Thanks to Carl Rosato for his talk on fruit
trees and soil management. Carl's enthusiasm and extensive knowledge
are wonderful assets to the organic gardening community. We hope to
have Carl back next year to continue teaching us about how to make our
gardens produce healthy crops which in turn nurture our own health. If
you ever get a chance to buy Carl's peaches, you will be able to taste
the difference that the use of expert organic methods can deliver.
Those who stayed
the extra hour got a lot of individual interpretation of their soil
tests. It was the last time we will be offering soil tests and
interpretations at such a bargain rate. The same applies to the superb
fruit trees that we passed along at a very low price. If the gardening
class is to help create the new society based on the best of American
principles and the best of ecological principles, we have to stay in
business. In this case, it means charging more than break-even prices. I
know many of you understand this, but many others think that the
services offered through the class should be cheap or free. If we did
that, we would burn out, and that is just not sustainable. Thanks for
reflecting on this if you haven't already.
Today, Jeff
Armstrong will be discussing irrigation. I know this newsletter is so
late that you are reading this after the presentation, but for those
not in attendance today, you will have missed an opportunity to find
out from a seasoned landscape professional how to set up and operate
irrigation systems for your garden areas. Jeff's business, Nutrilawn of
Chico emphasizes using natural amendments to maximize lawn and garden
health. Jeff and Cheryl also grow a wonderful vegetable garden. He is
always learning, and loves to share what he is doing. You should have
been there.
Gardening Tips: If
you planted your bareroot trees, and they got a lot of rain, you might
do what I did this morning, which was to take a 3 pronged cultivator
(long or short handle) and loosening the top 2" of soil around the
roots. The rain sealed the soil, and reduced oxygen to the roots. This
is why Carl suggests delaying planting bareroot trees if heavy rain is
forecasted.
Here are some of
Carl's favorite varieties of peaches and nectarines:
Queen Crest (May
ripening)
Spring
Crest (June)
June
Pride (June)
Sun
Crest (mid July)
O'Henry
(August)
Elegant
Lady (August)
Red Gold Nectarine
Fantasia Nectarine
Snow Queen Nectarine
My understanding is
that these are generally all freestone varieties. It is not too late to
plant bareroot trees. Dig a hole about the size of the roots when spread
out. Orient the graft scar to face north. The line where the soil was
in the nursery should be placed 2" above grade, since the soil will
settle, and you want to keep the tree at the same level as it was
growing in the nursery. Put back the soil, making sure the roots are
spread out. Don't add compost to the hole. You can top-dress amendments
as needed. Pour a couple of gallons of compost on top of the soil right
around the tree to keep down weeds and provide some nutrients as the
season unfold. If the soil is damp, don't water the tree the day you
plant it. To prune the tree, cut it back quite a bit, making each cut to
define an open structure with a central leader. I know this is not an
adequate explanation of pruning. You had to be there to hear Carl, and
even then it is not easy to understand. One of these days, Carl will
have a video out, and planting a bareroot tree will be featured on that
video. We will keep you posted on this.
Today's class is the last of this series. We
do have some individual sessions planned, and you will be getting an
email announcement about how to sign up for them soon, probably in less
than a week. On March 14, Lee Edwards will be presenting a slide show
and talk about how to raise bees on a small scale. More to come
about upcoming classes soon.
happy gardening,
David Grau
Valley
Oak Tool Company
P.O. Box 301
Chico CA 95927
telephone 530-342-6188
