A frequent question of newbie fruit gardeners is what will pollinate what. Do I need many varieties or can all be the same variety? The four common terms are used: Self-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs within the same variety. Cross-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs between two varieties. Self-unfruitful: low fruit set unless the blossoms […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
Tree and Berry Fruit Pollination Chart
Posted by Hugh on February 3rd, 2012
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, Bee Favorite, Blueberries, Elderberry (Sambucus), Flowering, Fruits & Vegetables, Grapes, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Plum, Pollination needs, Raspberries, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Tree and Berry Fruit Pollination ChartSoil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2012
Soil testing is a gardener’s best low cost insurance for enjoying a gorgeous garden or lawn. A soil analysis may be a problem solver, informing you of the soil nutrient content and pH. It accurately calculates how much chemical fertilizer, limestone, manure and other components to add. You save money is your soil is already rich enough or […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Blueberries, Fertilizing plants, lenten rose, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on Soil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance‘Little King’ Birch For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2012
Little King, aka Fox Valley™, (Betula nigra ‘Little King’) is a 10-12 foot tall shrubby river birch, which fits into small landscapes. Simple minimal pruning can shape it into a lovely small tree. Little King possesses the desirable traits of large river birches, including an oft-white exfoliating bark. River birch exhibits good heat tolerance in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA zones 4-8) and has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Little King’ Birch For Small GardensGet Past The Winter Blahs With Paperwhite Narcissus
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2012
A wonderful, easy indoor gardening project this winter is to start a dish (pot) of paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta). Paperwhites make a lovely white centerpiece on your dining table. Paperwhite bulbs are outdoor hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 – 10. Store the bulbs in a warm dry location such as on top of a refrigerator until you’re […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Failure to Bloom, Interior (house) Plants, Paperwhite narcissus, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Get Past The Winter Blahs With Paperwhite NarcissusFoster Holly Has It All
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2011
Foster holly (Ilex x attenuata) is an old holly favorite which has not lost its sizzle. While many new holly cultivars have entered the landscape scene, do not assume that Foster holly is now passé. It is utilized in a number of landscape options in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), including in containers in zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Container growing, container shrub, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Foster Holly (Ilex), Ilex (hollies), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foster Holly Has It AllPrickly Pear Is Easy Care
Posted by Hugh on December 17th, 2011
There are over 200 species of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) worldwide. Several make great container plants in the garden or inside the home. Prickly pear cacti may grow to heights of 10 feet or more in the arid regions of the Southwestern U.S. Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia compressa var. ‘humifusa’) grows 12- 18 inches tall and 30-36 inches wide. […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Prickly cactus, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Prickly Pear Is Easy CareTrifoliate Orange –The Barbed Wire of the Plant World
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2011
Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is a hardy citrus native to China. T-orange is hardy to -15° F. This strong growing large shrub or small tree can reach 15 to 20 feet in height. Its foliage is deciduous and compound, compared to citrus trees with single simple evergreen leaves. T-orange prefers full day or partial (minimum of 6 hours) […]
Key Points About Growing Peaches
Posted by Hugh on December 8th, 2011
People think peaches grow only in Georgia. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence in growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring, when the threat of spring frost is high across the region. In many years spring frost […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Key Points About Growing PeachesDisease Free Apple Varieties
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2011
Over the past 30 years, the goal has been to develop good eating and storing apples which are not susceptible to four major diseases. The first 3 cultivars released were ‘Prima’, ‘Priscilla’, and ‘Sir Prize’, but they lacked great flavor and storage quality. Apples are susceptible to four serious diseases: apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fireblight, and powdery mildew. Scab, rust and mildew […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, apple varieties, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fruits & Vegetables, Insect (Pest) Problems, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Disease Free Apple VarietiesEuropean vs Asian Pears
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2011
Growing pears in the Southeastern U.S. is both challenging and rewarding. Both the European (Pyrus communis) and Asian (P. pyrifera) pears are susceptible to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora), a bacterial disease with no satisfactory cure. Two popular European pear varieties, ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’, are highly susceptible to fireblight. Varieties found to be fire blight resistant are: ‘Warren’, […]
Posted in Biennial bearing, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Fruits & Vegetables, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Pollination needs, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on European vs Asian Pears
