RE: I just planted an orchard. (Full Version)

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Phoenixpower -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 2:02:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
I also have a beehive that I'll be populating with bees in a month or two.


Oh I am soooooooooooooo jealous....I am keen on having a bee hive myself since years and hope to find a right property when I am moving again to go onto that mission....sigh....



FrostedFlake -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 2:44:03 PM)

You have to go with what works. Here in Washington raspberries do great. The deer love them.



SylvereApLeanan -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 5:47:36 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

I'd love to plant a lot more here but our soil is shit, I will first need tohave dump truck loads of good soil brought in and spend thousands on a water collection system. And, I know how much time gardening takes. Time I just don't have at this point in life.



If you ever do decide to start gardening, you might think about researching crops that improve soil quality. Depending on what your soil needs, there are plants that add nitrogen and various other nutrients. I also have a couple of compost bins, including a worm compost bin. Worm tea and castings are great for improving soil quality and composting helps cut down on yard waste and kitchen waste. Since you have horses, you have a steady supply of fantastic booster for hot compost. It wouldn't take long to have enough compost for a garden.



DesFIP -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 5:54:07 PM)

You need two apples of different varieties for pollination. One lone tree will not produce.



kalikshama -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 6:31:34 PM)

DS - congrats on your orchard! Please post pics.

I'm renting, and must stick with annuals. The peas, radish and fava bean seeds I planted last month are coming along nicely and over the weekend I planted some swiss chard, kale, dill, and pansies that the garden center had started. The herb garden has perennial sage and chives, and hopefully the thyme will come back too. I also planted parley that I'd brought in over the winter.



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 8:01:01 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

You need two apples of different varieties for pollination. One lone tree will not produce.


Generally, you're right. However, this is a grafted tree that has four varieties on it.



DesFIP -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 9:09:09 PM)

Should have expected you would have done your homework, being an engineer. Is this a dwarf or semi-dwarf or are you planning to haul a ladder out for harvesting?



LookieNoNookie -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/22/2013 5:28:34 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

Three pear trees, a cherry tree, a peach tree, a fig tree, an apricot tree, and three grapes. Tomorrow I'll plant three more grapes, and that will leave an apple tree which I'll plant once a tree is removed to make room for it. They join a peach tree and two plum trees I planted last year, and a bunch of strawberries and blackberries.

I also have a beehive that I'll be populating with bees in a month or two.

Pastoral suburbia. [:)]


That's awesome DS....I just planted 10 tree's of every fruit tree I could get (110 total)...but I ordered "slips"....little tiny things (25 bucks for 10 ea....come in a little baggie...8 - 12 inches tall ea.)...takes about 4+ years before they produce....

Would love to do the beehive thing but...that's a lot of damn work.



Silentrunner26 -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 3:03:05 AM)

Some trees need a cross pollination to make fruit others don't . Got to hand it to you that is my dream your lliving .



ShaharThorne -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 3:51:05 AM)

We have been planting roses ourselves...one got ran over and 2 did not survive. replace with with some damn good ones (never buying from Walmart and Home Depot ever again). Lizard's plant is the original one surviving and that is because we planted it in a sheltered area (got 4 buds on it).



Determinist -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 4:39:03 AM)

Jealous! I grew up in semi-rural suburbia with a big garden, apple trees, cherry trees, peach trees and far too much lawn for a kid to have to mow. A little slice of paradise, that.



AthenaSurrenders -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 4:52:31 AM)

FR

Add me to the 'jealous' list. I've just planted some gooseberry and redcurrant bushes but we're in a rented house so I'm sticking to things in containers.

I'd really like to try growing olive trees. It doesn't get warm enough in the UK summer for a big crop but they are lovely looking plants just the same.



LaTigresse -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 5:14:40 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

I'd love to plant a lot more here but our soil is shit, I will first need tohave dump truck loads of good soil brought in and spend thousands on a water collection system. And, I know how much time gardening takes. Time I just don't have at this point in life.

You could get some clover seed and put that down. Clover improves the soil it grows in (it fixes nitrogen in the soil) and is pretty hardy even in bad soil.

Gardening is only really time intensive if you want it to be. If you plant appropriately for your climate you won't need to do much watering.


You all would have to know my soil, Iowa clay, and our weather. Some years we have an over abundance of rain and the soil is boot sucking horse shoe removing slimmey mud. Other years, like last year, we go through an intensely dry hot summer that even kills some native trees and leaves huge bottomless cracks all over the yard.

The clay is regional. Farmers, the smart ones, don't plant it. At best it's for hay and/or pasture.



JstAnotherSub -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 5:27:17 AM)

http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/straw-bale-gardening.html



LaTigresse -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 5:32:26 AM)

yeah......I've seen that here as well. Still requires additional water which is one of my expensive hindrances right now



JstAnotherSub -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 5:57:19 AM)

My cousin is doing a straw garden this year. If it does well, I am going to do just a few bales next year. I can't get grass to grow in my backyard thanks to the lovely Georgia clay, so this may work.



Rasciallymisty -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 6:40:45 AM)

Congrats on your orchard DS would love to see some pic's.

I have to get two new apple trees, one pear tree and a blueberry bush. It seems that when your kids are out on the snowmachine riding and pulling the little ones around in the sleds.....that small little trees and bushes do not stand a chance against them. hehehehe I am also do a raise garden and transplanted some raspberry and starwberry plants this year to. We have a lot of clay where I live so gonna have some top soil brought in for the garden. I am hoping my grapes come back as last year was the first time we had a few clusters. I hope to get it all started this coming weekend.

Happy gardening to all and hope you all post some pic.



searching4mysir -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 11:08:11 AM)

I just planted some shrubs today. I wanted blueberry bushes and some dwarf/semi-dwarf fruit bearing trees instead, but was outvoted.



kalikshama -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 12:54:17 PM)

This made me think of composting, which I have given its own thread: Compost bins for less



DomKen -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/23/2013 2:03:07 PM)

Got a blackberry bush today and going to try it in a planter. It would be very nice to have a few hadfuls of fresh berries this summer.



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