What did you do in your orchard today?

[CrealCritter]

LSU Improved Celeste another common fig from the 1950's ~ 1960's LSU breeding program. LSU Improved Celeste is of the sugar flavor group. Again NOT a fig I've grown, but I'm going to try.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

I ordered my first 8 fig starts last night and bay laurel cuttings to try and root .

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Just a FYI... I like it that fedco opens ordering up early, most all orchards don't open on-line ordering until december. But that means you have to be quick on the draw because fedco sells out quick.

"Ordering will resume for Fedco Trees when we release our 2025 catalog, in mid-September 2024."

Remember those mazzard root cuttings I potted? Well I got one healthy cherry root stock growing from them. Very nice and clean, huge leaves also. I'm still deciding, but I think I may plant it in the ground and then stool/mound it to produce more rootstocks for future cherry grafting. I really do need to think about producing my own rootstocks to graft.

This is the very last granny smith apple on the tree. I'm saving it for 2 special granddaughters since they like granny smith apples from "pawpaws tree". The young granny smith tree didn't produce much, but FB made 2 apple crisps with the apples which was My granddaughters eat the rest, right off the tree. I thought they cleaned it off but somehow they missed this one

Hoping for some of the other apple trees to produce first fruits next year.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Very nicely healed cleft graft, from cherry grafted this spring.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

I sowed a peach pit, waited 5 years, got first fruits.

My hand for comparison, this is what you call a dwarf peach.

This is the top one

Maybe i'll call my new peach discovery Itty Bitty (a must have when entertaining gnomes).

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Mini Horses]

Wow...I'm sure that's not what you hoped for. Was it an edible fruit? Think next year may be different?

At least when I save seed from store veggies and they grow as a less than desired -- I didn't wait 5 yrs

 

[CrealCritter]

Wow...I'm sure that's not what you hoped for. Was it an edible fruit? Think next year may be different?

At least when I save seed from store veggies and they grow as a less than desired -- I didn't wait 5 yrs

You know... I didn't even consider sampling itty bitty. It is by far the best peach I ever eat. Let me put it this way... all the floral notes and sweetness of a really good peach is super concentrated in the itty bitty peach, very surprised .

Quarter for comparison. Itty bitty is a very late season peach.

Itty bitty is red blushed with melting yellow flesh.

Itty bitty is a free stone

I'm curious how they will taste dehydrated . I'll find out next year. Now I know why the birds have left nothing but hanging skin on the tree.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Mini Horses]

Maybe ....itty bitty will grow into a princess next spring and have full sized fruit.

 

[CrealCritter]

The row of grafted antique apples I set out the end of March has grown well. Even dispite the cicada onslaught.

April 1st 2024

September 8th 2024

Just a little fun fact... when they say a fruit tree needs 1" of rain a week. That really means 10 gallons over a 4x4 foot area (9.97 gallons to be exact). So let's put this into perspective... a row of 15 sapling apple trees will need 150 gallons of water every week. Rains are a blessing

This is why it's a good reason to mulch in a donut shape around the fruit tree to retain soil moisture. I used old nasty hay rounds which break down quickly. Wood chips would be much better for the longer term.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Mini Horses]

I see this lovely orchard developing. I see a lot of trees. Eventually, a LOT of fruit.

Will selling fruit be part of your retirement life?