Jujube tree in the intermountain west

Anyone growing a jujube at a higher altitude with its shorter seasons?

Anyone growing jujube and using the dropped fruits as poultry or pig fodder?

The literature is contradictory, saying it grows at high altitude places but needs a long hot summer.

I'm thinking ahead for next year, when I want to plant an area as a summer fodder production zone for the birds.

Hello Ann

I'm in the Sierra Nevada at about 5000 feet, and I have two Jujubies, Lee, and Lang. They are planted in deep silty-loam, with about 24-30 inches of topsoil. It snows in winter, about zone 6 with lows in the teens. My jujubies, though surviving the winter cold, do suffer from some dieback, and aren't growing lushly like the apples and peaches are. After 4 years, the two trees are more or less the same height they started out at, when planted. I've gotten a few fruit, but not even enough for a filling snack.

Hi Ann,

I've been growing a ziziphus spinosa for several years in the Denver area. The tree is still small at about 4 ft after about 4-5 years of actual growth. It stayed so small when I planted it that my husband mowed it down several years in a row so it's a tough little tree. I haven't gotten any dates yet. It is always the last tree to leaf out, usually late May. It has full south/west exposure and gets a lot of sun and heat.

Robin Katz wrote:It stayed so small when I planted it that my husband mowed it down several years in a row ...

LOL I wish I didn't know what you were talking about here.

THIS IS A REALLY OLD THREAD, BUT I just thought I would mention that there is such a tree growing and bearing fruit in Grand Junction Colorado. It is about 30 feet tall, and does leaf out very late. It has been there a long time, 30 - 40 years? and we've had some very cold winters. It is next to a lawn, and is shaded by paper bark pecans, which also is mature, bears nuts, and has survived many winters here.

Thekla

And I meant to say paper SHELL pecans. Also, I ate one of the jujube dates that had been lying on the lawn, and probably hanging on the tree for some time, and it was just like a date. The woman who owns the trees said when they first ripen they are more like an apple, and dry to be the date like fruit I ate.

Thekla

Jujube is quite frost-hardy....at least 0°F !!! The fruits start ripening at the end of summer...if you have colder summer I guess they'll ripen in early fall !!

Here, we get down to -17 F every so often. The jujube tree I spoke of has survived periods of 10 consecutive nights of -15 to -17 F. It is on a busy road, but it is not in an urban heat island type situation.

Thekla

Thekla McDaniels wrote:THIS IS A REALLY OLD THREAD, BUT I just thought I would mention that there is such a tree growing and bearing fruit in Grand Junction Colorado. It is about 30 feet tall, and does leaf out very late. It has been there a long time, 30 - 40 years? and we've had some very cold winters. It is next to a lawn, and is shaded by paper bark pecans, which also is mature, bears nuts, and has survived many winters here.

Thekla

That would be great to see! Should be ripe by now.
Jujube is on my list for next year.
I live in the area and would like to see it if possible. PM me?