Mayhaw Tree Planting Tips
Some new seedling SEH cultivars are completely thornless,and some are thorny, however, this makes harvesting much easier. Harvesting is simpler if all the berries ripen at once, and the tree is then shook and the fruit is caught in sheets underneath the tree and then placed in gallon baskets for roadside market sales. Large mayhaw trees bloom early in March and unbelievably, the mayhaw fruit is ripe before the end of May. The raw berries of the SEH Mayhaw tree sell for $8.00 per gallon, and it is easy to see that dreamlike production of one acre of trees (108 trees planted 20 ft / 20 ft. would yield: 10,800 gallons per acre or $86,400.00 per acre). It's time that Southern farmers lucked into a dependable crop with a payoff like mayhaws could potentially produce a family heirloom fortune. Mayhaw trees will sometimes bear when one year old and commercial growers claim that a 10 year old tree will bear 100 gallons of berries a year, increasing more each year afterwards. The raw berries sell for $8.00 per gallon, and it is easy to see that dreamlike production of one acre of trees (108 trees planted 20 ft / 20 ft. would yield: 10,800 gallons per acre or $86,400.00 per acre). It's time that Southern farmers lucked into a dependable crop with a payoff like mayhaws.SEH berries are large, bright red and begin ripening during May and June. At present the S.E.H. mayhaws do not have specific names, but hopefully outstanding selections of thornless mayhaw trees or thorny types will be perfected and cloned into pure cultivars. Pick-your-own operators usually prefer mayhaw cultivars that ripen over a long period of time, so that the roadside-picking season can be extended, which generally lasts 30 days. A relative of Mr. Carter owns a an orchard of 190 mayhaw trees near Anderson City, Ga., that bears consistent crops every year of large red berries. The mayhaw color can vary from yellow to orange or red, and the berries are aromatic and can be eaten directly from the trees from cultivars that have thin skin.