After this Spring's leaf curl disaster, I'm trying to be proactive.
I read that fall plus spring sprays with micronized copper will prevent the disease. Also that covering the trees to prevent leaf curl spores from washing into the buds. Both should be done after the leaves fall and before Winter rains start.
Unfortunately, It's already started raining, and the leaves had not yet fallen.
So, I started by pulling off the leaves. These are small trees (bush would be a better word) and it only took a few minutes to pull off the leaves. They went into the compost bin.
Defoliated Peach Tree
Micronized copper spray. I'm not excited about using sprays, although some growers consider copper a mineral so ok for organic methods. Depends on who you talk to. I followed the directions and sprayed all of the peach trees. It was not raining today.
Then I wrapped or covered with plastic. How I did it depended on the size and shape of the tree.
This is a 1-year old tree that is not genetic dwarf; peach/plum hybrid (Trilite). I tied the branches then covered in a plastic bag, and tied again.
This genetic miniature is about 4 feet tall. I don't think that the stems need to be covered, just the buds. Any that remain exposed can be pruned in the spring. I don't want it to bake either, so the under side is left open for ventillation.
The entire exercise took about one hour. We'll see if it works.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Kitchen Garden Log
In addition to green tomatoes, there were 3 cucumbers.
The apples are all eaten now.
There are a few peppers.
4 figs from little Hardy Chicago.
Not much, but not bad for november.
Last weekend I cleaned up one raised bed and planted it with multiplier onions. This is about the 5th year for these. I covered with raked leaves, to keep the dogs from digging.
The cherries, most of the figs, the apples, and the ginkgos have lost most of their leaves.
I moved some oriental lilies to a bed east of the house.
Raked leaves. Used them for mulch around previously-moved magnolia and on the lilies, as well as the winter onion bed.
Chopped up a few tomato plants, and left them in the compost bin.
The apples are all eaten now.
There are a few peppers.
4 figs from little Hardy Chicago.
Not much, but not bad for november.
Last weekend I cleaned up one raised bed and planted it with multiplier onions. This is about the 5th year for these. I covered with raked leaves, to keep the dogs from digging.
The cherries, most of the figs, the apples, and the ginkgos have lost most of their leaves.
I moved some oriental lilies to a bed east of the house.
Raked leaves. Used them for mulch around previously-moved magnolia and on the lilies, as well as the winter onion bed.
Chopped up a few tomato plants, and left them in the compost bin.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Not a lot of time to be in the garden. Today, I cleaned up one group of tomato plants. What to do with the green tomatoes?
Green tomatoes.
1. Slice.
2. Dip in egg.
3. Coat in flour with a little black pepper.
4. Fry in olive oil.
5. Salt and eat.
Frying tenderizes them. If you want to be yuppie about it, use tempura mix. They are a little tart, tender inside, and juicy. They don't taste like tomatoes - more similar to other coated/fried vegetables, but with some added juiciness and tartness.
I'm not much of a cook, but this was easy.
And that's what you can do with some green tomatoes.
Green tomatoes.
1. Slice.
2. Dip in egg.
3. Coat in flour with a little black pepper.
4. Fry in olive oil.
5. Salt and eat.
Frying tenderizes them. If you want to be yuppie about it, use tempura mix. They are a little tart, tender inside, and juicy. They don't taste like tomatoes - more similar to other coated/fried vegetables, but with some added juiciness and tartness.
I'm not much of a cook, but this was easy.
And that's what you can do with some green tomatoes.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Schlumbergera
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Fall Begins
Ginkgo fall photo. Leaves remain green so far.
Front ginkgo. Now it's taller than I am. Leaves starting to change color now.
Lots of grapes now. It's dark when I go to work and come home, so I forget to pick them.
Also-
still getting a few tomatoes, beans, cucumbers.
I ate ONE fresh fig yesterday - a small one from Hardy Chicago.
I moved the Magnolia seiboldei to a more sheltered location, north of a fence and east of the house. There is will be less likely to develop sunburn, and need less water in the summer. It's bushy, about 6 feet tall. The roots were actually quite limited, about 2 foot diameter root ball, about 1 foot deep. I did remove one tall stem that leaned the wrong direction, but left the remainder unpruned.
I moved a mature oriental lily as well, near the magnolia. Also a few minor perennials.
Front ginkgo. Now it's taller than I am. Leaves starting to change color now.
Lots of grapes now. It's dark when I go to work and come home, so I forget to pick them.
Also-
still getting a few tomatoes, beans, cucumbers.
I ate ONE fresh fig yesterday - a small one from Hardy Chicago.
I moved the Magnolia seiboldei to a more sheltered location, north of a fence and east of the house. There is will be less likely to develop sunburn, and need less water in the summer. It's bushy, about 6 feet tall. The roots were actually quite limited, about 2 foot diameter root ball, about 1 foot deep. I did remove one tall stem that leaned the wrong direction, but left the remainder unpruned.
I moved a mature oriental lily as well, near the magnolia. Also a few minor perennials.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Kitchen Garden Log
The workload continues unabated. I can't do much in the garden. In some ways it's on autopilot, except for watering.
Jonagold - this is the first year for some apples.
Mesclun, seeds planted late summer.
Scepter'ed Isle, 8 feet tall.
Hey, wait a minute! Another chance at the epiphyllum.
This cayenne pepper continues to produce. Nice and hot!
Beans, seeds planted late summer.
Canadace grape. The color doesn't come true wtih the flash, it's more red in natural light.
A throwaway chrysanthemum. I left it in the veggie bed for the summer.
Hibiscus. First flower.
Jonagold - this is the first year for some apples.
Mesclun, seeds planted late summer.
Scepter'ed Isle, 8 feet tall.
Hey, wait a minute! Another chance at the epiphyllum.
This cayenne pepper continues to produce. Nice and hot!
Beans, seeds planted late summer.
Canadace grape. The color doesn't come true wtih the flash, it's more red in natural light.
A throwaway chrysanthemum. I left it in the veggie bed for the summer.
Hibiscus. First flower.
Labels:
apple,
beans,
epiphylum oxypetallum,
grapes,
mesclun
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Fruit tree order
Maybe it's way too early. I ordered 2 new fruit trees today for planting this winter. Last year's trees came in January, which was an ideal time to plant them.
The new trees are plums. I don't think that I can copy the photos because they are copyrighted, so here are the links -
Shiro plum. Stark's has a lush photo of Shiro plums here. Dave Wilson Nursery gives some more details here. Details that went into this choice are: I've eaten them and they are very good. Those were locally grown. They are self pollinating. That may not be important since they'll be near an aprium and another Japanese plum.
Hollywood plum.
Obviously from the links, they are from Raintree Nursery. Based on older blog entries, my 2007 fruit trees arrived mid february 2008 - and they've grown great.
The new trees are plums. I don't think that I can copy the photos because they are copyrighted, so here are the links -
Shiro plum. Stark's has a lush photo of Shiro plums here. Dave Wilson Nursery gives some more details here. Details that went into this choice are: I've eaten them and they are very good. Those were locally grown. They are self pollinating. That may not be important since they'll be near an aprium and another Japanese plum.
Hollywood plum.
Obviously from the links, they are from Raintree Nursery. Based on older blog entries, my 2007 fruit trees arrived mid february 2008 - and they've grown great.
Today's Catch
This was yesterday's catch - my 'day off'. I made some 'blonde salsa' - yellow tomatoes, yellow peppers, onion and garlic, all from the garden. Very good.
A few more, this is today's catch.
Ning's eggplants. He's had several crops.
The fall planting of beans is blooming. There are tiny beans forming. It might be a race to fall, but maybe this method worked and we'll get a fall crop of beans. This rotation was garlic -> beans this summer.
The slugs ate a few holes in the leaves, but the mesclun grew by leaps and bounds. Good for stir fry or fried rice.
September 11th is my garlic planting day. My day to remember planting garlic, mainly because I was planting garlic on that horrific day. Not much room, since every nook and cranny is filled, but this spot is somewhat open. This location contained beans until a few weeks ago. The bean plants finished bearing, and were fed to the chickens. Nothing goes to waste. I planted cloves from 3 heads of Inchellium Red. Next to find a place for some German Red, which I like better due to flavor but it is not as productive. This rotation was scallions -> beans -> garlic. After planting, I applied swept-up leaves for mulch ans some chicken wire as kitty/doggy deterrent. Neither critter can resist freshly dug soil (kitty for her litter, doggies for digging).
In a note, the work hours are not tolerable, at 13 to 15 hours daily. Fortunately, this time of year, all that the garden needs is watering about every 3rd day, and a little puttering each weekend. We'll see next year if the work report is better.
A few more, this is today's catch.
Ning's eggplants. He's had several crops.
The fall planting of beans is blooming. There are tiny beans forming. It might be a race to fall, but maybe this method worked and we'll get a fall crop of beans. This rotation was garlic -> beans this summer.
The slugs ate a few holes in the leaves, but the mesclun grew by leaps and bounds. Good for stir fry or fried rice.
September 11th is my garlic planting day. My day to remember planting garlic, mainly because I was planting garlic on that horrific day. Not much room, since every nook and cranny is filled, but this spot is somewhat open. This location contained beans until a few weeks ago. The bean plants finished bearing, and were fed to the chickens. Nothing goes to waste. I planted cloves from 3 heads of Inchellium Red. Next to find a place for some German Red, which I like better due to flavor but it is not as productive. This rotation was scallions -> beans -> garlic. After planting, I applied swept-up leaves for mulch ans some chicken wire as kitty/doggy deterrent. Neither critter can resist freshly dug soil (kitty for her litter, doggies for digging).
In a note, the work hours are not tolerable, at 13 to 15 hours daily. Fortunately, this time of year, all that the garden needs is watering about every 3rd day, and a little puttering each weekend. We'll see next year if the work report is better.
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