Re: [gardeners] Re: Sunday in the garden
Margaret Lauterbach (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 07 May 2002 14:55:03 -0600
Enjoy your apricots. That's my favorite fruit, and I couldn't believe how
the squirrels came to destroy my crop two years running. There are five
squirrels in my neighborhood that's bounded by major arteries, the
Interstate and a very large and deep canal. Just before my apricots
ripened, they hit, and I counted 7 in the front yard alone. The trees in
the back yard were full of them, chipping their way through the fruit to
get at the kernel, driving my dog and me nuts. They wasted the fruit, and
there was a mess on the ground. I tied a plastic mesh bag around one I
could reach, and darned if they didn't get that one too. I changed my
attitude about squirrels. We no longer feed them in winter.
BTW, I have an American persimmon, some Saskatoons, blueberry bushes,
3-variety Asian pear, jujube, a Nannyberry that doesn't bear fruit for some
reason, two pawpaws, a plum and three good apple trees, one used only for
shade. The jujube bears heavily, but I don't have a lock on ways to
preserve or use them. Last year the squirrels got desperate since we lost
apple and pear crops to late frost, so they actually ate some of the
jujubes. We're in danger of losing those crops again, early tomorrow
morning. We have a sprinkler set up, and DH will turn on the water before
dawn. It will water a Fuji and Gravenstein. Keep your fingers crossed for
us. Margaret L
>Hello, Margaret,
>
>Our nectarine's fruit is just in the beginning stages of development.
>They will ripen as much larger, wonderfully sweet fruit in late July,
>about 6 weeks after the apricots, normally.
>
>The apricot does bear annually; it's just that the crops are heavier
>during alternate years; the same is true of persimmons.
>
>The nectarine, during its second full year in the ground, bore about 250
>fruit; this year, it will bear about twice as many, of various sizes,
>mostly of a good commercial size, and the taste is like honey and liquid
>sunshine. The fragrance of the ripe fruit is such that one can savor the
>fragrance a full 15 feet away from the tree.
>
>Regarding Fuyus: the flowers are borne solely on the ends of the new
>branches; there are no flowers within the canopy, much like citrus, and
>like citrus, the flowers are born on the newly sprouted branches. At
>least that has been my limited experience.
>
>At any rate, all the fruit trees, including the macadamia look
>exceedingly healthy at this writing.
>
>Thanks for your kind note.
>
>Ron