box full of…roots
Almond Tree
So we got our order from Gurney’s today. All of our seeds came from Territorial & Seed Savers but for trees & berries you can’t beat the price of Gurney’s. Anyway, we got this long, coffin-like cardboard box that contained twigs with dry roots hanging off the end.
I believe this is to be expected but it looked so…weird. Anyway, I got them potted ASAP so that the poor dried up things might be a bit more comfortable.
1. filled pots with topsoil from the yard
2. added vermiculite (couple handfuls, mixed well) since the soil is pretty dry, sort of leafy
3. for the blueberries added 1Tbsp or so of Marine Cuisine
4. tucked plants/trees in, watered well
Here is the inventory:
6 red lambath rasperries
1 northland jumbo blueberry
1 patriot jumbo blueberry
1 drippin’ honey pear tree
1 hall’s hardy almond tree
We are still waiting for our dwarf fig tree, 20 asparagus plants, & some blue flax to come from Gurneys. I really can’t wait to have fresh figs…haven’t tasted one since I was in the Republic of Georgia; they are incredible. I didn’t know fig trees could grow here, we will just have to bring it in over winter.
Josh and Erin,
You two are working so hard, all the while, having fun! Just wait until you can enjoy the fruits of your labor! Such a variety of fruits, berries, and vegetables there will be.
The shed is coming along nicely, and will serve you well for years.
Keep up the good work.
Love,
M
Erin and Josh, in planting fruit trees you are continuing a tradition that may have partially skipped a generation or two. I only planted a couple orange/lemon trees in Fl, and am not sure about your Mom. But your great-grandfather Frank Helton was an avid experimenter when it came to his orchard. He planted and cultivated all manner of fruit trees, and my personal favorite, mulberries. He grafted one type of apple tree to another and made hybrids. I do think it was his passion in life.
By coincidence, I have a couple of patio blueberries from Gurney’s. They came with branches intact, little babies about 5 inches total length. I was not sure how to make the soil sufficiently acidic but ended up watering with vinegar water and crossing my fingers! Prince doesn’t know yet, but he may eventually get to eat his favorite fresh fruit(blueberries) right off the branches!
About roots, you know that is how new vineyards are created too….
I am excited about what you are doing!
Love,
Phyllis