Figs. 4.2.19

My Main Row Of Fig Trees.  4.2.19

Carini Fig Breaking Dormancy.  4.2.19

 Today I finished removing the last of the terracing that I put in a few years ago for the fig trees.  I think the idea had potential, but in the end it did not work so well.

These fig trees are on a hill, so I thought the terracing would help the ground hold water.  However, with the grass and fig trees, that isn't needed.  Meanwhile, mowing was difficult because the grass hid the the stones and blocks I used to terrace the soil, and I could not just walk up the row of trees with the lawn mower.

So I have been removing the terrace stones and bricks over the past year  I had some fill soil removed from decommissioned raised beds, so I spread that on the uneven areas, and broadcast grass seed there.  Now, the last of the re-contouring is done.  It will be easier to mow in the future, easier maintenance, less likely to trip on the terrace stones and uneven grade.

Meanwhile, the fig trees are coming out of dormancy.  Celeste seems to be earliest.  That tree is still young, and I have not yet tasted a Celeste fig.  The others are not far behind.

I have yellow jacket traps out now, too, to catch the queens before they build nests and start colonies.  So far, none are in the traps.

 

 

 

Petite negri Fig Breaking Dormancy.  4.2.19

Celeste Fig Breaking Dormancy.  4.2.19

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Garlic. 4.2.19

Garlic Bed.  4.2.19

Today I cleaned up the garlic bed.  The main problem with perennial or overwinter vegetables is that weeds grow among them and it's not always easy to get out in the weather to clean them up

Still, this bed is the best looking garlic I've had in years.  Must be the varieties (Music looks the best, but Spanish Roja is looking good too), and the fact that I have them fenced in.  Made a big difference, so far.

Big Box Store Peonies. 4.1.19

I bought these Peony roots today at Home Depot. I actually love shopping there, but like the Dahlia tubers that I just posted on (from other chain stores), these peonies area pretty picture with a hopeful thought.

Of the two, the Itoh peony root was in better shape.  The roots looked reasonably firm, and there were several viable looking buds.  Of the herbaceous (Sara Bernhardt) peonies, one looked viable, with a somewhat thick root and a couple of buds.  The other was so dried out and hard, I dont think it has a chance.  I couldn't tell which way was up - really a poor specimen.  Still, I planted them all.  I also included some organic vegetable fertilizer in the soil.

These are OK for the gardener who loves a challenge, who is willing to wait possibly several, even many, years for the first blossom, and who is willing to give TLC along the way.  But they are not worth the price and garden space if one wants something healthy, vigorous, and likely to bloom in a year or two.

We'll see!

Big Box Store Dahlia Tubers. 4.1.19

Starting Some Dahlia Tubers Early.  4.1.19

These are packages of dahlia tubers that I bought earler this winter and stored until now.  I hesitate to describe them, lest I be shown to be gullible, but here we are.  Those little boxes with "1" on the label?  Basically you are buying a pretty picture.  The tubers were dead looking, most hanging on to the central stem by fibers, not a living connection.  As I understand it, most of the time, the living bud is on the stem, or near it.  The "Joy of Gardening" tuber was almost as bad.  The multipack "Joy of Gardening" dahlia multi-package did contain some that looked OK.  Maybe most of them.  But in most of these cases, the consumer is buying a pretty picture.

My goal here is to get them started  growing.  If they do break dormancy and plants grow, I'll either plant them in the garden or in containers.   I trimmed off the tubers that were hanging on by fibers but no apparent living connection.  Then I planted them  in potting soil, covering the tubers but not deeply.  I'll keep them in a warm place until the start growing.  I think most of them still have a chance.

More Perennials, Out of Dormancy, Growing Fast. 3.29.19

Oriental poppies.  Transplanted mid summer last year when dormant.  3.29.19

Cammassia clumps have begun to grow. Doing well.  3.29.19

Leocojum, transplanted from the old place.  Herbivores dont bother them.  3.29.19

Some of the violets settled in and are blooming now.

Planting Pawpaw Seeds. 3.29.19

Pawpaw seeds,  These are cultivar "NC-1".  3.29.19

Today I planted most of the pawpaw seeds. I followed online instructions, published by Kentucky State University. They were stratified in the fridge, packed in wet paper towel in a ziplock bag, and kept in fridge since mid October.  Occassionally, I checked on them, rinsed i  cold water and changed the paper towel so it would not mildew or become moldy.

I scarified a few of the "Sunflower" pawpaw seeds by rubbing them on moderate coarseness sandpaper.  The rest were planted as is.

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Now it may be a few months before they sprout, if they  do at all.  I don't know what I will do with the trees, if they do grow.  Plant a few here, maybe, and give some away.

The pots of planted seeds are in the sunroom for warmth.

Emerging Perennials. 3.#9.19

Bearded Irises.  3.29.19

Bearded Irises in Border, Bark Mulched.  3.29.19

Itoh Peonies.  3.29.19

Euphorbias. 3.29.19

Sedum.  2.29.19

Sunroom. 3.29.19

Daffodils in Bloom. 3.29.19

Phenology. What's Blooming. 3.28.19

Crimson Pointe Plum.  3.29.19

Flavor Supreme Pluot.  3.29.19

Among the fruit trees, almost anything with Asian plum in it's DNA is blooming.  Ornamental plums are at peak.  Flavor Supreme Pluot (young tree), graft of "pluot" seedling, Hollywood Plum, Methley Plum (just starting), Nadia Cherry x plum hybrid (will it bear fruit for the first time this year?).  Shiro plum is not in bloom yet.

Pussy willows are actually past their prime, but very nice.

Among peaches, Frost, Kreibich nectarine, Seedling from Oregon Curl Free, and Charlotte are blooming.  Salish Summer is not blooming yet.  That's a good thing, less unlikely to be hit by a late frost.

Hollywood Plum.  3.29.19

Seedling Peach.  3.28.19

Seedling Peach.  3.29.19

Pussy Willow.  3.29.19

Pussy Willow.  3.28.19

Seedling Plum.  3.28.19

Note: I don't want to continue calling the peach tree, grown from a seed from Oregon Curl Free, "Son of Oregon Curl Free". So, for the time being at least, I'll call it "Cowlitz Peach", to honor its provenance and the Cowlitz River and people of this area. Ditto for the lovely flowered, variegated leafed plum, grown from a seed taken from deep burgundy "pluots" bought at a local farmers' market. I am thinking about calling it "Martian Spring", for the colorful, somewhat blood-colored leaves.  The plums, if any happen, remain to be seen.