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Post by bubbles on Apr 9, 2015 1:30:54 GMT -5
My gardens are raised. They have to be. Its so much easier. Oh, that sounds soothing to my already aching back!
BTW, -our apricot tree is blooming today. Problem is that if it booms too early the frost gets it & we get no fruit. We have tried all kinds of trying to heat to reduce frost damage & haven't had any luck yet.
Does anyone have a suggestions?Yes its marvellous. Could you cover the tree somehow? How about a blankie of some kind?. I looked up straw gardens the down side I see is you have to compost it all following yr. Not permanent.
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 9, 2015 3:21:07 GMT -5
Oh, that sounds soothing to my already aching back!
BTW, -our apricot tree is blooming today. Problem is that if it booms too early the frost gets it & we get no fruit. We have tried all kinds of trying to heat to reduce frost damage & haven't had any luck yet.
Does anyone have a suggestions? Yes its marvellous. Could you cover the tree somehow? How about a blankie of some kind?. I looked up straw gardens the down side I see is you have to compost it all following yr. Not permanent. That sounds good, maybe we can try a blanket. We have tried having a small heater under it with a fan. It has quite a few blooms if only they make fruit!
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Post by bubbles on Apr 9, 2015 13:27:12 GMT -5
Burlap or tarpolins. Cover the tree to the ground.secure.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 18:48:24 GMT -5
For what it's worth to you, I worked and apprenticed in Eastern Washington Orchards nearly 60 years ago, soaking up as much as I possibly could for future reference even at times like this.
They taught me fruit production had basic requirements. Proper year round precipitation, and some trees (like the apricot) can even get too much. For blossoms to set, they need proper temperature, and pollenization with some non-selfpollenizing requiring another tree near by. Also, some trees have a pollenizing branch grafted in which needs to be carefully guarded through out the year. Then, there is the need for bees which is why many orchard owners keep their own. Infestations, insect and organic must always be avoided.
At blossom time many keep their own heaters to hold the temperature and humidity just right. Raising fruit surely is like every other venture: lots to consider and often more work than many are willing or able for. Anyway, these are considerations constantly in my mind in planting and caring for my various fruit trees. I love apricots however in my climate many find them disappointing along with peaches, so I have peach/plums planted and various plum trees started. Well, so much for what I think.
Hey, do y'all know how to tell an amature from a professional?
One way is a professional knows how to fix his mistakes!
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 9, 2015 19:06:02 GMT -5
For what it's worth to you, I worked and apprenticed in Eastern Washington Orchards nearly 60 years ago, soaking up as much as I possibly could for future reference even at times like this.
They taught me fruit production had basic requirements. Proper year round precipitation, and some trees (like the apricot) can even get too much. For blossoms to set, they need proper temperature, and pollenization with some non-selfpollenizing requiring another tree near by. Also, some trees have a pollenizing branch grafted in which needs to be carefully guarded through out the year. Then, there is the need for bees which is why many orchard owners keep their own. Infestations, insect and organic must always be avoided.
At blossom time many keep their own heaters to hold the temperature and humidity just right. Raising fruit surely is like every other venture: lots to consider and often more work than many are willing or able for. Anyway, these are considerations constantly in my mind in planting and caring for my various fruit trees. I love apricots however in my climate many find them disappointing along with peaches, so I have peach/plums planted and various plum trees started. Well, so much for what I think.
Hey, do y'all know how to tell an amature from a professional?
One way is a professional knows how to fix his mistakes! Thanks, Dennis.
I think our biggest mistake was to plant an apricot in the first place in this climate. It blooms earlier than the peach tree and inevitably a frost come along & kills the fruiting blossom.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 19:35:18 GMT -5
If you can put up with the smudge, a pot is easy enough to create and use quite successfully too on frosty nights. Just google smudge pot, and make your own. But then I even make my own diesel fuel for my truck, so I am a diehard DYI-er.
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 9, 2015 20:50:05 GMT -5
If you can put up with the smudge, a pot is easy enough to create and use quite successfully too on frosty nights. Just google smudge pot, and make your own. But then I even make my own diesel fuel for my truck, so I am a diehard DYI-er. WOW.! I think I can do that!
Already have pieces I can use. A vintage chicken brooder house heater, plenty of copper pipe, kerosene wicks of all kinds (can tell I keep a lot of vintage stuff) and I'm sure that there is some used motor oil around. )
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 21:11:48 GMT -5
Great! I knew you could! Remember the bees, use water tins with sugar water to attract them. Wish you many happy apricot returns!
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Post by bubbles on Apr 10, 2015 7:37:35 GMT -5
You both are experienced. Im a novice. I spotted my first 2 pea flowers today.. bees have been coming to my garden so have wasps.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 8:12:31 GMT -5
Wasps, being so less furry than bees, are not as good of natural pollenizers, though they do help some as they use nectar also.
Last year my step daughter was bothered by the number of bees apparently dying around her huge planting of colorful flowers. I merely suggested they were possibly dying of thist in the parched summer heat, and that she might use tins of sugar water, which they would identify with her and buzz about her to tell her that sweet nectar supply was getting low. At first she was skeptic but gave it a try, and in a matter of days had healthly (and friendly) bees flying about the place and visiting her nectar supply for them by the hundreds.
This, too, can help with fruit set, often as much as the smudge pot(s) since bees do not like cold weather, either!
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Post by emy on Apr 10, 2015 12:07:11 GMT -5
After reading your 'considerations', my thought is confirmed that 2 couples I know, who planted orchards to have something to do after retirement (from farming), must be really crazy!!
Our best peaches and apricots BY FAR come from your part of the country, but maybe on the other side of the mountains?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 19:38:16 GMT -5
Well then Emy I guess you know much more than I do about my part of the country.
Washington State adjacent to the Pacific Ocean to the west, has volcano mountains, glacier peaks and a number of separate mountain ranges, from west to east I know them as: the Olympic Mtns, Coastal Mountains (Willapa Hills down our Southwest way) the dividing Cascade Mountain range, Okanogan and Pend Oreille Mtns. to the northeast and Blue Mountains to the Southeast, and just to our lower eastern side are the Willowas.
Along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range and definitely not "our part of the country" lies some of the finest orchard land in the nation with mostly Apples to the colder north and softer fruits to the warmer drier south. Various types of cherries, some apples, plums and pears produce rather well in many places all over the state. Not so well produced all over the State are apricots and peaches, and they certainly do not well as a rule in my part of the country.
We live on the very ridge of one of the lowest foothills of the western Cascades. Less than an hour and a half to the west are salt water Ocean beaches, and year round snow lies about the same amount of time to the east. So, it is not like some of the other states, (meaning basically all the same.)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 23:56:42 GMT -5
Hooray, our hummingbirds have returned! One of the front living room joys, with two huge volcano mts behind them! Katie's first view of them only 18" from her eyes! They will quickly identify her with the nectar supply we put out, and will buzz all around her as it gets low!
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Post by bubbles on Apr 11, 2015 5:12:57 GMT -5
Hooray, our hummingbirds have returned! One of the front living room joys, with two huge volcano mts behind them! Katie's first view of them only 18" from her eyes! They will quickly identify her with the nectar supply we put out, and will buzz all around her as it gets low! They fascinate me in docos. Id be mesmerised..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 16:28:01 GMT -5
is Your garden sounds great. Ive seen a bit on haybale gardens. I bought 10 herbs for chooks to eat too combat mites and lice. Herbs are growing well. Still not sure if I will get chooks. Mainly bz im still planning the other half. To flavour water? Mint. Strawberries. kiwi fruit. Lemon. Orange.lime. pinapple. I planted a gooseberry bz I love gooseberry jam. Its happy with the other herbs /veg. How about a working bee and do a nice lunch. Bubbles, what herbs did you feed your chooks to combat mites and lice? Thanks
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 13, 2015 17:31:20 GMT -5
My son & I went to a day long seminar on Saturday hosted by Master Gardeners.
It was well worth the getting up a 6 am. I was held at a place close by called Dickson Mounds, an American Native burial site along the Illinois river. I attended a program on wild flower replacement of lawns, (right up my alley,) attracting butterflies and one by the Bread Monk who described a monastery garden, the history why they were walled etc. I have began to wonder if perhaps it a lack of bees is the reason I can't seem to get apricots to set. Perhaps it is not so much an early frost but rather part of the problem is just too cold to attract bees.
One solution to attract bees, feed them a little sugar water like you were saying, Dennis, -so I am trying that, but it may be too late, the blossoms are already folding.
Everyone's has no doubt heard that our monarch butterfly is in trouble, close to having to be put on the endangered species list. The only plant that it feeds on is milkweed. Some nurseries are now offering a type of milkweed plant that one can buy. It probably would be a good investment. I would hate to see our monarchs disappear.
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Post by bubbles on Apr 13, 2015 20:33:39 GMT -5
Dmmich monarces are lovely to watch. That white butterfly sneaks in the gaps of my net..grrr What do you mean by setting an apricot? Jam?
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Post by bubbles on Apr 13, 2015 20:44:53 GMT -5
is Your garden sounds great. Ive seen a bit on haybale gardens. I bought 10 herbs for chooks to eat too combat mites and lice. Herbs are growing well. Still not sure if I will get chooks. Mainly bz im still planning the other half. To flavour water? Mint. Strawberries. kiwi fruit. Lemon. Orange.lime. pinapple. I planted a gooseberry bz I love gooseberry jam. Its happy with the other herbs /veg. How about a working bee and do a nice lunch. Bubbles, what herbs did you feed your chooks to combat mites and lice? Thanks Hi Felicity For mites and lice Fennel, wo. rmwood, tansy, lavender and pennyroyal. Catnip and feverfew General health Comfry,marigold, mint, thyme, sage, nastursium(antiseptic)parsley, gotukola, cnt findvrue or hyssop yet. Worms Nettle and garlic. Havent planted garlic yet. Watch nettle stings. Presently growing well in pots after a burst on the deck. Im leaving in pots labeled. Bz some of these I wont recognise when they die off.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 21:10:39 GMT -5
Nettles, stinging nettles, most often have a natural cure growing nearby if not right along side. As I recall it is called "curly doc." Just crush it and rub it on the skin where nettle burns occur. No, I do not know the proper name for the plant, having only had it shown and proven to me by/using the name, "curly doc."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 7:47:25 GMT -5
Thanks bubbles, I have some of those and should be able to find the rest.
Yes Dennis, we use curly dock leaves for nettle stings too.
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Post by bubbles on Apr 16, 2015 5:53:14 GMT -5
Ive now inherited a frog under the cabbages..
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 18, 2015 0:51:46 GMT -5
Thanks bubbles, I have some of those and should be able to find the rest. Yes Dennis, we use curly dock leaves for nettle stings too. Thanks bubbles, I have some of those and should be able to find the rest. Yes Dennis, we use curly dock leaves for nettle stings too. I never knew of "curly dock" for that, - but we used a little along with dandelions & wild lettuce to cook in the spring
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 18, 2015 1:00:26 GMT -5
Dmmich monarces are lovely to watch. That white butterfly sneaks in the gaps of my net..grrr What do you mean by setting an apricot? Jam? Not sure I used the right word. I meant when the blossom falls off & there be a little apricot fruit growing.
I look that them every day but don't want to touch them & take a chance of breaking off the little fruit (whatever it is)
Like watching teakettle to boil!
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 18, 2015 1:08:03 GMT -5
A garden tip you may already know:
I keep a large bucket of sand mixed with some old motor oil to push my spades, hoes, any sharp tool into to clean off the dirt and it oils it at the same time.
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Post by matisse on Apr 18, 2015 2:03:50 GMT -5
Thanks bubbles, I have some of those and should be able to find the rest. Yes Dennis, we use curly dock leaves for nettle stings too. Thanks bubbles, I have some of those and should be able to find the rest. Yes Dennis, we use curly dock leaves for nettle stings too. I never knew of "curly dock" for that, - but we used a little along with dandelions & wild lettuce to cook in the spring
I was surprised to find a carefully sealed bag of stinging nettles in my local farm delivery one week last year. I learned that they make a lovely soup! Stinging Nettle SoupBoiling them in water for 2 minutes removes their sting.
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Post by dmmichgood on Apr 18, 2015 2:47:56 GMT -5
I never knew of "curly dock" for that, - but we used a little along with dandelions & wild lettuce to cook in the spring
I was surprised to find a carefully sealed bag of stinging nettles in my local farm delivery one week last year. I learned that they make a lovely soup! Stinging Nettle SoupBoiling them in water for 2 minutes removes their sting. I first become aware that "nettles" were good to eat from a book by a woman who lived during the invasion of Berlin. She talked of going out each day to pick nettles.
Then when we were in Alaska our guide in the rain forest, yep, rainforest in Alaska, pointed to nettles as edible.
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Post by bubbles on Apr 18, 2015 3:39:22 GMT -5
Yes all those herbs I bought for chooks had medicinal and or edible properties.
I heard the other day if you suffer insomnia. Eat an apple 2hr before bed to sort out digestive track. Just b4 bed zap some lettuce. It helps you to sleep. Naturopath.
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Post by Gene on Apr 18, 2015 18:44:02 GMT -5
Yes all those herbs I bought for chooks had medicinal and or edible properties. I heard the other day if you suffer insomnia. Eat an apple 2hr before bed to sort out digestive track. Just b4 bed zap some lettuce. It helps you to sleep. Naturopath. What is this "zap" you speak of?
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