Initial Planting:
The Gordon tract was selected as Black Walnut seed orchard site by Randall Mell and Larry Miller in 1988. Superior formed Black Walnut trees were selected by state foresters within the SE corner of the state of Minnesota. During March and February 1988 and 1989 scion material was collected from each parent tree. The scion material was then grafted to wild root stock and grown for one year at the DNR-Forestry General Andrews Nursery in Willow River, MN. The Gordon Seed Orchard Black Walnut Site was planted in 1990. Eighteen rows were laid out on the contour and planted with 20 trees each . A total of 360 trees were planted in April 1990. The grafted trees were planted using a 26 x 26 foot spacing. Each tree had been grown at the nursery in tapered rectangular pots with a 4 x 4 inch top and 18 inches deep. A six inch auger was used to drill planting holes to a two foot depth. The trees were planted in a checkered fashion to allow them to be mowed easily. The site was a corn field during the growing season of 1989. The trees were planted in corn stubble. All trees had 4 foot Tubex tree tubes placed around them. The tree tubes were anchored with a 4 foot 2 x2 inch White Oak stake. Soon after planting the site was planted to Orchard, and Timothy grasses. Six foot circles around each tree was treated with a solution of 2% Round Up and 1 quart Simazine 4L herbicide per acre. The site was first mowed in July of 1990 and mowed a second time in August of 1990. The area around the trees was treated again with the same Round Up and Simazine 4L herbicide in September of 1990. A map of the plantation was created. Most trees were growing well but many had yellow foliage all year. Average growth 1-2 inches.

1991 March-straighten tubes and set out mouse bait stations. Applied slow release fertilizer around trees. Set up drip gravity flow irrigation system to deliver water to each live tree. June-checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. Lost 125 of the 360 trees panted. Root stock was infested with nursery borne fungi. September replanted 74 trees and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 3 inches.

1992 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Mowed site May, July, and August. Applied fertilizer through the gravity feed irrigation system. Treated trees in June and September. June-checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. Lost more trees that were planted 1990 and 1991 and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 4 inches.

1993 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Mowed site May, July, and August. Applied fertilizer through the gravity feed irrigation system. Treated trees in June and September. In September checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. Lost a few more trees that were planted 1990 and 1991 and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 4 inches.

1994 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Replanted about thirty more grafted trees in the dead spots. Mowed site May, July, and August. Applied fertilizer through the gravity feed irrigation system. Treated trees in June and August. In September checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. Lost a few more trees that were planted 1990, 1991, and 1994 and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 5 inches.

1995 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Diced the site and replanted area to Red Clover to get more nitrogen into the soil. Mowed site July, and August. In September checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. Lost a few more trees that were planted1994 and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 4 inches.

1996 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Planted about 25 more trees to replace the dead ones. Mowed site May, June, July, August, and September. In September checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. Lost a few more trees that were planted in 1991 and 1994 and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 6 inches.

1997 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Mowed site May, June, July, August, and September. Late May early June had a bad frost . The frost killed the leaves on all the trees. In September checked each tree to see if the grafts were still alive. Lost a few more trees that were planted in1994 and revised planting map. Sprayed same herbicide mixture around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 4 inches.

1998 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Mowed site May, June, July, August, and September. Removed all the Tubex tree tubes and replaced them with a four foot high chicken wire basket around each tree less then 5 feet high. Because of poor growth and continued mortality Dan Carlson of Scientific Enterprises, Inc. was contacted and he viewed the site. Mr. Carlson prescribed a number of things to get the plantation growing better. Sonic Bloom was started in June. Two speakers were set up at the SE corner on the plantation. Sonic Bloom mixture was applied at one ounce per one gallon water and mixed with a garlic concentrate for Anthracnos leaf disease. The materials were sprayed to the under side of the trees leaves with a backpack sprayer. This was done every Monday morning from 7:30 to 9:00 AM. The westerly three rows were left unsprayed to act as a control. Spayed the living trees until the leaves fell off in September. June 28 a wind and hail storm stripped all the trees of their leaves and hail severely damaged the stems of the larger trees. Dan Carlson brought over a mist blower and applied Sonic Bloom to the trees in July. In September checked each tree to see if the grafted was still alive. No mortality . Sprayed solution of 1% Accord and 1/4 quart Simazine 4L herbicide around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 14 inches.

1999 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Mowed site May, June, July, August, and September. One speaker was left in the SE corner and one speaker was placed on the half way point along the north line of the plantation. Sonic Bloom mixture was applied at one ounce per one gallon water and mixed with a garlic concentrate for anthracnos leaf disease. The materials were sprayed to the under side of the trees leaves with a slip on unit spray mounted to a John Deere Gator. The spraying was done every Monday morning from 7:30 to 9:00 AM.. Spayed the living trees until the leaves fell off in September.
No mortality. Sprayed solution of 1% Accord and 1/4 quart Simazine 4L herbicide around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 24 inches. 2000 March-straighten tubes and filled mouse bait stations. Mowed site May, June, July, August, and September.
One speaker was left in the SE corner and one speaker was placed on the half way point along the north line of the plantation. Sonic Bloom mixture was applied once a week at one ounce per one gallon water. No garlic spray was available for this years use. Sonic Bloom was sprayed on the under side of the trees leaves with a mist blower unit mounted on a tractor. The spraying started one week before leave break and was done every Monday morning from 7:30 to 9:00 AM.. Sprayed the living trees continued until the leaves fell off in October. Two applications were applied one week before flower bud opening and continued until 2 weeks after flower drop. On July 4, 2000 the orchard was vandalized. A vehicle drove through the wire enclosure around the parking lot and entered the orchard. Sixteen trees were run over and the toilet door was damaged. Two trees were broken off at the base so the graft was lost. The other 14 trees were badly damaged with broken branches and had bark torn from the stems. These trees replaced their torn leaves and showed signs of healing. It is expected that some will not be able to survive the winter. Next spring we will be able to better assess the damage. Sprayed solution of 1% Accord and 1/4 quart Simazine 4L herbicide around trees in September and refilled mouse bait stations. Growth averaged about 24-31 inches.