January 9 , 2014
Fruits of Our Labor
It ’s time to implant fruit ! Along with luscious 1 for us , add some for wildlife , like possumhaw holly . Pair with crepuscle foliage Peeping Tom , barefaced cypress , to double the sensation .
My aboriginal evergreen sumac yield are scrumptious for me and the wench . Since I only have one , I ’d rather feed feathered families , specially these super frigid days .
In late spring through fall , I will snag a few fruit from native Barbados cherry ( Malpighia glabra ) before they get plucked uncontaminating . pollinator stay busy on the flowers to crank out more , plus it ’s a larval flora for some butterflies .
Since this bombastic shrub can suffer top growth harm in hard freezes , I ’d expect to plant until March . effected roots are sturdy . If it freezes , simply cut back a small in late winter to spur new growth and keep them in bounds .
In a large terrace grass , I ’m mature my first calamondin .
From day one , this guy has flower and fruit without take a breathing place . What its yield deficiency in size — largest about 2”—it makes up in performance . For some , it ’s too tart to munch ( though I wish it — being a fan of Sweet Tarts ) . It ’s peachy for dressings , marinades and marmalades . A few handfuls of mine made it into KLRU confrere Jacob ’s delectable reading of Key Lime Proto-Indo European .
Picking your own fruit or nuts is immensely satisfying . This week , Larry Womack from family growers , Womack Nurseryin De Leon , Texas , join Tom for the secrets to succeeder .
He has us drooling with Pyrus communis and pomegranate selections , including some for small space .
We ran out of time to mention Amygdalus communis , but yes , we can grow them ! Check outWomack ’s online nurseryfor mouth - watering selections from one of the drawing card in character yield and nut develop .
Also on our wintertime to - do list : Prune shade and understory trees . Daphne answers Susie Epstein’sgreat inquiry : “ Why do we paint some tree cuts and not others ? ”
Daphne explain that we do n’t paint most cuts , since it inhibits the natural healing process . The exclusion is live oaks and red oaks susceptible to oak wilt disease .
In their case , we DO demand to paint the cutwithin 10 minutes , since the fragrance of pertly cut wood is attractive to the Nitulid beetle , the vector of oak wilt fungus .
How to paint?I erotic love Daphne ’s idea to use a clear lacquer sprayer or even spray adhesive so you ’re not look at ugly mordant key the respite of your life ! And rather than disinfect instrument with a bleach answer , which can eat them , use Lysol or Pinesol . line up out more .
In this wintertime gap , annual calendula feed bees and even hummingbirds .
In the constitutional garden , add its adorable petals to salad if you’re able to spare a few !
Indoors , Merrideth Jiles fromThe not bad Outdoorshasthe easiest plant you ’ll ever grow : Tillandsia !
Sure , you’re able to pluck epiphytic ball moss from your tree and give them newfangled cred in a creative show . Or , style up with one of its cousins .
On tour , Paige Hill ( now Oliverio with recent marriage , yahoosers ! ) promotes urban orchards , like the one at Mueller , to collect Mexican plums and pecans .
Here ’s a ready to hand magic trick : a cherry tree pitter to untangle the native plum ’s seeds . The CTG crew got toothsome treats that day !
Founder of Austin’sUrban Patchwork Neighborhood Farms , Paige brings neighbors together to grow food and friendships in the move back to our sustainable inheritance through urban farms .
Here ’s the raft : I spring up herb and swap you for eggs . The guy down the street has beloved and the phratry a few block over develop organic veggie .
It ’s a team elbow grease that includes locality grocerin.gredients , where Urban Patchwork conserves urine with wicking and hugelkultur bed .
East Side Compost Pedallerscompletes the bike of neighbour in Urban Patchwork compost site that fortify crops across the “ Patch . ”
Watch now !
Thanks for stopping by ! See you next hebdomad , Linda
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