Every time I plant early, I get burned. Seems like Mother Nature just waits for me to plant, then calls Old Man Winter to lay down a nice thick coating of frost. Northern Jersey’s weather is like a turnstile. 60 one day, 35 the next. Doesn’t seem to stabilize until late April, early May. Like your handle, Osage Orange. We have some around here, mostly hedge rows. Beautiful wood, makes nice bowls, doesn’t rot for a good 30 -40 years or more. Careful burning in a wood stove, sparks fly like crazy.
Yep....OO makes for great fence posts...and great turning wood.