Back to Eden Gardening and Hugelkulture and other non-conventional garden methods

[Leahs Mom]

@KDOGG331

A fellow byc member, @Faraday40 , told me about her dwarf cherry bush. I plan on getting at least one of this variety and probably another variety as well. This place sells several different varieties based on fresh eating, pie, dehydrating, etc. She has had a great harvest with just planting and letting it grow. I'm liking the idea of the bush type as part of the orchard area as it may also provide some hawk protection as well. She did mention, however, that the chickens may eat the pits on the ones that have fallen and wasn't sure if they would be affected adversely.

She purchased it here: https://www.gurneys.com/product/carmine_jewel_dwarf_cherry

I'm hoping she will chime in an post her photos. (I should have asked her permission to post them myself but since I didn't...)

 

[lazy gardener]

Bare root trees must be shipped and handled while they are still dormant. That is the primary reason why Fedco does not ship trees in the warmer months. I was not even aware that it was possible to receive trees from them in the fall. I have learned that if I want a tree, I need to plan ahead, and order in January to get what I want so I can plant it the following spring. In an ideal world, I'd prepare the hole and soil the fall before placing the order.

Kelsey, some trees start producing as early as 3 years after being planted. Let me ask you a question: How old will you be 3 years from now? If you plant a tree you could be picking fruit then! But, if you do not plant a tree now, I can guarantee that you will not be picking fruit from your tree 3 years from now! It's all a matter of perspective. Time marches on. Seize the moment. I could be saying that I'm 62 years old. It's not logical for me to plant fruit trees b/c I may never see them reach good productive maturity. But, some one will come along behind me, and I hope they will benefit from my trees!!!

 

[1cock2hens]

I have 4 nanking cherry bushes that are all covered in cherries ever year and have been since the very first year

 

[ShrekDawg]

@KDOGG331 seeds from fruit trees dont grow true, the seed will grow with traits of its mother and of its father and not necessarily the best traits. . you can grow hundreds of seeds and each will grow differently. a very very small minority of them will be good for fresh eating, a few more will be good for cooking and the rest will not really be anything we would want to eat but animals might enjoy or you could maybe use for cider and other things

whenever a good eating apple is found they clone it and spread it, for example every single granny smith apple tree is a clone that originated from one granny smith that had a cutting taken then those cuttings grafted onto rootstock. same with fuji, golden delicious, all the name brand apples are clones of a random freak of nature tasty apple. this is not just for apples it is true with all fruit trees.

// it doesnt take too super long to see fruits always, I start my fruit trees out in pots so that they will get bigger faster and i have had cherries on all of my cherry trees on year one and this is year 2 for my peaches, I got them at a foot tall they are now over 7 foot and they all flowered so they could fruit this year.

Thanks for all the info and the history/genetics of it, it's really helpful. I appreciate the explanation and not just thinking it was a stupid question.

So you can start them in pots and then transplant them later? Does it hurt them?

And wow that's a big tree already!

@KDOGG331

A fellow byc member, @Faraday40 , told me about her dwarf cherry bush. I plan on getting at least one of this variety and probably another variety as well. This place sells several different varieties based on fresh eating, pie, dehydrating, etc. She has had a great harvest with just planting and letting it grow. I'm liking the idea of the bush type as part of the orchard area as it may also provide some hawk protection as well. She did mention, however, that the chickens may eat the pits on the ones that have fallen and wasn't sure if they would be affected adversely.

She purchased it here: https://www.gurneys.com/product/carmine_jewel_dwarf_cherry

I'm hoping she will chime in an post her photos. (I should have asked her permission to post them myself but since I didn't...)

Thanks so much for the info! That tree sounds amazing!

Bare root trees must be shipped and handled while they are still dormant. That is the primary reason why Fedco does not ship trees in the warmer months. I was not even aware that it was possible to receive trees from them in the fall. I have learned that if I want a tree, I need to plan ahead, and order in January to get what I want so I can plant it the following spring. In an ideal world, I'd prepare the hole and soil the fall before placing the order.

Kelsey, some trees start producing as early as 3 years after being planted. Let me ask you a question: How old will you be 3 years from now? If you plant a tree you could be picking fruit then! But, if you do not plant a tree now, I can guarantee that you will not be picking fruit from your tree 3 years from now! It's all a matter of perspective. Time marches on. Seize the moment. I could be saying that I'm 62 years old. It's not logical for me to plant fruit trees b/c I may never see them reach good productive maturity. But, some one will come along behind me, and I hope they will benefit from my trees!!!

Thanks for the explanation! I didn't think of that but that makes sense. So when do you plant them?

And I might be misinterpreting what the website says??

I thought this was saying you could start ordering in fall but I might be misunderstanding.

I have 4 nanking cherry bushes that are all covered in cherries ever year and have been since the very first year

Wow that is awesome!

 

[1cock2hens]

Thanks for all the info and the history/genetics of it, it's really helpful. I appreciate the explanation and not just thinking it was a stupid question.

So you can start them in pots and then transplant them later? Does it hurt them?

And wow that's a big tree already!

Wow that is awesome!

you are welcome, I'm glad i could help. not a stupid question at all. I would say most people dont know that.

yes you can start them in pots and grow them in pots as long as you would like as long as they dont get rootbound, I use the fabric pots mostly, they prevent plants going root bound but you have to water them more. I dont think it hurts them. I have had trees planted in ground and in pot right next to each other of the same variety and the one in the pot almost always grows 2-3x bigger in the first year. my soil isnt amazing though lol. I do this with blueberries, cherry plants, peach plants and I have potted lemons that will probably always be potted.

yeah i was crazy excited about the peach trees, they are super pretty covered in purple flowers. and the cherries have already flowered and have super tiny fruits starting.

 

[Faraday40]

@KDOGG331

A fellow byc member, @Faraday40 , told me about her dwarf cherry bush. I plan on getting at least one of this variety and probably another variety as well. This place sells several different varieties based on fresh eating, pie, dehydrating, etc. She has had a great harvest with just planting and letting it grow. I'm liking the idea of the bush type as part of the orchard area as it may also provide some hawk protection as well. She did mention, however, that the chickens may eat the pits on the ones that have fallen and wasn't sure if they would be affected adversely.

She purchased it here: https://www.gurneys.com/product/carmine_jewel_dwarf_cherry

I'm hoping she will chime in an post her photos. (I should have asked her permission to post them myself but since I didn't...)

Sure.
In 2017 we got A LOT of cherries from our little bush. So far it was the biggest yield.
I think these photos were from our 3rd picking. The 1st 2 pickings were just as plentiful. I think we're at 5-6 years, so it's at full maturity.

In 2016 we thought we picked a lot, but we got 3xs this amount last year

2015 was the 1st year had enough to make pie filling as well as eat straight. DS discovered he liked to use the cherry pitter.

As mentioned, I do not know if the pits would be a problem for chickens. We put ours out front so chickens do not have access.

 

[Arielle2]

If you think you will be moving, consider smaller berry plants. Like strawberries, nanking cherries, black berries and raspberries. My raspberries produced a few the first year--then I learned it was a special kind. THe newer type produce canes that produce for two years, the first year it grows and then again the next spring. THen that cane dies. THese are .....Primocanes?

Fruit trees are an investment of your time. I agree with LG, if you dont plant it now, ou wont have it in 3 years. Many of the farm supplies stores will carry potted fruit trees. Perhaps start with an easy tree that is from the disease resistant line. The PRI group have banded together to develop these varieties, with about 30 releases. They go by the names: Freedom, Enterprize, etc. https://www.starkbros.com/tags/disease-resistant-apple-trees

Cummins has a huge list of apple trees for informational purposes. THey dont carry but a smidgeon of the hundreds of varieties. The trick is to ask the search bar for a variety, then scroll forward or back, and they pop up.

A fruit ttree is an investment and should increase the value of the property. Leave it for the next inhabitant or if in a big pot, take it with you. To keep it small you will need to prune heavily. Perhaps buy a COLUMNAR type. Will stay manageable. See Stark.

Some fruit trees are triploid and cannot pollinate itself or other trees. SOme trees are self fruitful BUT benefit from another for better pollination which means better production, from all I read.

Dont be afraid to consider smaller fruits. HUGE apples are not my thing. While lovely, the load on the tree can snap branches. My peach tree breaks branches when loaded. So often trees need supports set under branches. IMO crabapples are underrated.

Perhaps start with 2 apples that are eating types, one mid season and one later. THat way they dont overlap with your cane fruits. Peaches are a summer Julyand August fruit. Only apples pears and are late in the fall. Cant remember about plums.

Go to Orange Pippin. THey have a tree selector. Helps with uses, like fresh, and when it ripens. ( Just check bloom time so the 2 trees can pollinate each other.)

 

[Arielle2]

The Romeo line rings a bell. Cant quit remember. One of the new lines, 3-4 developed. More bush than tree types. I am soooooo tempted!!!!

 

[Arielle2]

Sandcherries sound like a more old fashion type. We are used to the modern, very sweet cherries. Even a sour cherry is sweeter than a chokecherry until that chokecherry is fully ripe. I am betting the sand cherry is much like a chokecherry. Requires a little risk taking to delve into these more wild types.

I have been looking for them. So happy to see Gurney is a source!!

 

[Arielle2]

Oh my enabling friends........found this with a little google.....https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/cherry/grow-a-cherry-tree-pit.htm

Also, found cherry trees at a better price. https://www.springhillnursery.com/category/edibles
$25 rather than the $39 at Geurney's. One on sale for $19+. Though Spring hill has few varieties of cherries and Geurneys has sandcherry, nanking and all 3 dwarf cherries.