Six and a half months ago, in mid November, I cut this Emerald Strawberry (UCD 143-36) scionwood, about 50 cuttings. I bundled them with vinegar-water soaked paper towels and wrapped them inside of a couple plastic grocery bags. I put them on the cement floor of my attached garage and forgot about them. After a… Continue reading accidental 100 percent rooting

Tart-sweet flavor when picked at this stage pre-ripe with green pulp. Fully ripe fruit would have purple pulp and be sweeter. Maxie variety of haskap propagated by Maxine Thompson:

Carmine goumi large size (near ripe green and early ripe orange), Red Gem goumi medium size (near ripe green, early ripe orange, ripe red), wild seedling goumi very, very small not ripe (at least I hope it is wild goumi seedling which is what it was sold to me as rather than Autumnberry, which is… Continue reading Goumi Color and Size

A few haskap ripe a week ago, mid May.

Earliest goumi fruits have barely turned red but robins are already gobbling and squabbling. And hawk floating low eyeing robins.

Clockwise from top left above: Goumi, Nanking Cherry, Goumi, Haskap, Blueberry, Asian Pear, Haskap, Goji, Peach (center that needs thinned). Clockwise below: Plum, blossoms, juneberry, juneberry, juneberry. Looks like the juneberries will ripen before June. Birds will make quick work of them. Some haskap will ripen before June. And possibly some goumi. Nanking cherry maybe… Continue reading May Fruit Developing

A Canadian home-grower’s individualized approach to regenerating nature.

These six groups of 7 fruit and nut bushes and trees can serve as a handy overview of options for planting and creating diversity. In the first group, elderberry is probably the plant that most needs abundant access to moisture. Mulberry and juneberry typically grow as trees, though pruning and use of the their smaller… Continue reading Fruits and Nuts by Seven

First 7 figs for productivity – strictly, regardless of flavor – in short seasons, in my experience: Mt Etna (Marseilles Black, etc) Ronde de Bordeaux Improved Celeste Florea Lemon (Blanche) LSU Tiger Conadria First 7 figs for productivity with a heavy emphasis on great flavor, in my experience: Mt Etna (Marseilles Black, etc) Ronde de… Continue reading Figs by Bounty – sheer production

Which figs to prioritize most for growing in short seasons? Views can change as new experiences are gained or criteria shift. My views on this have held relatively steady for years, with some shifts.  Recently I’ve found it useful to think of top figs (and other fruits) for short seasons in groups of seven. FIRST… Continue reading Figs by Seven