Anyone Plant Under a Live Oak?

stoneheart · February 3, 2014

I'm thinking about making a small raised bed right under the live oak tree (about 15 feet tall) in my front yard. Why? Well, I live in Central Texas which can be brutal heat and sun-wise and I want to grow an indeterminate beefsteak variety that might have trouble setting fruit in our hot weather.

Dumb idea?

Worth1 · February 3, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoneheart

I'm thinking about making a small raised bed right under the live oak tree (about 15 feet tall) in my front yard. Why? Well, I live in Central Texas which can be brutal heat and sun-wise and I want to grow an indeterminate beefsteak variety that might have trouble setting fruit in our hot weather.

Dumb idea?

Dumb idea not at all just plant them on the south side of the tree.

A fifteen foot live oak is nothing.
We are getting enough folks from Central Texas to have a Central Texas tomato swap and tasting.

Worth

creister · February 3, 2014

morning sun and afternoon shade, should work well

Vespertino · February 3, 2014

I've got 3 live oaks, sadly two are in the front yard, which is ruled over by HOA visual conformation guidelines, but I have more free reign over my back yard which has one of them. Unfortunately it's VERY shady under there so I can't plant tomatoes under it, but I'm trying to figure out what other edibles might work well. I'm thinking salad Burnett, maybe parsley and dill too. But I've never tried, so I got no idea if it would work.

dustdevil · February 3, 2014

I've never used shade cloth, but some people claim it works for them.

Worth1 · February 3, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vespertino

I've got 3 live oaks, sadly two are in the front yard, which is ruled over by HOA visual conformation guidelines, but I have more free reign over my back yard which has one of them. Unfortunately it's VERY shady under there so I can't plant tomatoes under it, but I'm trying to figure out what other edibles might work well. I'm thinking salad Burnett, maybe parsley and dill too. But I've never tried, so I got no idea if it would work.

Green onions/scallions or chives might work and I can guarantee you taro will grow.

But most western civilizations dont eat taro.
You can buy taro root from the grocery store and just plant it.
Trust me it works.
Taro is a type of elephant ear.

I would tell the HOA to stick it when it comes to edible plants.
You can make really nice looking planters to put herbs and leafy greens in.

Worth

tlintx · February 3, 2014

I'm nervous about putting tomatoes out there in the front yard too (trying a bunch of compact multifloras this year looking for one that will be "front-yard" acceptable). There's always ornamental peppers, kales, lemon sorrel... lots and lots of "stealth" edibles, too. Canna lily, Roselle, mints, lemon grass, lemon balm, lemon mint (I'm obsessed with lemon), blueberries. Just to name a few. Artichoke, even. Makes a huge difference if it's morning shade vs. evening shade, too. I was shocked how much better my plants did with morning sun and evening shade than the other way around.

I think it might get too hot for some of the more traditional stuff, I want to say I discounted salad burnet and borage over that. You could try strawberries, too! I think mine appreciated the shade last year. I envy those of you with some built-in shade, I'm thinking I might have to build a lathe house! Although the free pine straw is nice, I guess.

I don't think a little shade will help much once summer hits, though. I mean, I see people from California who make it work, but it's just so punishing in July...

Vespertino · February 3, 2014

Worth:

I like taro, however I'd never thought of growing it, I will look into that since I enjoy taro ice cream, bubble tea, desserts, chips and crispy taro dumplings. I will pick some up at Super Hmart

I have some bald spots out front where liriope didn't spread too well and there were some other places where the plants selected for the front shade areas aren't thriving.

Scallions and chives are totally my bag. I grew chives, or attempted to, on my terrace but the radiant heat island effect eventually killed them off. They'll probably do a lot better in permanent shade under a tree and I might have seeds left over.

Tlintx:

I had given thought to strawberries, something I need to research a bit more to decide what variety to get. Did salad burnett not work out for you? I remember trying to grow chervil, that failed miserably once temps got into the 90's.

tlintx · February 3, 2014

I didn't even try it, to be honest. A lot of those, like watercress, just don't seem worth babying here in the summer. My broccoli bolted in January, what hope do cool summer greens have?

If you like chives, you should definitely look at the walking onions. I think Sample Seed Shop has some. I did strawberries last year under a pineapple guava and in another shady bed and they did well but the squirrels liked them so much to that we really didn't get to eat any!

Worth1 · February 3, 2014

Chard thrives in the summer here and it keeps coming back.

Worth

Tom A To · February 3, 2014

Live Oak trees sip water, they don't drink it so if you live in a dry, Mediterranean climate and you start giving the oak tree water that it is not used to getting, it may develop oak root rot or some other disease and die. I'd be careful or at least do some research on live oaks in your area.

**carolyn137** · February 3, 2014

Most of those who have posted in this thread to date have been from Texas.

So I have to ask. Why would one plant under a Live Oak, I mean it is alive isn't it? Why not just say Oak tree?

I know there are dead Oaks and of course you wouldn't plant under them, and up here where I live there are lots of Oak trees, and we call them Oak trees.

So how are Live Oaks different from the Oak trees I know? Same genus two different species? I didn't take the time to Google it.

Carolyn

Tom A To · February 3, 2014

The term Live Oak can refer generally to any oak that does not lose its leaves (evergreen - hence the term "live") or it can refer to a specific variety. There are around thirty or so varieties of Live Oak that thrive in different parts of the country.

tlintx · February 3, 2014

I love chard!!! I have one that's growing in a pot in the backyard and has been since last spring. It's a perennial now.

If we're looking for HOT weather greens, I have a whole list!

claherron · February 4, 2014

From my experience with "live" oaks in south Mississippi nothing grows under them. Mine are mostly 25-35 feet tall and have never been pruned. On a positive note I can sell you shade by the gallon for real cheap. I have many types red, sawtooth, water and the grass and flowers do well under them. Down here the really big live oaks seem to have grass under them. I was tempted to try a sweet potatoes under on of my bigger ones am I crazy?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

February 3, 2014	#1
stoneheart Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 4	Anyone Plant Under a Live Oak? I'm thinking about making a small raised bed right under the live oak tree (about 15 feet tall) in my front yard. Why? Well, I live in Central Texas which can be brutal heat and sun-wise and I want to grow an indeterminate beefsteak variety that might have trouble setting fruit in our hot weather. Dumb idea?

February 3, 2014	#11
Tom A To Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pilot Hill, Ca. Posts: 307	Live Oak trees sip water, they don't drink it so if you live in a dry, Mediterranean climate and you start giving the oak tree water that it is not used to getting, it may develop oak root rot or some other disease and die. I'd be careful or at least do some research on live oaks in your area. __________________ -Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on.

February 3, 2014	#12
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Most of those who have posted in this thread to date have been from Texas. So I have to ask. Why would one plant under a Live Oak, I mean it is alive isn't it? Why not just say Oak tree? I know there are dead Oaks and of course you wouldn't plant under them, and up here where I live there are lots of Oak trees, and we call them Oak trees. So how are Live Oaks different from the Oak trees I know? Same genus two different species? I didn't take the time to Google it. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

February 3, 2014	#13
Tom A To Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pilot Hill, Ca. Posts: 307	The term Live Oak can refer generally to any oak that does not lose its leaves (evergreen - hence the term "live") or it can refer to a specific variety. There are around thirty or so varieties of Live Oak that thrive in different parts of the country. __________________ -Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on.

February 3, 2014	#3
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	morning sun and afternoon shade, should work well

February 3, 2014	#4
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	I've got 3 live oaks, sadly two are in the front yard, which is ruled over by HOA visual conformation guidelines, but I have more free reign over my back yard which has one of them. Unfortunately it's VERY shady under there so I can't plant tomatoes under it, but I'm trying to figure out what other edibles might work well. I'm thinking salad Burnett, maybe parsley and dill too. But I've never tried, so I got no idea if it would work.

February 3, 2014	#5
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	I've never used shade cloth, but some people claim it works for them.

February 3, 2014	#7
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	I'm nervous about putting tomatoes out there in the front yard too (trying a bunch of compact multifloras this year looking for one that will be "front-yard" acceptable). There's always ornamental peppers, kales, lemon sorrel... lots and lots of "stealth" edibles, too. Canna lily, Roselle, mints, lemon grass, lemon balm, lemon mint (I'm obsessed with lemon), blueberries. Just to name a few. Artichoke, even. Makes a huge difference if it's morning shade vs. evening shade, too. I was shocked how much better my plants did with morning sun and evening shade than the other way around. I think it might get too hot for some of the more traditional stuff, I want to say I discounted salad burnet and borage over that. You could try strawberries, too! I think mine appreciated the shade last year. I envy those of you with some built-in shade, I'm thinking I might have to build a lathe house! Although the free pine straw is nice, I guess. I don't think a little shade will help much once summer hits, though. I mean, I see people from California who make it work, but it's just so punishing in July...

February 3, 2014	#10
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Chard thrives in the summer here and it keeps coming back. Worth

February 4, 2014	#15
claherron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Mississippi Posts: 47	From my experience with "live" oaks in south Mississippi nothing grows under them. Mine are mostly 25-35 feet tall and have never been pruned. On a positive note I can sell you shade by the gallon for real cheap. I have many types red, sawtooth, water and the grass and flowers do well under them. Down here the really big live oaks seem to have grass under them. I was tempted to try a sweet potatoes under on of my bigger ones am I crazy? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD