When to plant bare root jujube trees

[mwang]

I have bareroot Honey Jar jujube and Sugar Cane jujube arriving soon. The ground is frozen where I am, so I won’t be able to plant them immediately. How long can the trees survive heeled in? Also, what soil/air temps should I look for to plant them? Will they be damaged by freezing temps once in the ground?

Thank you!

[Gkight]

Jujube (especially bare root) are very late to wake up. Should be fine as long as it takes for you to be able to give their planting hole.

[zone7a]

I’m in a similar boat; my jujubes will be coming in a month though. From what I heard, just plant them as soon as you can dig the hole. https://extension.psu.edu/spring-fruit-tree-planting-tips-for-the-home-garden and Planting trees

1. Open the package and report damage
2. Place the tree somewhere cold and where the roots can remain not dry (i.e., covered in damp soil, sawdust, hay, etc.). They can remain like this for a few days
   2a) Soak the roots for a few hours in water before planting
3. Dig a hole big enough to not need to bend the roots much, and deep enough such that the bud union will be 2-3 inches off the ground after settling. For Jujubes, it’s roughly as big as the root ball and a little wider. You’ll need to go much wider for apples.
4. Point the roots in the direction of prevailing winds (but I think branch direction may also matter, someone smarter than me can chime in)
5. add 4-6 inches of soil and jiggle the tree up and down to reduce air pockets. For some trees, don’t do this because their roots are sensitive (like a pawpaw).
6. Fill the hole and tramp the soil firm
   6b) Optional: Stake
7. Add some water (5 gal). Jujubes are pretty drought tolerant, so this may not be necessary, but also I think it’s generally a good rule of thumb to water most trees after transplanting.
8. The extension suggests adding fertilizer, but I’m not sure; I think it’s best to skip fertilizing jujubes when planted. Someone smarter than me can answer that.
9. Add a tree guard
10. Prune to keep the tree 1:1 with roots for bare-root trees for jujubes
11. Mulch (don’t let it touch the trunk)

[mwang]

Thanks, that’s good to hear.

[Gkight]

The reason I said they are very late to wake up when bare root; means the temperature won’t be an issue for them. In my yard they are basically last to wake up for the year.

[TNHunter]

I planted a couple jujube trees March 11 2020 here in southern middle TN.

Our ground was not frozen… but was nice and soft and ready. The first two are jujube.

I had a nice borderless raised bed prepped for them.

On April 17 2021… they looked like this.

TNHunter

[BobVance]

I’ve planted jujube in January and Feb several times and the do very well. I’d plant as soon as you can dig. And maybe put some black plastic on the frozen ground to help things along on sunny days

DWN 2020 Highlights published

Is that because Grow Organic sends soon after the order is placed and you don’t have a spot for it yet? I ended up putting the Flavor Punch in a spot that I was planning to put a jujube later in the spring. I’ve got until March to figure out where to put that tree… Here’s the Octoberfest peach and Flavor Punch pluerry. I think the FP is the one on the left. Both were about 5/8" caliper, with the peach a hair smaller. [GO_Other_01-12-2020] The Honey Jar jujube were quite large, all (I go…

[mwang]

Thanks for the advice. I was surprised by how early Grow Organic shipped out the trees. As soon as this snow melts, I’ll get them in the ground.

[BobVance]

@mwang

I was surprised by how early Grow Organic shipped out the trees

It was them who sent them out in the link I posted, but almost 1.5 months earlier (1/12). They sent DWN trees, which were some of the nicest (large and with lots of roots) jujubes that I’ve received. Trees of Antiquity also sends out big trees and Chinese Red Date sends trees with lots of roots (but a bit smaller).

If you are in Southern New England, the snow should be melted in the next day or two. Our forecast for the next 4 days is 46, 48, 49, and 51F, with the last 3 days not getting down to freezing at night. Best to get it planted this week though, as I see some 30’s starting again on Monday.

[mwang]

The trees just arrived today and like you mentioned they look very nice. I’ve kept them in the plastic with the mulch around the roots that they came in. I’ll try and get them planted this week. Just to confirm, the freezing temps next week won’t harm the trees once I plant them? (The Grow Organic website says to wait to plant until air temps are consistently 40F)

Thanks

[Mysta]

Alternatively, when would you guys plant potted jujube that woke up inside(they now have grow lights on them)

[Gkight]

After your last frost date. If they have woken up, you’re stuck keeping them inside until no more frosts because that would set them back a lot, maybe even kill them.