Nature is reckless of the individual. Aldo Leupold.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8102475
03/18/24 09:04 AM
03/18/24 09:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
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330-Trapper
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I grew a few and they were fast growing. Probably a foot a year. Like a mulberry In Canada? would they grow here in Minnesota??
NRA and NTA Life Member www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Orlando]
#8102551
03/18/24 10:41 AM
03/18/24 10:41 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
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K52
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My experience is it takes 25-30 years for a new hedge tree to produce posts. Cut trees may produce posts a bit sooner. They make the best wood posts...but are earned - best to cut when it's cold and you can wear a lot of clothes for protection. If you are wanting posts, it is a nice trait they grow back. If not wanted to grow back, better hit them with some herbicide or you will have a mess.
They burn really hot, but in a campfire will pop a lot (keeps the fellow campers hopping). Squirrels like to eat the seeds while deer and cattle eat the leaves.
Osage Orange are one of my favorite trees, but can get out of hand. I’ve always wondered how the squirrels could eat those seeds with all that sap. You’d think it would glue their mouth shut. There ought to be a market for the sap to use as a coating to put on work clothes, that is some tough stuff. You get it on your bibs it wears like iron. Pro tip, if you burn it for firewood make sure to season it and you have a stove/fireplace and chimney that can handle the heat. It has one of the highest or the highest BTU’s of all wood. It burns HOT. Green hedge will produce creosote in a chimney that’s unbelievable if left unchecked. Being in the masonry trade for 49 years l’ve seen first hand what green hedge is capable of. Seasoned hedge is all I burn in my shop, I love it.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: 330-Trapper]
#8102604
03/18/24 11:44 AM
03/18/24 11:44 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
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slydogx
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I grew a few and they were fast growing. Probably a foot a year. Like a mulberry In Canada? would they grow here in Minnesota?? Remember that I am in the southernmost area of Canada, so much of Minnesota is to the north of me. I actually need to travel south to cross in to Detroit MI. I found some information (USDA) that suggests it is NOT hardy in MN, SD, ND, Northern IA and MT.
Just happy to be here.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: 330-Trapper]
#8102605
03/18/24 11:45 AM
03/18/24 11:45 AM
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k snow
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I grew a few and they were fast growing. Probably a foot a year. Like a mulberry In Canada? would they grow here in Minnesota?? There are some osage in very SW Wisconsin. I would say extreme southern MN might be able to support them. But, one bad winter might do them in. It'd be a gamble.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8102721
03/18/24 02:45 PM
03/18/24 02:45 PM
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BigBob
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Hedge Apple fence rows can be made by using green OA for fence post', as they will take root and sprout! Many AO Wind break/fence rows here in Mo were started like that. The seed balls are an important food source for Quail, Turkey, Squirrels, and many other animals.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: K52]
#8103103
03/18/24 10:41 PM
03/18/24 10:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,160 Marion Kansas
Yes sir
"Callie's little brother"
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"Callie's little brother"
Joined: Jan 2017
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Marion Kansas
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Got some 2" ribeyes going to be cooked this weekend over seasoned Osage Orange on an outdoor firepit. Yum Yum. All I need is an address.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8103249
03/19/24 08:21 AM
03/19/24 08:21 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,185 Piney va. soon be 19
cotton
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farmers for miles around will be danged proud of ya for getting em started
John 3/16
ifin your gonna be dumb ya gotta be tough VTA life member
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Flint Hill fur]
#8103256
03/19/24 08:36 AM
03/19/24 08:36 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Orlando
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Those of us trying to sound just a little smarter than we are, use fancy terminology like "Osage Orange", when in reality we grew up calling them "hedge trees".
Kind of like - "It's time to plant corn when the leaves on the hedge trees are as big as a squirrel's ear".
Nature is reckless of the individual. Aldo Leupold.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Yes sir]
#8103258
03/19/24 08:41 AM
03/19/24 08:41 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Orlando
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Dang, I just pulled and piled a quarter mile of hedge posts. I probably should cut them up for grilling wood. Just need to prepare to sharpen the saw a time or two.
Nature is reckless of the individual. Aldo Leupold.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Orlando]
#8103262
03/19/24 08:49 AM
03/19/24 08:49 AM
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Flint Hill fur
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Those of us trying to sound just a little smarter than we are, use fancy terminology like "Osage Orange", when in reality we grew up calling them "hedge trees".
Kind of like - "It's time to plant corn when the leaves on the hedge trees are as big as a squirrel's ear". that last one still holds. have heard that one my whole life. them ol posts work on a chain even if you don't hit a staple but man the btu's is unreal. hard to burn any white wood after experiencing hedge heat
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8103275
03/19/24 09:08 AM
03/19/24 09:08 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 330 North Central Kansas
Orlando
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I cut a lot of hedge trees for posts, but strategically leave some relatively straight ones for tree stands. I also find myself when bowhunting identifying which trees I am going to cut for posts, how many line and corner posts I can get out of them, as well as where to pile the tops for rabbitat and to encourage the deer to come near my tree stand.
I have not yet gotten to the point of planting a hedge row and weaving he branches like the old timers...but I have been thinking about it. They are a great habitat tree used correctly and until they get too big. Then they become monster corner posts. Cut them and they just grow back - renewable resource.
Nature is reckless of the individual. Aldo Leupold.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: Yes sir]
#8103455
03/19/24 01:57 PM
03/19/24 01:57 PM
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K52
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you ks guys quit with all this Osage orange talk..it's hedge. or if your an okie its bodark Lol I didn't want to confuse the youngens. Sorry That's all I ever heard them called around here, hedge trees and hedge rows. Never heard a hedge ball called a horse apple either, that's what comes out of the rear end of a horse. The old timers around here just planted straight rows for wind breaks around the fields and roads. I've never seen one here woven together in any way. The younger famers today can't push them out fast enough to suit them. They might get to experience the Dirty Thirties dust storms if they keep it up, the old timers planted them for a good reason.
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Re: I'm probably an idiot... Osage orange
[Re: slydogx]
#8103778
03/19/24 09:09 PM
03/19/24 09:09 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
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slydogx
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They are native here but uncommon. I don't believe they ever saw widespread use as windrows here as cedars were more effective at keeping the wind from whipping up topsoil. They are a novelty and most people here have never seen one. In fact, the property owner where I picked up the fruits had no idea that such a tree existed let alone was on the property. He is eagerly awaiting seedlings. I am running germination tests now, if rates are good, I'll try to distribute a few hundred. One tray of peat pellets and one good old moist paper towel in a ziplock.
Just happy to be here.
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