We pull the frost covers over to the side when it does not look like we expect frost. We enjoy growing citrus fruit and take the trouble to give them a bit of protection from the coldest nights. Citrus can be grown in a sunny spot next to your house so it will get both the sunshine needed to ripen the fruit and some warmth that leaks from the house at night. Many parts of our area grow fantastic citrus fruit and if your place has both frost protection and lots of sunshine be sure to feed well and often. If your garden has snails or slugs you will know by the holes munched in the leaves. Right now there are fragrant white flowers on the citrus – -what a dreamy smell.
Consider a gift certificate. The recipient can choose the gift that best suits their situation. Fruit trees are often given as gifts and remember, it is a gift that keeps on giving!
Any time of the year is okay to plant fruit trees that are already growing fine in a container. Of course, fall, winter and spring are easier than summer. Some fruit trees grow with little care and some need you to look after their special needs (but having your favorite fruit makes it worthwhile). Spring flowers, even with too much rain give you hope and dreams of future bowls of sweet juicy fresh delights. This picture is of a Santa Rosa Plum.
This piece of art will greet you at Main Street near Pueblo. It was made from Corten steel and crafted by a young talent named Andrew using a picture of Valley Oak, Quercus lobata taken here in Napa.
Coast Live Oak tiny trees are growing into their gray tree tubes. Air pruning and ribs will keep the roots in the best condition for easy transplanting. Acorns are carefully collected from choice trees and sorted to remove those that don’t make the cut. Store them in a secure package in the fridge until it is time to plant them. Watch them carefully because nature’s critters would love to swipe your seeds before you know it. Coast Live Oaks, also known as Quercus agrifolia, are a real favorite native tree to plant. It is an evergreen so leaves are present year round and can give a nice sense of privacy and security. Oaks are a valued tree and this one grows in many different soil types and in many locations in Napa.
We grow lots of different apple varieties. Some scion are available for grafting and with apples, it is easy to have good success. Choose your apple variety carefully! You can choose for color, sweetness, tartness, early ripening, great for cooking, crunchiness and some keep well in storage for months. Grow what you really like and when possible, try attending an apple tasting. Some of our apple trees are young and ready to be shaped to fit your space. Tall, short, flat, espaliered, multi-variety……. We can help you choose great trees.
Talented workers have no trouble loading large trees onto a long trailer to bring them to a new landscaping project. Large native trees transplant well when grown in porous fabric containers and loved between each repotting over the years. Natural shaping and real local soil produce nice large trees from carefully selected acorns. Planting a native oak tree will be a great investment for the future. These trees are Coast Live Oaks – also known as Quercus agrifolia.
Apples Varieties were viewable and tasty for learning what varieties are our favorites. Several weeks ago was the Heirloom Expo where one chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers had about a hundred different varieties named and yesterday the Redwood Empire chapter had it’s annual Apple Tasting event at the location of California’s original antique apple nursery in Healdsburg. We were delighted to get a tour of some of the trees that were used to bud and graft hundreds of new trees over several decades.
Here is a link to a YouTube video filmed at this year’s apple tasting. It is very informative!
Fall and Winter are great seasons to add to your food and beauty in your yard, big or small. We are featuring both modern and heirloom fruit tree varieties. Seven of the old apple types we are selling are as follows and the date after the variety name is an estimate of the year it has been enjoyed and protected since.
Arkansas Black 1886
Ashmead’s Kernal 1700
Northern Spy 1800
Bramley’s Seedling 1813
Golden Russet 1845
Belle de Boskoop 1856
Waltana 1910
We pull the frost covers over to the side when it does not look like we expect frost. We enjoy growing citrus fruit and take the trouble to give them a bit of protection from the coldest nights. Citrus can be grown in a sunny spot next to your house so it will get both the sunshine needed to ripen the fruit and some warmth that leaks from the house at night. Many parts of our area grow fantastic citrus fruit and if your place has both frost protection and lots of sunshine be sure to feed well and often. If your garden has snails or slugs you will know by the holes munched in the leaves. Right now there are fragrant white flowers on the citrus – -what a dreamy smell.
