Kepler's Uncles - Plant details

Asters, Rushes

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 18:31:00 -0700

I planted three California Gray Rush and two Soft Gray Rush (also Juncus Patens) in the ditch. These should tolerate full sun, no drainage,and seasonal flooding.

Also, three Deer Grass in the front yard. These are said to thrive in any environment except wet shade.

And three low asters on the roadside edge of the ditch. The Calflora man says that these are quite hardy, even bordering on scarily aggressive. Let’s see if they can take the place of Bermuda grass there (after killing grass with round-up).

Skeletons in the Garden

Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:48:37 -0800

Baby Grape Leaf

Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:46:27 -0800

Fig

Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:40:37 -0800

German Stiffneck - a porcelain garlic with really big cloves and stores well

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 10:32:54 -0800

I planted three ounces of garlic cloves (Germain Porcelain hardneck) around the drip line of the peach tree in February, with 7-5-7 organic fertilizer. This was Barry's recommendation for pest control.

The planting directions say:

Choose a sunny, well drained location. Fertilize with 16-16-16 at 5#/1000 square feet. Advisible to create raised beds, just before planting. Plant between Sept 1 and Oct 15 (northern climates -- this garlic from WA state), but you can plant into early spring in southern climates. Fertilize with 46-0-0 in January at 2#/1000 square feet. Do this again in March and May. Start weeding as soon as weeds appear. As hardneck varieties start to mature you need to remove the central stem just above the last set of leaves. As maturation continues you will want to taper off the irrigation. When the plants have died down approximately 60% it is time to harvest. Hang garlic in bundles of ten in a warm, dry, well ventilated area. When the garlic has cured remove the tops and roots. Store in a netted bag in a well ventilated area out of the sunlight.

Robin's garden

Sun, 6 Mar 2005 13:13:51 -0800

We visited Western Hills Nursery Coleman Road in Occidental. Maggie has run the place for 25 years, and she propagates many rare plants. Her garden is a wonder to visit, and she’s happy to spend time with amateurs like us. She has lots of 4” pots, which make things economical.

We discussed our garden with Maggie, and she told us to finish killing kikuyu grass and amending soil before investing in her plants. But we realized that the little space that Robin amended last year, surrounding the small Japanese maple on the NE side of the office, was ready for planting.

Grape Hyacinths (Muscari Amerniacum)

Sun, 13 Feb 2005 18:56:55 -0800

* plant at least 3” deep, in a location where the water can’t settle in winter
* plant bulbs in zones 3 - 9, will naturalize extremely easily

Planted around hops on west side of office.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos U. "Wood's Compacta")

Sun, 13 Feb 2005 18:29:05 -0800

Five or sex one gallons from Harmony Farms planted around oak tree next to office, Summer 2003.

“Low growing manzanita. Slow growth. Red branches. Pink flowers in spring. Full sun to part shade. Low water once established.”

Spreading habit to 2 to 3 inches high, 3 to 4 feet wide.

Grapes, Kiwi

Sun, 8 Jan 2006 12:11:03 -0800

Today we planted on the grape trellis one each of:

Spur Pruned

Flame seedless
Perlette seedless

Cane Pruned

Himrod seedless (an American hybrid)
Black monukka

Initial Training

Although vines often are allowed to grow at random, sprawling over the ground during the first season, it’s best to train the stronger of the two canes that develop from the plant to a strong stake, five to six feet tall. Remove any suckers growing from the base of the canes. Remove the weaker cane in March. If neither cane is three feet long, cut the plant back to two buds again the second year.

Olive Tree harvesting and planting

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 16:29:31 -0800

Today, with Jessie’s help, we planted our olive tree. First I harvested the olives (a mixture of ripe and unripe, about 2.5 cups total). Then we planted the tree, a Tuscan variety named Pendolino, in the middle of the cottage garden behind the office. We decided to keep the fig tree (a Brown Turkey) in a pot for a while longer.

Apple tree, blueberries, strawberries, asparagus, horseradish, hops

Sat, 20 Mar 2004 21:54:26 -0800

Today we visited Harmony Farms again, planning to buy just one bare root fruit tree. Instead we came home with:

a bare root Jonagold apple tree (5/8")
three bare root blueberries
7 hops rhizomes
20 asparagus rhizomes
one horseradish root
20 strawberries

The Jonagold is from Dave Wilson Nursery, and the label says "superb flavor -- 'connoisseur's choice'. A cross of Jonathan and Golden Delicious. Yellow with red-orange blush. Crisp, juicy, subaceid, all-purpose apple. Pollinate with Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith or Red but not Golden Delicious. Harvest Season begins Late Season (approx 9/5 to 9/30 for Modesto). Winter chilling requirement: about 700 to 800 hours below 45 degrees. Self-fruitful."

Peach Tree Details

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 19:00:37 -0800

Our very first fruit tree is an O'Henry variety on Citation Hybrid rootstock.

Citation Hybrid rootstock: Patent #5112, dwarf peaches and nectarines to 8-14 feet, apricots and plums to 12-18 feet. Very tolerant of wet soil, not drought tolerant (induces early dormancy in dry soil). Very winter hardy. Resists root-knot nematodes. Induces heavy bearing at young age. Trees on Citation may be held to any desired height by summer pruning.

O'Henry Peach: Popular fresh market yellow freestone now available for home planting. Large, firm, full red skin, superb flavor. Ripens early to mid-August in Central California.