I just planted an orchard. (Full Version)

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DarkSteven -> I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 8:45:19 PM)

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. [:)]



UllrsIshtar -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 8:48:14 PM)

Which kind of fig do you have?

I've been looking for something that will winter well in this climate.



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 8:57:07 PM)

The Hardy Chicago Fig. It dies back every winter and regrows from the roots.



tj444 -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 8:58:56 PM)

Oh, goody! are these dwarf trees? what variety of fig tree did you get? I want to buy some trees too but I might buy a couple of varities of figs.. I have had figs before at another place but dont know what variety they were, they were cuttings from a neighbor..

what kinda grapes? planning on making wine too? my ex made blackberry wine a few times..

have you beekept before? gonna post a pic of you in yer bee outfit? [:)]

ok.. i see you answered the fig question.. I hope its a tasty fig..



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 9:42:55 PM)

They're all semidwarfs and dwarfs.

The grapes are standard red, blue, and white table grapes. Except for a couple of Chenin Blancs I got at Home Depot. I don't drink wine - I'm going to eat some fresh, make juice, and dehydrate to raisins.

I have never kept bees before. I've got a mentor, a copy of Beekeeping for Dummies, a lot of faith, and my sub's exasperation (she thinks that all of nature is out to get her).



FrostedFlake -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 9:48:23 PM)

Absolutely fabulous.

My respect for you has increased (again).

I wonder if you might add some raspberry and blueberry bushes.



tj444 -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 10:08:04 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

They're all semidwarfs and dwarfs.

The grapes are standard red, blue, and white table grapes. Except for a couple of Chenin Blancs I got at Home Depot. I don't drink wine - I'm going to eat some fresh, make juice, and dehydrate to raisins.

I have never kept bees before. I've got a mentor, a copy of Beekeeping for Dummies, a lot of faith, and my sub's exasperation (she thinks that all of nature is out to get her).

you can freeze grapes & make jams and jellies too.. I like concord grapes to eat.. I like a grape with a bit of fight in it.. [:D] Do you have an arbor/pergola or something for your grapes to grow up & over on?

I am not a wine person either but the process is interesting..

I have thought about bees too but I am not sure I am brave enough for that.. I dont even like misquitos.. [:D]



ARIES83 -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/20/2013 11:49:51 PM)

Good for you DS! Any pictures?



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 3:55:46 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: FrostedFlake

Absolutely fabulous.

My respect for you has increased (again).

I wonder if you might add some raspberry and blueberry bushes.


I did have some raspberries, but they didn't make it through the winter.

I have experimented with blueberries. They're not supposed to be grown here because the soil is so acid. I've nursed a few along by using sulfur and coffee grounds to acidify the soil.



kallisto -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 5:38:09 AM)

How wonderful!!! I wish I had the land and time to plant and grow fresh fruit and veggies. I love figs. And frozen grapes A neighbor has a fig tree in her yard that she usually shares from. [:)] I'm just hoping my few tomatoes, cucumbers and pepper plants produce something this year. [8|]



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 7:44:27 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

I did have some raspberries, but they didn't make it through the winter.

I have experimented with blueberries. They're not supposed to be grown here because the soil is so acid. I've nursed a few along by using sulfur and coffee grounds to acidify the soil.


AAARRRGH! I meant to say "because they need such an acid soil". Colorado soil is alkaline.



SylvereApLeanan -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 9:38:27 AM)

How do I get you to come to my house and plant? I'm planning to turn my entire yard, front and back, into edible and/or useful landscape. (The things that aren't edible will be there to attract pollinators and insect predators.)



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 10:17:54 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: SylvereApLeanan

How do I get you to come to my house and plant? I'm planning to turn my entire yard, front and back, into edible and/or useful landscape. (The things that aren't edible will be there to attract pollinators and insect predators.)


A lady after my own heart! [sm=waiting.gif]



lovethyself -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 10:33:50 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven


quote:

ORIGINAL: FrostedFlake

Absolutely fabulous.

My respect for you has increased (again).

I wonder if you might add some raspberry and blueberry bushes.


I did have some raspberries, but they didn't make it through the winter.

I have experimented with blueberries. They're not supposed to be grown here because the soil is so acid. I've nursed a few along by using sulfur and coffee grounds to acidify the soil.


Were they red or black rasberries? I've always noticed that the black rasberries up here winter much better than the red variety. And they produced more berries. I have no idea what kind of soil we have though, so that might not help.



LaTigresse -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 10:34:10 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: SylvereApLeanan

How do I get you to come to my house and plant? I'm planning to turn my entire yard, front and back, into edible and/or useful landscape. (The things that aren't edible will be there to attract pollinators and insect predators.)


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.



tj444 -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 11:11:44 AM)


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 should look into doing cover crops, also called green manure crop and the purpose is to add nutrients to the soil naturally.. there are a lot of vids on youtube and info online on this.. I havent done it yet but i want to since i want a good garden.. yes, gardening does take time.. but its less expensive than having kids.. [:D]

this vid is from australia but i like what he has to say and the idea of cow pea cover crop or a combo like he uses..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iZx1YXDg7Y



DomKen -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 12:00:56 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.

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.



DarkSteven -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 12:25:43 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: lovethyself

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven


quote:

ORIGINAL: FrostedFlake

Absolutely fabulous.

My respect for you has increased (again).

I wonder if you might add some raspberry and blueberry bushes.


I did have some raspberries, but they didn't make it through the winter.

I have experimented with blueberries. They're not supposed to be grown here because the soil is so acid. I've nursed a few along by using sulfur and coffee grounds to acidify the soil.


Were they red or black rasberries? I've always noticed that the black rasberries up here winter much better than the red variety. And they produced more berries. I have no idea what kind of soil we have though, so that might not help.



Red and yellow. Black raspberries are bad news. They're very disease resistant, but they carry diseases that blackberries and red raspberries will fall to, so they have to be planted 50 feet away.



lovethyself -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 12:36:16 PM)

I didn't know that. At my parents we had the black rasberries and blackberries in the same little garden in the front, and never had any problems. And they survived like that for at 15 years, before they redid the front portch and mom moved them.



theshytype -> RE: I just planted an orchard. (4/21/2013 12:44:47 PM)

Good for you! I'm VERY jealous! Maybe one day we'll have enough property so I can have one as well. It's always been one of my many dreams.



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