| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cajungal |
Posted - Jan 26 2015 : 06:17:17 AM
Our county extension office just held their annual fruit tree sale. OMG! every year it gets bigger and more people attend. They hold a pre-sale class at 8a.m. and discuss the varieties that are available and give basic care and pruning information.
What is so great about this sale is that the trees available are hand picked for growing in our area. We have very low chill hours, so many fruit trees won't produce here. Texas A&M does a lot of research and grafting and have adapted several varieties to prosper.
I already have a small orchard which I heavily prune according to the 'backyard orchard' method. I have about 15 different sets of trees and vines (I build raised beds and plant 3 trees per bed) Some beds are 3 trees of one type. For example, a bed of 3 Satsuma or a bed of 3 Pomegranate. Other beds have a variety of one type. For example, a bed of Meyer Lemon, Pink Variegated Lemon, and Mexican Lemon.
There isn't much I need to add, but there were a few I purchased. I got an LSU Gold Fig Tree. Geaux Tigers! (My Louisiana farmgirl sisters will understand that)
I got a couple of native Mayhaw. I want to make some Mayhaw jelly.
My blueberry bushes thrive so I got more of different varieties to add. You can never have too many blueberries.
I also got a Sassafrass. It doesn't produce a fruit but it is very pretty. The roots can be used for medicinal purposes and of course Root Beer. Here's the funny thing...I didn't really have an interest in the tree. But, I found out that it's illegal to sell in nurseries due to the possible toxicity of the roots to the soil. Well, all you gotta do is tell me I can't have something and that makes me want it.(hee hee)
Are any of y'all starting a backyard orchard? Are you adding more trees? What does well for you? What is native to your area?
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| hudsonsinaf |
Posted - Feb 18 2015 : 05:20:07 AM
When we get our homestead, we are hoping to have an orchard! I really want to try permaculture and create a "food forest" but am still wrapping my brain around the idea :)
I have never heard of Mayhaw. I may have to do some research on that one just to learn more :) I love digging up new information!
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
| peafarm |
Posted - Feb 17 2015 : 10:17:55 PM
That sounds like a ton of fun! You can never have too many trees! Our backyard has 9 different varieties of apples, saskatoon berries, apricots, grapes, plums, pears, and cherries.
I splurged and bought a fruit steamer last year and that has made the fruit that much more enjoyable. The steamer is similar to this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Home-NC-00256-11-Quart-Stainless-Steel/dp/B0055Q2D2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424240134&sr=8-1&keywords=fruit+steamer
And I'm trying my hand at making apple cider vinegar for the animals. Just love everything that we can do!
Penny
Soaper and Not So Crazy Goat Lady
Celebrating Wholesome Living in a Colorful World
www.facebook.com/444Farm
www.444Farm.com/blog |
| AFinkberry |
Posted - Feb 01 2015 : 09:44:41 AM
We live in a rental right now, and when we moved in a couple years ago, the back yard was a jungle! It's been a lot of work but we've got it tamed a little bit, but our biggest challenge is the pear trees! They must be 20 years old or older! They've just been the pits to prune because they just shot up! They are really tall, but the pears, while not very pretty to look at, were so delicious and I ended up canning close to 50 quarts of pears last summer! (Which we are enjoying this winter!) But there's a plum tree that we've also cut back and we're hoping that we'll get some good plums this year!
I'd love to plant an apricot tree. My Great Grandma had one and every year she had apricot everything! Bread, cookies, jam, preserves, sauce, dried! OH, HEAVEN!!
Ally
Farmgirl Sister #5672
"There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness." ~His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
| marthajane |
Posted - Jan 29 2015 : 1:40:08 PM
Nice information! I want a sassafrass tree!! I am moving to TX one of these years, but I sure hope they still have sassafrass trees available. Enjoy!
HAPPINESS IS BEING A MOM |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Jan 26 2015 : 08:50:49 AM
Lucky you! I hope everything takes and grows like crazy for you. I look forward to hearing how your future harvests will be.
Hard to believe you are buying and planting trees. It's currently 17 here in the Chicagoland area. Planting and growing is just a spring dream for us right now!
Dawn in IL |
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