Trees for the orchard are ordered from three different county conservation offices and one commercial nursery. Two apple (Crimson crisp and Nova Spy), two pear (Harrow Sweet and Sunrise), two plum (Italian and New York #9 - which is Stanley with more disease resistance), and two peach (Red Haven and Glo Haven). I still have the paw paws to decide about - mainly whether to get bare root or containers, evidently their fleshy roots don't do bare root as well as most trees). And North Star cherry is out of stock almost everywhere that carries it at all.
I want to plant a row or two staggared rows of white spruce or fraser/balsam/douglas fir also for a combination wind break and privacy fence, to be thinned for Christmass trees like my grandpa did. But dh doesn't want to spend any more money on trees this year. Actually, I want lilacs, American plums, persimmons, serviceberries, various nuts, other trees, and small berries too but maybe another year.
We are going to try (again) to transplant some seedlings from the farm. Last year I tried two and they died, one right away and the other during the hottest part of summer. This year, I'm going to try to take smaller seedlings, bigger root balls, be more gentle, and water more often.
If that doesn't work, or maybe anyway, I'm going to try making a seed bed. My mother told me how her 4H club did that when she was a girl. They made frames with string grids, etc.
Yesterday, I wrapped the crab apple seeds in a damp cloth and put them in the refrigerator to stratify so they will be ready to plant this spring.
And I'm going to try taking cuttings from lilacs. It is supposed to be easy enough if you get the timing right.
I want to plant a row or two staggared rows of white spruce or fraser/balsam/douglas fir also for a combination wind break and privacy fence, to be thinned for Christmass trees like my grandpa did. But dh doesn't want to spend any more money on trees this year. Actually, I want lilacs, American plums, persimmons, serviceberries, various nuts, other trees, and small berries too but maybe another year.
We are going to try (again) to transplant some seedlings from the farm. Last year I tried two and they died, one right away and the other during the hottest part of summer. This year, I'm going to try to take smaller seedlings, bigger root balls, be more gentle, and water more often.
If that doesn't work, or maybe anyway, I'm going to try making a seed bed. My mother told me how her 4H club did that when she was a girl. They made frames with string grids, etc.
Yesterday, I wrapped the crab apple seeds in a damp cloth and put them in the refrigerator to stratify so they will be ready to plant this spring.
And I'm going to try taking cuttings from lilacs. It is supposed to be easy enough if you get the timing right.
