attn Gardeners- your spring arrivals???
Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus (some of those bulbs are even the ones I put in myself last autumn!  ), Poppies (I think  ), Artemisia, day lillies, weeds  , my trees are starting to get their buds, and my rose came through with flying colors  ! Still waiting to see if my wisteria is as hardy as they said it was supposed to be... I've got lots of mystery perrenials in my yard- many of which may be drastically reduced to make way for the roses (I'm putting in somewhere around 15 bushes this season!) And my seedlings are coming up too!
How is your spring garden coming along? |
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| I made the rounds over the weekend and I think I only lost one rose out of 30-some. I'm pretty impressed because I did nothing for winter protection last year.
I've got other stuff coming up, but what really got me going was the bleeding heart. I just love that plant and it thrills me to see it come up from nothing and grow into a 4' bush. It's still a bit to early to start uncovering everything though. I managed to restrain myself last weekend, but don't know how long I'll be able to do that. |
| My azelas are in full bloom and are gorgeous. Nothing else yet though other than some fruit trees and wild daffodils. |
| Jil, talk to me about bleeding heart. I planted two at my house, then moved out 2 months later. Can't even remember where I bought them. Plant them in the fall or spring? Would I have to cover them in the winter? How big do they get? |
Karen, I love roses too. Because I was busy with work I pruned them WAY late  but thy seem to have forgiven me and are all showing new growth now. I'd like to plant a few more, I need to shop for bushes this weekend. My bulbs all have new foliage and I have a bunch of wildflowers that came up from last year's flowers. Hopefully it will be very colorful around here soon! |
| I bought bleeding heart last year! The white version... I've gotta get the pink too- I love the old fashioned bleeding heart! It is such a shame it only blooms once a year... I'm doing a white + pink spring flower thing around my "little bay" on the (shady) east side of the house- Pink and white lilly of the valley alternating around the whole bay, anchored by a white bleeding heart on the far right and a pink bleeding heart on the left. It's gonna be great! Hopefully it'll be blooming in time for my birthday- late May. Right now everything over there is covered in oak leaves. I'm gonna leave it alone for a while longer...
I think that you can plant it in both the spring and in the autumn... it is certainly for sale here in MN all growing season long! |
| We have 2 bleeding hearts that we brought with us when we moved here 14 years ago.
They are still almost exactly the same size as when we transplanted them. Aren't they supposed to divide and/or spread? |
| Or divide and conquer? |
| That may be a question for our resident horticulturist/master gardener... But I THINK you can divide it... you can most non-shruby perrenials. Maybe it just needs a little more fertilizer or soil amendments? The ones in the public garden over here a monstrous! |
| Well, they've gotten thicker over the years, at least for the first few. We have that weed cloth around the base, but I thought they'd at least push that up a little to give a hint that they needed more room.
I do love them, but I'm always so sad when they turn yellow and we have to cut them down. |
 Me too! They were always a favorite of mine in my mom's garden as a child. The everblooming ones aren't nearly as pretty, I think. What is coming up over there right now, Ron? |
| The DayLillies are just poking up out of the ground, maybe 1 to 2 inches, and the Bleeding Hearts are about 1".
I don't see any tulips yet on our property, but Joan reports seeing a few on her walks. Hyacinth are up about an inch. That's about it. |
| Our lilacs are budding leaves as well as the pear tree. I love this time of year when everything comes back to life again. We're in the market for some heavy duty landscaping this year that we will try & do ourselves. I promise to take pix.
Jil, when are we supposed to plant those Calli Lily bulbs again? End of April or beginning?? |
| Hi,
Love this topic...love gardening! I currently have crocus and daphodils in full bloom. The early blooming Clamatis (Montana) which is around my front door and the tulips will be next to bloom. My cherry tree as well as the two ornamental cherries are in bud and will soon open up their blossoms in the next two weeks. I love the smell of Hynacyinths...heaven! A few days ago on the first day of Spring, I was greeted by the familiar sound of a Humming Bird! These little guys fly all the way from Mexico and arrive here in the spring. Anna's Hummingbirds are resident guest all winter here on the Coast. However, this type had made his flight all the way from Mexico! Unbelievable that they follow their eternal time clock and appeared on the first day of spring! I am greeting each morning by the sound of the familiar robins now singing their mating songs and the ever present chickadeeeee deee sounds of what else? The tiny Chickadees whom I feed all winter. A few years ago I started doing bird counts for the Cornell University Bird Watch program. Gardening and becoming aware of the creatures in the garden seem to eventually go hand in hand. I provide the basics food, water and shelter and they come back each year!! Things are starting to sprout up and makes me feel more energetic. I love spring!!! Last year we spoke of doing a seed exchange and perhaps we should keep that in mind for the fall. What do you guys think? Marianne and the boys |
| Some may remember last fall I planted HUNDREDS of bulbs They are just strating to poke their little heads up and I am sooooooooo excited |
You planted hundreds of BULBS!  How many? 110? 220? Did you plant all one type, a normal variety or an ELECTRIC collection?
I bet you just can't WATT till they come up! I know I'm being a little AMP, but please, keep me CURRENT anyway. |
| ENERGY SAVERS!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes indeed I planted 400 tulip and daffodil bulbs last fall With a hand drill and auger !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was quite an event. I was told that the mole and mouse population take anywhere from 30-50% of the bulbs and wanted to make sure I had plenty of daffodils this spring!!
PHOTOS WILL BE FORTHCOMING |
| I still have snow and ice on my lawn, not a lot, but some. LOL
I forgot to plant anything in the fall, so nothing is coming up here. Has anyone ever planted tulip bulbs in spring instead of fall? |
| I don't think it matters when you plant a bleeding heart; I think I planted mine in July. I've never done anything to winter protect it and it's always come back with no problems.
It got smashed a couple years ago when I had some trees taken down, but the next year it was spectacular. I think that it's grown ten-fold in the four years that I've had it and last year it was probably 4' high and the same in diameter. Deb, I can't remember when to plant those bulbs either! I'm going for end of April? Why can't people write these things down?? Karen - Lily of the Valley is poisonous to dogs . . . I have some that originated at my Grandpa's house. Mom took some to her first house when she got married and then moved it to subsequent houses. I got some when I was married and then took it to the house after the divorce. It's got sentimental value, so I'm going to watch Boo carefully. It doesn't seem like his cup of tea - he much prefers sticks and acorns - so I'm hoping I don't have to rip it all up. |
| I think (here we go with a "little" knowledge ) they need to freeze in order to bloom. I have planted bulbs during a january thaw but never in the spring. I have also read that you can put bulbs in your freezer over the winter then plant them early in the spring and they will grow.
But people in the south plant bulbs and they don't freeze so I don't know...... I have a couple patients who are in the Cornell Horticulture Department, I'll ask one of them. |
| Yeah- I know about the LOV's. They are going to be "outside the fenceline". Right now Pip is only allowed out on a leash, and he isn't allowed to go near the flowerbeds. He's not gonna be allowed to run around and chew on things until the fence is up, and the lily of the valley will not be included in the fenced part of the yard. He's not showing much interest in the plants themselves- but does LOVE old sticks!!! He was running around with the old dead martagon lily stems this weekend (hope those are ok?). I haven't cleaned up the beds yet. My main conern is the stand of hydrangea in the back yard, but we're probably gonna tear the back garden out and sod over it, or maybe convert it into a fruit and veggie patch... I have plenty of flower beds around the house to take care of and the back garden is a weed infested rock garden attempt... I don't like it that much.
Marianne- We are SO on for a seed/plant exchange!!!! I bought a ton of heirloom seed this year- I'm super excited about the sweet peas- Cupani's original and the Zinnias (sea shell variety) both are looking great under lights- but I've gotta get some support for those peas. Anyone know when they can go outside??? I also planted a caboodle of bulbs- 100 crocus, 50 daffodils and 50 tulips in the planter out front- crocus are making an appearance, plus another 30 daffodil bulbs in the yard, some spanish bluebells, a few regular hyacinth, and some frittilaria (checkered lillies, not the big ones). I can't wait to see what blooms first- as that will be the OFFICIAL FIRST BLOOM OF MY VERY FIRST GARDEN!!!  
By the way- anyone know if I should leave the oak and maple leaves from last fall on the lawn and in the flower beds? Or should I rake them all up when the ground firms up a bit? |
I absolutley love love love LILACS. I know they are more of a bush, but i completley stop what ever i am doing to smell them. Living in West Texas, i have see or rather smelt, one total lilac bush When i grew up in North Dakota our entire house and yard was surrouned by 8 foot high lilac "trees". We let them grow and grow and grow, we only trimned the sides. It was so gorgeous, it makes me miss ND so much  Spring is my favorite season and Abilene TX doesn't actually get one, this year we've had summer sumer summer and more summer. It has only gotten below 70 degress for a couple of days when it wwas raining  Anyways i guess i'll stop complaining. Chris and i planted some wild flowers last fall and the dogs just dug them up then laid in the dirt pits they created  I have tried to grow some lilacs but the three times i have tried they just can;t make it. Maybe i'll try agian!!
Shannon |
Willowsprite wrote: I still have snow and ice on my lawn, not a lot, but some. LOL
I forgot to plant anything in the fall, so nothing is coming up here. Has anyone ever planted tulip bulbs in spring instead of fall? Someone I spoke to today "claims" that if you get them in right away they WILL BLOOM this year............ he said you can't wait til it's warm but if you get them in while the ground is still cold cold the majority will bloom. He works in horticulture at Cornell, I'd be interested to hear if it works. |
Thank you for asking 
Well the ground is certainly still cold, it's frozen, so I'm not sure I can dig yet to put them in. It was really warm today, but there is STILL some snow and ice left on my lawn. Maybe by tomorrow it will finally thaw. |
| LOL
I just went out and tried to dig some holes in several different spots, and no more than 2 inches down is solid rock. Not likely going to be able to plany any bulbs anyway.... So now what do I do with the 50 I have? LOL |
| Do you have a freezer with some room? You could force the bulbs by putting them into the freezer, then bring them back out and plant them in pots outside. That's what my mom did with her daffodils, since her soil lacks all organic matter (when they built her townhome, they stripped off all the top soil, and never put it back!!! ). I'm not sure how long they need to be in the freezer though... |
Willowsprite wrote: LOL
I just went out and tried to dig some holes in several different spots, and no more than 2 inches down is solid rock. Not likely going to be able to plany any bulbs anyway.... So now what do I do with the 50 I have? LOL I would just wait til the ground was tilable then go ahead and plant them. The worst that can happen is that you have to wait til next year for some of them to bloom. |
| No, I mean literally rock, not just frozen. LOL
We live on the Canadian Shield (as does much of North America actually) but this region is particularily close to the surface. Many of our highways could only be put in after dynamite was used to cut into the rock. Here is a pic of one of our main highways going through such an area.  |
floofdog wrote: Karen - Lily of the Valley is poisonous to dogs . . . I have some that originated at my Grandpa's house. Mom took some to her first house when she got married and then moved it to subsequent houses. I got some when I was married and then took it to the house after the divorce. It's got sentimental value, so I'm going to watch Boo carefully. It doesn't seem like his cup of tea - he much prefers sticks and acorns - so I'm hoping I don't have to rip it all up.
We have a lot of Lily of the Valley and I haven't seen anyone go near it, not even when Frank was a puppy. Verve |
| I have only had one bleeding heart. I first planted a small one during the late summer, the next spring I moved (early spring) and dug it up and moved it. It was still small when I moved it, but it took hold fast and grew to about 4' in dia that summer and blossomed forever. It continued to be as beautiful for the next 2 summers and then I moved again. Of course I took most of it with me but did leave a piece of it there. Again, it did well but not as well. I've heard it likes a lot of sun, but wasn't sure if it was morning or afternoon sun that it preferred.
When I moved again that fall, I did not have a place to take it to and knew I would be moving out of the area inthe spring, so I didn't try to take it. I hope it's still doing well. When I get back to VT, I'll have to check to see. |
| Bleeding Heart actually likes shade, not sun, so maybe that was the problem.
Kayli pays no attention to the LOV either, but who knows what Bentley will get into.  |
| Does anyone know what snowdrops look like? I've got a little mystery flower (ok, I've got a TON of mystery plants in the garden, but anyhow) Small, maybe 1-2" high, two grass like leaves and a small purple colored bud in the middle. The bunnies like them, and the tips have been chewed on a little. It isn't a bulb I recognize- like a crocus or any sort of "bell" (hyacinth). Any idea what it might be? |
| Can you get a picture? Could be a bulb flower that is stuck just below ground.
OK: If your bleeding hearts aren't growing, move them. Could be some undergound problem. They like a nice organic soil (which obviously leaves me way out). The like shade to light shade and will grow in "sun" if it is often filtered by cloud layers--not the 300+ days of burning sun we have. They are divided just by chopping off a section (with roots!!!) and replanting. I don't think they are depth sensitive like strawberries--you know if you plant them too deep they won't flower, they just die. BTW, bleeding hearts are subject to crown rot, so don't plant them too deeply. As for bulbs needing to be frozen. Not frozen, just chilled. Called vernalization, the bulbs need this chilling time to intiate bloom. The flower bud is already inside, but needs the chemical changes to start growing. Don't but them in the freezer! But them in the refrigerator, away from any veggies or fruit or else the ethylene gas will kill the bulb. Planting them in the spring is better than throwing them away! If they aren't mushy, plant them. If they grow they will be confused but over time (2 years) will straighten themselves out. BTW, lilacs also need that vernalization. There was a farm in Southern Calif that would grow lilacs but would keep an ice mulch on the ground around the plants--I have no idea how. This was years ago. Around here: The ornamentals are flowering; pears are in full bloom as are the early crabapples. Forsythia, quince are going strong. Daffs have been around since February, but March is their big time. Too early for tulips but they are coming along nicely. Willow trees are all green but none of the deciduous trees are leafed out (except those early crabs in warm microclimates.) Mine are just breaking their leaf buds. My peach and necartines are in bloom. I'm afraid the apricot may be close to death. The flowering earlier was pitiful |
| I'll take a pic of my mystery flower when it dries up outside it's been lightly raining the last 2 days. I have 3-4 clumps of these, all with the same growth habit, so I know it is a seperate type of plant, not something, like a crocus, flowering low in the ground.
Here's another bulb question- how does planting depth affect bulbs sprouting- I planted my daffodils and tulips in my planter pretty deep- 4" for the daffies and 6" for the tulips, as I was worried about the squirrels eating them. The tulips in my yard are coming up, but nothing except crocus in the planter... do I just have to be more patient? also- when is it safe to start planting dormant roses (bare root), trees and shrubs? I want to get an early start on some of my landscaping. There's a lot I want to do this year, and i want to spread the costs out. I love being able to pick your guys' brains!!! |
| Planting depth won't affect sprouting unless you don't get them deep enough and they dry. Soon after planting bulbs send out roots and will begin to grow, stopping short of the soil surface. There they sit and go through that chilling period. Then when time is right, soil temp for example, they grow again and pop up. Shallow planting risks drought and temperature problems. And animals digging them up for dinner
In the high Rockies we had to plant our bulbs extra deep to stay below ground freeze level. I'd put my tulips down about 12". So I always purchased taller tulips so they'd clear the ground, LOL. Some of those short ones like the Gregiis would barley surface.
It's nearly too late to plant bare root!! It must be done before leaves emerge. Roses are tough though, many will tolerate bare root planting with leaves emerging, but you must be careful not to push them until they get their roots out and operating........no fertilizer, mulch to conserve soil moisture (if that's a problem) and maybe some light shade (take a tomato cage and wrap with cheese cloth, put over rose for a few weeks. Not knowing where you live and the soil condition, remember, without good soil, nothing will grow. If you need to soil test, do it. Improve the soil before planting........it's your only chance to do it right before the plants go in. If just starting, I firmly believe in annuals such as cosmos, marigold, etc. Lots of color for small (relatively) cost. Container grown stock can be planted anytime of year the ground isn't frozen (and then I've seen it done providing the frost isn't too deep.) |
| Karen, just remember you are going to be there for a lONG TIME so don't rush!!! I'm in my second spring in my house. The temptation is to rush into everything the first year but not only is it expensive but it's EXHAUSTING!!!! The other thing is that I have found that as I live here my ideas have changed and as I get familiar with the ground I get different ideas.
For example, last year I tried to plant a nautralized wildflower garden, it was a disaster. The area was to hot and dry and the weeds took over. This year I'm going to turn the same area into an ornamental grass garden, which is PERFECT for a HOT DRY ROCKEY spot. I'm just strating to go out and look to see what "made it through the winter". I was really lucky to have aptient who gave me tons and tons of perrineals last year. The cost of plants can really get high. I'm with you though, I'm so excited to get out and start digging!!!!!!!!!! This weekend promises to be the first really nice weekend and I hope to be up to my eyeballs in dirt  |
| Karen, I think you'll be okay planting bare roots now, since you're in MN.
We had a nice rain last night and everything smells GOOD! Unfortunately, I have to work this weekend, but if you want to find me next weekend, I'll be raking up leaves and having a ball! |
| thanks guys-
My gardening plans are short and long term- but there are several things I NEED (ok strongly want) to do this year- including: Put in apple trees (the sooner planted, the sooner I get fruit!) Put in foundation shrubs- I don't have any, so I'm putting in- a rhododendron, a tree peony, PeeGee hydrangea standards, and a mock orange. PLANT ROSES- my garden is atrociously lacking roses. To me, this is the most important plant to have in a garden- I love them, and really, my garden can't have enough of them! I spent all winter planning which ones I wanted to start with, and where in the existing beds to put them. There are lots of other things I'd like to get done- like putting in a pond, planting fruit, cutting in new beds along the walkway, ripping out the old decking, putting in a patio, putting up a fence, building a garage, putting in a formal rose bed of some flavor, sodding over the "rock garden", putting in an arbor... I have big plans for my yard.
Right now I'll keep it simple and concentrate on my existing beds- de-weeding them, renewing them, and getting my roses in. |
| Getting trees in early in the garden plan is important so you'll live long enough to see them mature, Well, maybe they grow faster there.
Just a side light: 26 years ago I planted what were tagged semi-dwarf apples on the north side of the home. That year the nursery messed up their tagging system (I learned later). Three of my 4 dwarf are actually standards. So I have 3 monsters approaching 25 feet high and one just 9 feet as I had planned. I need to have the monsters removed as they drop apples on my roof
I urge you to have a plan, on paper, a drawing, that you've poured over and over. Having measured and planned will help eliminate big booboos later. |
| that was what I was doing all winter long, besides wanting a puppy- charting out my flower beds. I've got graph paper, and little cut out pictures of all the roses I want I've got all the beds close to the house done, as well as several versions of the back deck/patio area, depending on how big it might be, and where I want to stick the pond.
What do you do with all of those apples???  I can't imagine having standard trees- you must have to use a cherry picker to harvest! |
| Harvest?? You mean picking them up off the ground?
We have enough trees out back.....about 10 real good producers and 20 so so. Other than the privacy, I wouldn't mind having the "big dwarfs removed" but it will cost $$$$$ because they overhang the house. I'd love to think we could just take the chain saw out and lay them out on the lawn, but with our luck.............. Great news you are all prepared for planting!! The All American Rose Society puts out a rating book on rose varieties; rating their hardiness, bloom quality, etc. If you have a rose society in your community, contact them and see if you can purchase a copy. They are cheap and will save you planting varieties that won't preform for you. Also the society may have a list of preformers for your climate. Not every rose grows well everywhere, no matter what Jackson & Perkins says. |
Quote: Not every rose grows well everywhere, no matter what Jackson & Perkins says.
What... you mean I won't be able to grow teas or noisettes in my zone 4 weather?????
those nurseries drive me nuts with their product descriptions.. they're so liberal as to be almost useless sometimes. I'm lucky to have an antique rose nursery within a couple miles from me... I'm getting most of my stuff from there- it is all locally grown by them, which is great, because I know it'll stand a good chance of being successful in my garden at home As long as the Pipster doesn't think that they are sticks |
| No and no Chinas either
I know the nursery. They have good stock. I much prefer roses on their own roots when possible exception for the modern roses which I no longer grow. Alas, my Great Pyr boy Shane took a dislike to our roses as they'd catch on his tail. He'd dig them up and drag them around until we could relieve his burden. Zone four grows good roses. |
Here is a pic of my mystery plant... what is this little guy? Snowdrop?
Here's another mystery plant... I don't know what this thing is. Leaves are about 1'- 1 1/2' long each, evergreen, planted on the southwest side.  |
| No, snowdrops hang upside down with the receptacle (petal holder for lack of better term) on the top. This looks like a pathetic species tulip. The species are the wild tulips before they are hybridized. Tulips are in the lily family so you'll find 3 or multiples of 3 petals & sepals (in tulips the petals and sepal often look alike: 3 petals, 3 sepals)
Now the sucker on the bottom I suspect is a winter annual weed.......however, don't dig it up. It may be a perennial or biennial I don't grow here so am not familar with the winter appearance. (am I hedging......yes, I'm thinking this may be something like gilia so don't dig up yet unless absolutely sure. |
| here's a nice close up of a snowdrop:
http://www.shieldsgardens.com/amaryllids/Galanthus.html |
| THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Whatever that bottom stuff is, is doesn't seem to be very invasive- I haven't seen it anywhere else in the garden, and looks to have been planted deliberately. I'll leave it for now, but if it gets in the way of one of my rose bushes... its outta here! |
| good attitude. Roses are a higher priority.
sheepieboss |
| And that leads me to other questions about bulbs that you may be asking right about now. Can you plant your Easter lily outdoors after it finishes blooming? Absolutely! Easter lilies make wonderful flowering bulbs and I’d recommend you put yours in the garden rather than shoving it in the garbage. Plant it in a sunny spot and enjoy it for years to come.
But what about those bulbs you forgot to plant last fall and have found on a dusty shelf? To begin with, do not put them in the freezer to think they’ve had winter. I wish I had a dime for every time I’ve heard about this trick. Putting them in the freezer will only do one thing – it will make them deader than they might be now. If the bulb is still firm and hard, I would plant it outdoors as soon as you can dig in the soil. If the bulb is soft, I’d put it in the garbage bin before it starts to stink. If you’re really a little antsy to see some growing leaves, you can pot the bulb in a six-inch flowerpot and try growing it in the house. Put an inch of soil on the bottom of the pot, then the bulb and cover with soil. Yes, it seems deep but that’s how deep you will replant it into your garden. Just don’t do like I did – water it instead of letting it turn into the Sahara Desert. If the bulb grows, you’re a winner. It might flower or it might not but in any case, as soon as the danger of frost is over, you can plant it in the garden. If it doesn’t flower this year, it will next spring. Hey Ladies I was reading your posts and since I was searching for this info, i just googled it and came up with dave green gardeners sit, and copy and pasted his instructions. Good luck, I am just going to plant my this week and hope for the best for all those dam expensive bulbs I bought last fall.. Ha ha !!! |
| www.gardening-tips-perennials.com/Doug_ ... bulbs.html - 18k -
Hello again, I forgot to post the web site, and I got his name wrong, oops Chat soon |
| RE: bleeding hearts. If they aren't growing (and seeding themselves all over) it could be that they are getting too much sun. Try moving part of them (yes, you can divide even a small plant) and putting some in a shadier spot, with plenty of good well rotted compost and peat. Just dividing them might help.
I can keep my bleeding hearts going quite a while in the summer if they get plenty of water and if it doesn't get too hot. I have both pink and white, and think I will go over and nab some fern leafed variety from my neighbor. You can put out bleeding hearts in the spring or fall. Or summer, I suppose, if they get plenty of water. Summer transplants won't bloom until the following spring, but if you put them out this spring before the plant blooms, you should get some blooms yet. No fiddle heads yet, but iris and tulips (which need to be replaced: have been there for years) daylilies, some of the thyme, a couple of poppies, my sage is showing signs of re-growth, parsley is back. Most of the roses show signs of life which is a miracle because I neglected the fall put away because my husband was recovering from surgery and I simply didn't get to it. This is a bad habit of mine and a very self defeating one. I love being out in the garden and so I tend to see it as a reward that I don't always credit myself with deserving. So, I am trying to resolve to be better to myself and to indulge myself in the things I love to do outside whether I think I deserve it or not. So, I hope to let the house be dirtier and the flower beds prettier and me much happier. |
We have had Spring for several weeks now. Trees have their leaves, Blue Hibiscus in bloom along with all the other flowering shrubs in the yard. |
| Let's hear it for all the people who are in a new house this
year! I had no idea I had so many bulbs. There must be hundreds. Silly me, I planted so many tulip bulbs last fall not knowing what I had already. Oh well, some of it is going to go when we start the patio anyway. I have a few trees that need to come down, and I was thinking about putting some fruit trees in. I know pretty much about plants and gardening, but I know next to nothing about fruit trees. What do I need to know? My sister keeps trying to talk me out of it, saying they are too dirty and too much work. Is that true? Any recommendations? I'm thinking some sort of pear and possibly an apple next year. Shellie |
| We've removed 20 fruit trees and have another 20 or so to go. They have gotten to be too much for us, especially since we have to drag a 2" irrigation hose around the orchard to get water to them every 4 days.
That said, some fruit trees are fun! Realize they come in Standard size, Semi Dwarf and Dwarf....and sometimes miniature. I highly recommend going with the dwarfs whenever possible. Not all fruits have dwarf sizes. Just the tree is dwarf, the fruit is regular size. Smaller trees are easier to prune and pick. Semi dwarf just means is "may be" 80% of standard size. Great, if the apple is naturally 25 feet tall, knocking off 5 feet still leaves a 20 foot tall tree........as happened to me in the front of my house........3 giants overhaning the roof dropping fruit all summer
Also some trees need pollinating companions. Only golden delicious apple is self pollinating, the rest need buddies. What buddy depends on it's heritage. Most catalogs will mention what companions to plant with it. Sweet cherries also need a different companion, but pie cherries don't. One tree is fine. Apricots are fine. Blue plums are fine, but not Japanese plums....the reds, yellows and greens. Peaches vary, some are self pollinating, others prefer a friend, but not critical. Nectarines are fine alone. Pears.......most of them need a friend. As to mess........yeah, if you don't pick the fruit. Also some fruit natually shed it's over abundance in May or June.......it's called the June drop. So you end up with many tiny apples. Culture.....full sun is mandatory. Fertilizing and watering of course. Pest control depends on the fruit. Apples are the most intensive due to the worms. Some people spray their trees every 14 days through the season. When with Extension Service we taught orchardists and home gardeners how to use pheromones instead of insecticide. You flood the trees with sex attracts so the male moths get so confused they can't find the female moths for mating and egg laying, hence no worms. Cherries can be buggy. The stone fruits: cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, etc can get borers...it's a big problem here. So I guess, yes, fruit trees are work, but the rewards are wonderful. If I could have just a few trees...which is the way we appear to be going.. ....I'd have an apricot, pie cherry (sweet cherries freeze out here), peach.....and a crisp tart apples like ........Jonathon, MacIntosh...hmmm. Pears are wonderful but must be picked a bit early and ripened in the house. Also they attract wasps....yuck.
Gads, if you got this far.........Shellie, go to www.starkbrothers.com for a good catalog. You'll find whether the various fruit varieties are self pollinating or need a friend. You can purchase their trees for dormant season planting or just use the info to guide you at your local nursery. |
| WOW! Lots of great info. Thank you so much. I will be
browsing that site - probably all day. Looks like a lot of good stuff there. Thanks!! Shellie |
| When we moved here, there were 3 giant pines in the front yard, and 3 lilac bushes - one of which was growing up through the clothes line!! Talk about poor planning!
We planted thousands of trees. This is flat southern MN - endless fields. Without a windbreak, winters are bad. In addition to the windbreak trees, we planted fruit trees. We have 3 apples, and 2 pear trees. The apples are oldest, and we have been enjoying apples for a long time. 3 trees is way too many for 1 family - I give them away and still have tons to give the sheep and horses. We throw them in the pasture by the 5 gallon pail! But, they are wonderful. We don't use any pesticides at all. Todd just keeps an eye on them for bugs and tent worms and such. We keep the area under them cleaned up as well - fallen apples can attract pests. About 5 yrs ago I added a pair (pun ) of pear trees. I got the ones recommended at the garden center to pollinate and be hardy here. Last year was our 1st harvest (small) but they are heavenly!! |
| Iriskmj, the second picture to me looks like a Yucca plant. We have a few of them in our courtyard. The length of the "leaves" are 1 to 1 1/2 feet long and in the summer they are sharp at the points. (They are almost sword shaped.) In the winter the leaves are more limp.
When they have been established for a few years, a tall (about 3-4 feet) single "plume-like" flower will develop and after several years, it may produce 2 to 4 of these plumes. They do like sunshine, not alot of water and very easy to grow! I am not positive that is what it is, but it does look like what we have. Hey Ron-what about a gardening thread? |
Lucky all of you with bulbs coming up in your new gardens! I found exactly four defeated looking tulips and an unidentified clump of green leaves in the back area plus tired looking shrubs so I will have a major landscaping job on my hands! I'm half way up a mountain so the soil is rocky. I will need to haul in bags of compost form the stable where Merlin is located. I miss my little garden on the coast: it was small but i had a lot of plants in iti!  |
got sheep wrote: We planted thousands of trees. This is flat southern MN - endless fields. Without a windbreak, winters are bad.
Dawn! Were you reading my mind??!! I was just thinking windbreak. What kind of trees did you plant? I ended up opting for cedar chips in the dog yard rather than fighting poor soil, low light and high traffic in attempts to forge a lawn... We'll see how it holds up but I really like it so far.
Only flowers to date: some sad looking crocuses. Only big surprise? Sybil hasn't eaten them yet.
Kristine |
| There's ooooodles of info on windbreaks and windbreaks in Wisconsin. Here's one:
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/Publications/tip/WindbreaksWebLowRes.pdf |
SheepieBoss wrote: There's ooooodles of info on windbreaks and windbreaks in Wisconsin. Here's one:
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/Publications/tip/WindbreaksWebLowRes.pdf Thanks! The recent "lovely" Noah's Ark weather kind of took the wind out of my gardening sails, but the sun is out at the moment - I know this because one of my co-workers just came in from outside and encouraged me to quick go outside and enjoy the sight of the sun while I can; dark clouds are already rolling back in. If that's not pathetic I don't know what is
And, yes, I am headed out into the parking lot to stand there and stare at that odd yellow thingie in the sky...
Kristine |
| ^^^
we haven't had any where the amount of snow you have had - but it definitly has been a gray winter. raining (again) now |
| Here are a few things growing in my garden.
This first shot is the pod where the bunch of bananas are growing 
in this pic you can see the "fingers" or the bunch of bananas just starting to form. 
On to the flowers..this is the one of the Trumpet bushes I have in my garden. It blooms all year long. The two other ones I have are white and yellow. 
This is a close up of one of the Trumpets 
I hope that all of you that are just coming out of a chilly winter feel the hope in the new Spring!!! |
Mad Dog wrote: got sheep wrote: We planted thousands of trees. This is flat southern MN - endless fields. Without a windbreak, winters are bad. Dawn! Were you reading my mind??!! I was just thinking windbreak. What kind of trees did you plant? I ended up opting for cedar chips in the dog yard rather than fighting poor soil, low light and high traffic in attempts to forge a lawn... We'll see how it holds up but I really like it so far.Only flowers to date: some sad looking crocuses. Only big surprise? Sybil hasn't eaten them yet. Kristine I seemed to have missed this post! Beware with the chips - depending on your dog food, the poop blends in pretty well. I have been tempted to put food coloring in the dog food to make to poops stand out more!
We ordered our windbreak trees from the SWCD. Federal program, little trees in bulk that are very cheap. I planted through the same program back home on our farm as well...... many, many trees. They actually do grow, you just need patience. These are ours now: These are in front of the house, along the road. These were planted about 15 yrs ago. 
the same line - just further down: 
Here is some from 2003 - 
They are assorted pines, plums, honeysuckle and redtwig dogwoods. |
| Did you plant some right near the house at the same time? They would get big enough to provide some shelter quickly while the tree line grows up, then they would provide firewood when you cut'em down!
Then there's the stump issue...
Cool! You are probably the only 0 or negative carbon footprint person on the forum! |
| No, none right by the house. Although we just cut down an ancient rotting crabapple that was rubbing on the house. The 3 big pines in the front yard are pretty close too. Todd keeps threatening to cut them , but the bird habitat in them is too valuable.
This one is one we inherited, the crabapple was right next to it - 
And this is in the butteryfly tree down by the lake last summer. All the monarchs were "flocked" together before they migrated. It was amazing - the trees and hay fields were covered. 
Here's a good one that shows how close they are to the house. House is on the left, 1 of the trees are in the picture. Then the windbreak we planted is to the right - along the road. It helps cut down the dust in the summer too! 
Helen - the baby bananas are so interesting. And the flowers, just gorgeous!!! |
| Thank you Dawn. This is the first year that we have grown bananas and the pods are so pretty and interesting. I now know why the price of bananas are so much cheaper then most fruit, because when they start coming in they come in with huge bunches.
I love your tree line...the fur trees are beautiful. When the flowering trees are in bloom, if you get a chance, could you please take a pic and post them? When you mentioned the Crabapple Trees it brought to mind how beautiful they are when they are bloom....a mess after they fruit, but smell great and one of my favorite blooming trees.
I love looking at different areas of you farm...thank you for sharing. |
| Love the banana flower photos........I don't believe I've ever seen them with the flowers still attached! |
Sure can, Helen! We have a whole row of them along the road - going away from the house the opposite direction of the driveway. In fact, I think I have a picture.....
On the left along the road (and power lines) is a row of evergreens, but on the inside there is a row of flowering crabs. They were just getting big enough to perfume tha air last year. I will get a picture when they flower. Also, the little scraggly looking bushes along the split trail fence (the driveway) are all little lilac bushes - also heavenly! Hard to imagine from this snowy picture, but it does get nice here! |
| My SIL just called me, it is "tree day" tomorrow. We didn't preorder, but they do order extra of some species and they are available on a first come basis.
Here is a link to our county's SWCD website and pdf tree forms. They are very reasonable! I'm sure there are similar programs in most everyone's area (in the US anyway). http://www.blueearthswcd.org/programs/trees.php I will be stopping in tomorrow at 8am after I get off work to get some. I think this is related to the shoe shopping disease that some have, only with trees instead!!! |
Looks interesting, Dawn! My shopping disease isn't limited to shoes.  I can go crazy shopping for just about anything. |
| This is the year I hope to put some trees in!!!!!!!
What fun it would be to have bananas growing in your back yard!!!!!!!!! By the way, has anyone heard from Irskmj (Karen)??? She hasn't been on the fourm in AGES! |
We FINALLY have some sun and green stuff coming up, here are the first flowers.... crocuses...
Yay!  |
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