Cymbidium Orchid Flowers. 2.8.22

 Only three flowers, but they are very nice.  Last year I didn't treat it nicely. What will it do if I actually take care of it?

Geraniums in Winter. 2.8.22

 These are the multicolor leaf heirloom variety that I brought out of dormancy.

The main plant has grown a lot of new leaves.  It does not receive supplemental light , so the leaves are mostly just green with yellow borders.

These are the cuttings in water.    They are under LEDs, so the leaves are more colorful.

One of the cuttings has grown roots.  Soon I'll plant it in potting soil.

Pruning Grapes and Kiwis. 2.8.23

 All but one of the grapes are pruned

Most look like this.  They still need a couple more years to develop.  This one is a red seedless, Einsetl

This one is Buffalo, the Pacific NW answer to Concord.  I added a bamboo bar to the trellis, pruned quite a lot, an tied to the trellis.

Finally, there is this Red Blake's Kiwi.  I don't know if it will bear like this.  Most set-ups seem to be for industrial level production.  I only want a bowl full.  This variety is not supposed to need a male.  So far it's never bloomed.  Who knows?

Seedlings So Far. 2.8.22

 At one month, the onion and shallot seedlings are looking nice.  They usually look like this at one month, so all is OK so far.

Red Wethersfield Onion

Ambition Shallot

Heshiko Japanese Bunching Onion.

All of the other onion and shallot seedlings look about the same.

 Carnations, Jalapeños, Serranos, Rudbeckias

Thyme, Carnations, Kale, Rudbeckias

Planting a New Genetic Dwarf Apple Tree. 2.4.22

 Dwarf apple trees are usually created by grafting a "normal" apple scion onto a dwarfing rootstock.  There is a history of doing that going back at least a century.  Genetic dwarf varieties do not need a dwarfing rootstock.  They have a mutated gene, such that the length of stem is significantly shortened.  This is called "brachytic dwarfism".  This is not genetic engineering, it's just a mutation that is passed down through generations of breeding.  Brachytic dwarf tree scion can be grafted onto much more vigorous rootstock, so they are more deeply rooted and need less, if any, support.  The disadvantage is, you can's grow your favorite variety as a brachytic dwarf.

I saw One Green World nursery was offering a brachytic dwarf apple variety called "Apple Babe".  I don't know if it will be good, but the general idea might be nice in my minidwarf apple orchard.  The brachytic dwarf tree should max out at about six to eight feet tall, smaller with pruning.  It's more likely to have excellent leaf cover, similar to brachytic dwarf peaches.

I ordered one as a Christmas present to myself.  It came today.  Merry Christmas!

 I thought this was a very nice specimen.  The roots look good.  The stem is sturdy and has lots of buds.  I'll probably prune the top back by a foot.  Kind of hate doing that, but I want it to branch out low on the trunk.