Another Forsythia Cutting Update. 6.20.2021

Today I noticed more roots emerging from a container of forsythia cuttings. I started these directly in potting soil, with little plastic bags covering them to act as humidity / ICU tents. So I set it outside. It's in the 80s today, but it survived. That, and the most recent water-rooted one were a bit droopy after sun heated their black sided containers at the end of the day, so I brought them back indoors and set the remaining two, which were not droopy, back into the shade.

Meanwhile, the fourth (of five) cutting in water has started to grow roots. In the past, I understood that potting medium rooting was superior to water rooting for most cuttings. That may be true, but so far the water rooted forsythia cuttings have done significantly better than the ones in potting medium, and with less effort.

Dwarf Tomato Progress Notes. 6.18.2021

Most of the dwarf tomatoes ar roughly 20 inches tall now. Extreme Bush:

Red Tanunda Dwarf

Alpatieva 905A:

BrandyFred:

Dwarf Champion and Dwarf CC McGee are similar size. Dwarf Johnson Cherry and Clare Valley Pink are only about a foot tall. Alpatieva 905A has the largest tomato set, so far. Extreme Dwarf also has a small tomato. All are blooming profusely.

Rufus Likes his Rawhide Treat. 6.18.2021

Montmorency and NorthStar Pie Cherries Almost Ready. 6.18.2021

It looks like NorthStar might be a little earlier and redder. Both make delicious cherry pies. Montmorency:

NorhStar Cherry:

The scare tale seemd to work very well last year - minimal stealing by the birds. I hope that means the same this year.

Tipping Fig Shoots for Better Production, 6.18.2021

When fig shoots have 4 to 6 leaves, tipping the shoot can stimulate earlier fig producton. It's simple, just be t the tip until it snaps. Removing the growth point stops apical dominance, and baby figs soon appear after the tip is snappeed off. Before:

After:

Today I tipped Brunswick, Adriatic, and Champagne fig trees. I did Celeste a few days ago. Some others are not far enough along yet.