BYC gardening thread!!

[dan26552]

Wish I could start germinating seeds...need to wait another 3-4 months at least.

I never stop……

Drives my mom crazy

 

[jerryse]

Check out St. Lawrence Nursery and Fedco Trees.

I checked them already . Went back to St Lawrence . It has changed owners and is only doing apples this year . They are the ones that had Ayers pear listed as extremely hardy -50 . Confusing as everyone else says zone 5 . I think I will go with Summer Crisp and Ure for pears and Chestnut crab for apple . I will layer some pear starts for trial up north . I have Ayers and a lost name of my Grandparents . They got it as Bartlett but it is not . Worth a test .

 

[lazy gardener]

Yeah, I had a heads up on St Lawrence before the old man retired. Got in a nice order for my orchard. Hope they get back on line with the rest of their varieties. They have Fedco beat hands down!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Dan, tell your Mom that she should be proud of you, not frustrated. So many youngsters are into activities that are not at all wholesome. What you are doing may very well lead to a very lucrative career choice. How great it is to earn a living at following your passion! When I was a kid, my bedroom was a jungle, including plants, and lots of species giving a wide range of representing the animal kingdom! Outside, there were horses, chickens, sheep, and other critters to play with.

 

[1cock2hens]

A question for all you far north growers . I have property in Minnesota zone 3b-4a . Looking for wildlife pears . Mostly I think winters a solid 4a with a rare 3b . Totally confused by zone ratings on pears . Every site has a different zone rating for the same variety . The really hardy Pyrus Ursannis or Harbin pear seem to be Canadian suppliers that do not ship to USA . So can anyone tell me what common pears grow there . Are flowering pears grown there ? This would give me a idea of what really can grow there .

I have a book of trees that are available across the us from different nurseries// here is a small list // I got tired of typing all the zone 4's there are more.. //I would call the university of minnesota and see if they could tell you where to get some trees , I don't know if they stil do a lot of pear research but they seem to be on top of things// they have an agricultural extension office http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/

beierschmitt is from iowa - hardy to zone 4//
beurre hardy is french -hardy to zone 4
bosc is zones 4-9// requires a pollinator
clark is hardy to -50
colette is zones 4-8
Giffard is zone 3 // requires cross pollination
golden spice is from the univesity of minnesota and it's a good pollinator
john ( beurre john) is zone 3 "better if grown in the far north"
parker is zone 3 best polinated with patten also zone 3 from the university of minnesota
shipova
sirrine zone 4
stacyville - self pollinating - extremely hardy - rare - zone 3
ure - zones 3-7
winter nelis - is zone 4

 

[Bugseye]

I am salivating over the discussion on fruit trees. Too bad I can't make them work on my land. The Baker Creek catalog has arrived, and I have temporarily staved off my need to plant by sprouting radish seeds for salads and starting some herb seeds. Gotta do it!

 

[1cock2hens]

i got two different bakers creek catalogues this year// "the rare seed catalog" and " the good seed catalog".. the second one is just a thin version of the first one... /// what kind of soil do you have bugseye// what kind of fruit tree do you want the most // you can find something i am sure with the more then 3 thousand apple varieties and everything else// I was told I couldnt have fruit trees with my very poor draining heavy clay soil but after working with the soil for a couple years we have 3 peaches/ 8 cherry trees and all kinds of fruit berry shrubs// cranberry, cherry, blueberry and i am looking for a red fleshed apple to try growing// the first trees were just planted in very large raised beds//

http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/fruit/pears-in-home-garden/index.html University of Minnesota extension: pear page

 

[Bugseye]

Thanks for your note. I am at an age where keeping up the garden during growing season is a sufficient challenge. The soil in my garden is actually high pH, but I don't know about the rest. We're on an east-facing mountain slope, so lots of rocks and conifers, with shade being a consideration in the garden. There's a septic field and just enough lawn to maintain the ambience of the community (read HOA). If there were a place for fruit trees, I'd be fencing them off from the deer and moose. I'll be content to follow everyone's adventures with fruit trees, I think. But it's thoughtful of you to comment.

 

[Penny Hen]

i am making a green house out of an old hay ring feeder. Arch a hog panel over it and wire it on and then cover in plastic. I am going to use fresh hot horse manure not directly on the plants but in a central pile to generate heat.My two mini horses keep me well supplied with it. I have a sweet potato that sprouted in the bin and I am going to try and keep it alive in the green house.

 

[dan26552]

i am making a green house out of an old hay ring feeder. Arch a hog panel over it and wire it on and then cover in plastic. I am going to use fresh hot horse manure not directly on the plants but in a central pile to generate heat.My two mini horses keep me well supplied with it. I have a sweet potato that sprouted in the bin and I am going to try and keep it alive in the green house.

Sounds like a plan