So, you’re honing your gardening skills and have decided to plant a fruit tree or three! You might be thinking, “I’ll just pick my favorite varieties to eat and get ‘er done!” Whoa, Nelly…it’s not that simple.
In picking fruit trees, you not only need to know your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone, but about Chill Hours. Your USDA zone will tell you the coldest temperatures in your area. Broadly speaking, the chill hours tell you how long the cold temperatures last. (more…)
Well, it’s that time folks! Late winter while the fruit trees and bushes are dormant, is the best time to prune. Pruning improves the structural integrity of fruit trees and limits the abundance and weight of the fruit produced during the following season. With a bit of planning, pruning can keep much of the fruit within reasonable reach. Annual winter pruning also promotes vigorous spring and summer growth that is more resistant to disease.
Before we get busy pruning, though, we need to insure our tools are in optimum shape for the job. That includes cleaning them from gunk and rust, then oiling and sharpening those pruners.
Watch the video below for a visual demo or continue reading for written steps.
Seeds have a shelf life…all living things do. In our Harvest to Table playlist, Collards Part 2, I spent some time discussing proper storage of seeds, optimal conditions, etc.
You can find that video here:
Additionally, I’ve made extensive charts for ease of printing. Hope this adds to your gardening notebooks!
I just LOVE blueberries! Which is why we planted six 2 year-old bushes in-ground three years ago. Unfortunately, they have not grown or produced very well for two main reasons: soil environment not acidic enough and the birds are faster than my hands at harvesting! Sooooo, it’s time for a solution I do believe! NOTE: Mr. Farmer Brown starts eyeing me suspiciously when I pull out my sketch pad! 🤓😝😉
The roots of blueberry bushes are shallow; they grow wider rather than deep. Therefore, they are one type of fruit bush that do well grown in containers. They do NOT like wet feet, but they do like/need moisture and cannot tolerate drought. This Modified Kiddie Pool System (MKPS) will fill the bill on all counts.
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Easy, peasy recipe that is tender and delicious!
This year, we are adding a new playlist to our YouTube channel: Harvest To Table. Hope you enjoy this short, kickoff intro. To really learn more and get some recipes, watch parts 2 and 3.
My two 11 month old Olive Eggers finally started laying! They are beautiful colors. The lighter blue eggs are from my regular Easter Eggers, and the specked brown, from one of the French Black Copper Marans.
We were very proud to win a second place award for our chicken coop in a contest on BackyardChickens.com back in 2014! If you’re interested in our story, you can click the link below.
Check out our latest Farm Critter video on our YouTube Channel!
