Re: [gardeners] Sunday in the garden
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 06 May 2002 11:22:38 -0500
I wasn't aware that the Fuyu was an alternate bearing tree. This one bore last year but the birds
and squirrels got all but one fruit. It is loaded again this year too so am wondering if the label
was correct. I did buy it from the most reputable nursery in this area. The fruit is sweet while
firm and round rather than heart shaped as the other Oriental persimmons in this area are.
George
Ron Hay wrote:
>
> Good morning, friends.
>
> It's a cloudy, overcast and coolish morning in Van Nuys. The artichokes
> are ready for the picking, with a few really huge ones still on the
> stalk: about 2# apiece! On Saturday, we picked two that were slightly
> smaller than these monsters, which weighed in at 1.25# and 1.5 #,
> respectively. Often veggies that grow large are not tender; not so with
> these chokes, which had leaves almost 2" across at the base and hearts
> 4" across. The stalk was even more tender than the heart. Amazing!
>
> Tomatoes and eggplants are growing apace, nicely spaced apart, this
> year; but, lo and behold, a crop of yellow pears and the children of
> Sweet Millions are cropping up by the carload, along with epazote and a
> stray squash seed or two which the compost did not digest.
>
> I feel like some sort of axe murderer contemplating rooting out the
> seedlings, most of which are likely from the yellow pears we did not
> pick during the winter. I just hope I can find good homes for them.
>
> As soon as we remove more of the rear lawn, we will replant the
> tomatillos and volunteer yellow pears which sprouted about a month ago,
> properly spaced, as last year we overbought and planted things too close
> together.
>
> George, are you aware that Fuyus are alternate year bearing trees,
> related to ebony? Last year, I don't believe we had two dozen, after a
> bumper crop the year before. This year, I fertilized it with triple 15,
> the same fertilizer the Sub Tropical Horticulturist in San Diego County
> recommended as one of the fertilizers macadamias benefitted from. Just
> winging it, I put the same amount on the Fuyu. Never has the tree either
> grown so much nor had so many flowers. If only 20 percent of the fruit
> matures, we will likely have close to a hundred. Time will tell.
>
> I have been chary about fertilizing it since Sunset's Western Garden
> Book states that overwatering and overfeeding causes fruit drop.
>
> Overwatering is not likely here as we probably won't have any rain until
> November; and I will err on the side of caution and not fertilize it
> again until the first rain, and then, with calcium nitrate.
>
> The macadamia, on the other hand, likes to be fed 3x year, with triple
> 15 the end of February, and calcium nitrate the end of June and the end
> of November.
>
> Speaking of calcium nitrate, I am going to put a spoonful around each
> tomato plant, to supply additional calcium and to retard the possibility
> of blossom end rot which occurs during the 100 plus degree days, when
> even deep watering is sucked up by the 10% humidity.
>
> Well, it's time to head in to the office. Have a great day and enjoy
> your gardens!
>
> Ron