4 variety semidwarf apple. Replaces my graft that died. Given the deer, I wanted something bigger than the minidwarfs. Less trouble even though taller. This one is Akane, Chehalis, Honeycrisp, Beni Shogun. All with some disease resistance. Big enough for me to graft more down the road.
Pixi Cot miniature apricot. For container since in ground ones always die in late freeze.
Arbiquina Olive. For container. We saw lots of containerized olives in the Mediterranian last month. I can bring it inside for hard freeze weather.
Early to order. Gives me something to look forward to.
I wonder if you every look into the fun 4 figs website? http://figs4fun.com/
ReplyDeleteThat got to be the most info on figs and I wrote to the guy about my fig tree. Lots of photos. I don't think I can ever ID my fig which I think is a Kodota. Somewhere I read that figs do make seeds but the offsprings doesn't come true like the parents. So the volunteers that you have may be a new hybrid of good quality or a bad bastard. Samething that can happens to apples.
Did I ever tell you I use to own and operate an apple orchard in PA. Ahh the voles and putting up deer fensings, something I am familiar with. Finally, the bad cold snap in the springs froze up all the blossoms makes me quit the apple farming business. I sell fresh fruits and also make ciders for the market. I miss all the apple varieties that I used to grow. I missed the grafting and spring flowering. I just saw a "Bellflower" apple(fruit) in the market so unusual, I want to graft that on my tree.
The Honeycrisp in the literature states that its very finicky, and low yield but where I'm is pretty carefree and good yield. The most expensive apple you can find in the store is the"Honeycrisp" Commercial growers have not figure it out yet.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/11/10/358530280/want-to-grow-these-apples-youll-have-to-join-the-club
ReplyDeletecheck out the apple chart at the bottom. I have never heard of any of them and they are so exclusive.
Lance I have been on f4f and also the gardenweb fig forum. On gardenweb I have the name bear_with_me.
ReplyDeleteIn California figs make seeds. There, the species specific fig wasp was imported because the best figs for drying needed pollination from male fig trees - caprifigs. Figs have complicated sexuality, some need pollination to make good figs, some don't. The "common" fig does not need pollination to make delicious figs, and does not make seeds.
The fig wasp is only in California - apparently cant survive colder climates. So figs are sonewhat invasive and wild, there. But here in NW and in US south and southeast, they do not make seeds.
Interesting article about apples, thanks. making the variety name into a brand name kind of makes me sad. Also, the genetically engineered varieties about to come out - they dont turn brown when sliced and left out. farmers markets will still have the good and traditional types, I hope.
I hate to see GMO apples and I certainly won't be eating them. I've use Gardenweb many times but never post anything. Figs for SF is boarder line, some variety doesn't fruit at all although they became rather big and invasive, the fruits never ripe. Black Mission, Brown turkey doesn't fruit on the west side of the city. The light skin color figs do have a crop but rather on a modest scale and the flavor is nothing compares to the east side. There's no need to cover or bring them inside during the winter.
ReplyDeleteSince I've been reading your wonderful blog, I look forward to it like a magazine subscription, have you ever thought of writing a book?
I've come across a lot of generic books that doesn't have photos that's as informative as yours and the main topic keeps the juices running in the brain. I think as a blog the ideas may get lost in the giant internet. A lot of gardeners will benefit from the info and experience that you have.
You can teach grafting classes if you haven't done so already.
I've been member of the city's community garden and even in clubs, not many people have half the knowledge that you have. Meeting many a "Master Gardener" and "Rosarian" but none of them can propagate anything thing.
Lance, I really enjoy reading your comments and experiences. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIn a couple of years, if there is free time, I do want to join the Home Orchard Society. They already have people with grafting experience, but another can't hurt.
You are very complimentary. I don't know what to say. Really, appreciate it. I just write this as my garden diary, and I am very happy to see that people read and enjoy.
I would like to see more people graft and propagate, and become empowered to grow so much more variety than they can get at the store. It's not difficult once you learn. Then everything looks like a potential scion or potential root stock.