Any other zone 5b gardeners out there?

[Echelontheory101]

A little of both. They are in dedicated 3-foot diameter raised beds, so the roots extend into the ground, but the tree is containerized. I mulch them heavily in the fall with wood chips and cover that with leaves. They make it through just fine, but some of the previous year's growth dies back. I'm hoping they retain enough to give me a few figs next summer.

Burlap has always worked well for me in the past to wrap the whole tree pot and all, not sure how that would work with the bed but may be worth a try! I do like the Dr. Earth fruit tree fertilizer for it as well in the spring, I get mine on amazon since my local tractor supply only ever carries the flower version of that brand

 

[Snowbelt]

Burlap is a good idea. I will use some next winter. I make compost and use that for fertilizer as it is all organic and works well for me.

 

[Echelontheory101]

Burlap is a good idea. I will use some next winter. I make compost and use that for fertilizer as it is all organic and works well for me.

Dr earth is organic its not a chemical fertilizer, if you still dont get any fruit may be worth a shot but obviously just a suggestion, it could just be that your trees are still young if you're going into the third season you may get more fruit this year

 

[Snowbelt]

Thanks for the information about the fertilizer. I'm not familiar with that brand. I think my figs are just too young. They've been through growing seasons in 2024 and 2025, so this will be the third time around. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Peaches Lee]

I'm a 5b gardener. Would love Blueberry bushes!

I've grown a bit of everything. This year I'm going to plant more flowers.

 

[Echelontheory101]

Thanks for the information about the fertilizer. I'm not familiar with that brand. I think my figs are just too young. They've been through growing seasons in 2024 and 2025, so this will be the third time around. Keeping my fingers crossed!

we'll both have to report back and see if either of us get any haha

 

[Echelontheory101]

I'm a 5b gardener. Would love Blueberry bushes!

I've grown a bit of everything. This year I'm going to plant more flowers.


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Gorgeous photos! I wish I had thought to take more pictures of my harvests over the years I don't have many. And also same I think I'm going to try some cut flowers this year which is a new venture for me. Figure I could put a few vases of them out at the egg stand at the road.

Also I totally recommend blueberry bushes! I'm very lucky that the birds and squirrels and Chipmunks tend to leave mine alone I have 4 and they're old enough that they're really low maintenance which is nice! All my other berries are only headed into their second season

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

I also have the Chicago hardy figs I wrapped them in burlap and put them in the garage for the winter while they go dormant so that their roots don't freeze too bad before I put them back outside in the spring which has helped a little bit but I also don't get very huge figs I do get them but not very big ones.

And that's good to know March I've been doing direct sowing for years as soon as the soil gets above 40°, but I feel like I'm just getting into my best harvest come September as things start getting cold and would love to be able to move that timeline up a little bit so experimenting with starting indoors this year instead of direct sowing like I've done in years past.

Do you start all of your stuff at the same time and just know that the slower ones are still going to take a little bit longer like your peppers eggplant things like that or do you do peppers eggplant night shades brassica's etc first and then flowers herbs squashes Etc a few weeks later?

I would like to recommend trying the Farmers Almanac website. You can put your zip code in and they give you exact dates for seed starting everything, when to plant starts and direct sowing dates. It has spring and fall gardening dates also if you like to fall garden also.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Gorgeous photos! I wish I had thought to take more pictures of my harvests over the years I don't have many. And also same I think I'm going to try some cut flowers this year which is a new venture for me. Figure I could put a few vases of them out at the egg stand at the road.

Also I totally recommend blueberry bushes! I'm very lucky that the birds and squirrels and Chipmunks tend to leave mine alone I have 4 and they're old enough that they're really low maintenance which is nice! All my other berries are only headed into their second season

Definitely put some flowers out at your stand. Sunflowers are very popular. My mom and I (she worked as a florist for a bit) did just that and everything with sunflowers sold.

Yes, take photos of things you grow! It's fun to look back on the summer where it's warm and things are growing when it's cold, dark and wintry outside!

 

[Echelontheory101]

I'm a 5b gardener. Would love Blueberry bushes!

I've grown a bit of everything. This year I'm going to plant more flowers.


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Here are a few i could find!