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Fruit Gardens 2021

Started by SwampDonkey, May 16, 2021, 05:12:28 AM

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SwampDonkey

The Canada plum is awakening.

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

Planted 3 black currants today, they have blooms.

Mixed in some manure with the loam and cedar mulch on top.




"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

sawguy21

Yeah, fresh fruit season is almost here. 8)
old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm

SwampDonkey

Grapes are just about in bloom here, photo in a few days. :)
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

bitternut

Is that tree a domesticated strain of Canada Plum or is it a wild variety? Why do you have the trees planted so close together? Are they sweet or sour when tree-ripened? Are the tree guards there to protect them from rabbits? Lots of nice blossoms. The blossoms look a lot like my Pluot which is part plum and apricot.

Here is the tree this spring. It only produced about a dozen fruit last year but I am counting on a lot more this year if the amount of blossoms means anything.




 

SwampDonkey

I planted them close as they aren't much for a tree where I find them in the wild. Although, I did find some the size of dwarf apple on an abandoned homestead. They usually grow wild in a dense thicket. These are wild plums, yes. Protection against mice and voles in winter. The rabbits here are hares that don't venture far from the trees. But they can certainly do a number on a sapling if given the chance. ;D The fruit is sweet when ripe on the tree.

@bitternut What kind of plum do you have there? It sure is loaded. Last spring the frost killed the blooms here. This spring 1/4" hale gave them a good beating for 10 minutes. ;D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

bitternut

That is a Flavo Grenade Pluot that I purchased in 2017 from Adams County Nursery in Pennsylvania. There are several different combinations of plums and apricots that are genetically mixed to produce several different varieties of fruit. Zaiger is one of the companies that has developed several combinations. Dave Wilson nursery in Ca has quite a few varieties.
My tree produced fruit for the first time last summer. What a wonderful treat they are. They were tree-ripened, sweet, crunchy, and freestone. They kept for an extended time in the fridge.
I planted a Santa Rosa Plum next to it which is recommended as a pollinator. Last spring I planted a grafted four variety plumcot which had a few blossoms on each variety. They just had petal fall in the last few days. Might get a few fruit samples this season if I get lucky.

There used to be a block of Stanley Prunes a few years ago on my lot that were abandoned for a few years and there were quite a few root sprouts that grew into small trees with very large thorns and yellow plums that were round and about the size of a golf ball. I tried to eat them and found it impossible. Even with leaving them hang on the tree till they dropped off they were way too sour. :o I have no idea what variety that rootstock was. Just assumed  that it was some kind of wild variety.

How do you keep the moose away from your plum trees? I had to install a solar electric fence to keep the deer away. Glad I don't have that moose problem. :D

If this season is fruitful I will have to try sending you a few samples in the mail. I think you will be hooked once you have tried one.

SwampDonkey

Moose don't bother them here, be more apt to be coons. We only have 3 deer here at the best of times and they keep away. They don't even bother the garden. These plums will eventually develop thorns. I use them plums for jelly and juice. Often put some in high bush cranberry juice when making cranberry jelly to. These ripen to an orange red skin with golden flesh. Size of your thumb and egg shaped.

A lot of them varieties I never heard tell off. Mostly what you will see here is Stanley, but I have seen an old homestead plum near one of the towns with a large yellow plum that is very good. No idea the variety, the owners don't know either. Goes back to late 1800's or very early 1900's I suspect.

Are your plums black knot resistant? Stanley isn't, and I don't think these wild ones are, but I have no knot on them yet. The cure for that is WD-40. The pin cherry around here don't have it, but the black cherry do. And pin cherry is not resistant, unless these have a slight genetic difference.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

bitternut

Quote from: SwampDonkey on May 23, 2021, 08:45:12 AMAre your plums black knot resistant? Stanley isn't,


Yes, they are all advertised as such. Just how resistant remains to be seen though. I have two NY9 prune trees which are supposed to be more disease resistant than the regular Stanley variety. This year will be the first crop. They are dwarf and it took a couple of seasons to find the trees available to buy. The Stanley type are my favorite variety.

SwampDonkey

Set out a couple new Canadian red rhubarb root balls this afternoon, just arrived by mail. We have all kinds of ground moisture here this spring for starting trees, shrubs.....and rhubarb. ;D

Technically a veg, but used as fruit. I make juice. It's awesome. :)
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

bitternut

We always had a large rhubarb patch at home. Never had juice, just sauce and pies. My mother was a great cook. Some people seemed to favor strawberry rhubarb pie but me I always preferred plain rhubarb pies.

How does one make just juice?

SwampDonkey

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

The grapes did get a little burnt for sure from frost. I think watering them this morning kept them from becoming a total loss. ;D :D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

Photos later, but the blackberries are white with blossoms now. The grapes have recovered from the late frost and lots of green, not sure yet on how much fruit. Will have to get an update on the plum, I know I saw some fruit set a week ago. smiley_thumbsup
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

Checked the plums this morning, wasn't any fruit set after all except maybe a couple. Frost and hail did a number on them. :-\

Here are the black elders this year, just beginning to flower.





Here is one from a cutting this spring, I have one other that took, 4 cuttings where planted. So 50/50 success. Pretty cool to get a plant from a little stick. ;)



"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

Blackberries in bloom.





A couple fruit set on the new black currents. Probably frost hit them to.




"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

Raspberries this year, setting lots of fruit and a lot of new canes this year.





"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

Grapes. A little set back from the late frost, but coming to life. ;)





















"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

How high should you let your grapes climb? I'm letting mine go chest high and training the leaders to grow lateral. ;) Happy gardening. :)
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Dom

Quote from: SwampDonkey on June 13, 2021, 03:56:17 PM
How high should you let your grapes climb? I'm letting mine go chest high and training the leaders to grow lateral. ;) Happy gardening. :)
I planted an acre of table grapes last year, so I'm still learning. Normally the fruit line is 2-3 ft of the ground.  Every year the vine grows up from the fruit line, and the plant is prunned every winter/spring. A new method is to set the fruit line at 5ft and let the plant grow down. The higher the fruit line the  easier it is to pick. Some people are recommending higher and claim it's safer from spring frost, but you don't get the snow insulation in the winter. Also, a vine yard experienced alot of mold on their crop with a high fruit line, so verdict is still out whether its a better method. I'll be setting the fruit line at 30". For a few plants I would risk and go to 5ft.:)


SwampDonkey

I've been letting mine go 5 feet and train them laterally. I have fruit as low as 2 feet. I think the key is to keep it pruned more open below to keep the plants dry or dry off quick. But I'm just learning to, and experimenting. Just when you got it the way you want, the animals will change the whole experiment. :D


An acre is a lot of grapes. :) I've had these over 30 years and moved them a couple years ago.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Dom

Yes, I planted 1 acre, and pending how it's goes this summer may plan more next year. So far so good. :) Not many grape growers in the Maritimes for table grapes. For what it's worth I was told that every vine should be limited to 2.5 to 3lbs per harvest, so about 10 to 15 grapple.

I have an electric fence for now, but may need to go for a high fence. The deer need a bigger challenge, and high jump seems to be a good sport for them.  :D

HemlockKing

Quote from: Dom on June 20, 2021, 09:14:43 AM
Yes, I planted 1 acre, and pending how it's goes this summer may plan more next year. So far so good. :) Not many grape growers in the Maritimes for table grapes. For what it's worth I was told that every vine should be limited to 2.5 to 3lbs per harvest, so about 10 to 15 grapple.

I have an electric fence for now, but may need to go for a high fence. The deer need a bigger challenge, and high jump seems to be a good sport for them.  :D
Take out the deer come hunting season get yer foods worth back, full circle, you know they will be healthy at least !  :D
A1

SwampDonkey

Dom, do you plan to sell at the market? Moncton maybe?

I just grow mine for my own use, I juice them.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Dom

The Deer are smart, they stick around the homes during hunting season.  :D

SwampDonkey, yes plan is to sell roadside and local markets. There's alot of traffic in the area from the orchard and other farms.  :)

Other idea will be create jelly to add shelf life. I imagine you have Concorde vines?

How do you like the plums? Grows ok? I'm looking for other crops.

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