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Winter Approaches In A Hurry!
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Greetings!
Most of fall been cooler than normal but this week has been downright cold! Those of us with stonefruit trees are counting the chill hours hoping to have a great crop in 2012. The majority of fruit trees that evolved in southern temperate climates have a biological mechanism that keeps them dormant during mid-winter warm spells. (Warm spells don't usually occur in northern temperate climates.) This is called their minimum chill requirement or MCR. Each cultivar of fruit trees like apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, plum, pear, and apple have their own MCR. The dormant flower buds that are attached to their fruiting stems require exposure to a certain period (expressed in hours) of cool temperatures before a warming weather will initiate proper development and growth. According to the Utah Model (one several theories of how chill factors work) each hour of exposure to temperatures between 34 and 45 degrees is counted as one hour, each hour of exposure to temperatures between 45 and 57 degrees is counted as a fraction of one hour, temperatures below 34 or between 57 and 60 degrees are counted as zero, temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees are counted as roughly negative one, and temperatures above 70 degrees are counted as greater than negative one.
That's a lot of numbers to juggle in your head. Just remember that cold temperatures (below 34 degrees) don't count as chill hours. Temperatures above 70 really hurt the chill hours. Temperatures between 34 and 57 are desirable.
Most of the temperate climate (deciduous) fruit trees that we recommend have MCR's of 200 to 300 hours. In the center of Orange County we average about 300 hours but have had winters with as few as 100 hours to well over 800 hours. In the canyons and river beds of Orange County we average over 400 hours. On hilltops we average about 250 hours. Cold air flows downhill and collects where water collects. The air temperature on a still winter night can drop 15 degrees from the top of a hill to the bottom.
We can't reliably grow deciduous fruit trees with MCR higher than 400 hours. Nearly all cherry cultivars have MCRs above 600 hours. Nearly all apricots are above 400 hours. Nearly all pears are above 400 hours. Fortunately a number of apples, nectarines, peaches and plums perform well locally. Also, virtually all figs, jujubes, mulberries, persimmons and pomegranates bloom and fruit well locally.
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Bare Root Plants Coming in January
I love planting bare root trees. This is the easiest, lowest maintenance, least expensive method of starting a garden. A bare root tree typically weighs less than 10 pounds. You could carry home an entire orchard in the trunk of your car.
Generally, you simply dig a hole in your native soil deep enough so that the tree's roots are completely below the surface. Place the tree in the hole and backfill with the original soil. Create a watering basin. Settle the soil with one thorough watering. Relax until growth starts in the spring.
Warning: Do not amend the soil with compost. Do not allow your professional gardener to amend the soil. Virtually all failures are due to compost in the planting hole. All potting soils (except ours) will stunt or kill bare root plants. When we sell bare root trees the roots are kept moist within a plastic bag. Keep this bag in a cool shaded location until the tree is planted.
Reserve your choices by placing an order at our farmer's market locations or by sending us a request along with a check. All prices include tax if applicable. Your paid plants will be selected and set aside as they arrive and we will contact you for pick up instructions. Orders can be arranged to be picked up from our residence or any of our farmers market locations. All plants listed are due to arrive in early January. Occasionally bad weather delays tree deliveries to us.
We guarantee that these plants for 6 months. Most trees will initiate growth by spring. Typically the Persian Mulberry is the slowest, May or even June. The latest I've ever seen a bare root tree leaf out (and perform well) is August. We guarantee that each plant is true to type, but we do not guarantee that every plant will be productive in your garden. You must choose wisely.
Descriptions of the following cultivars can be found at our website at www.lagunahillsnursery.com
This list is not yet complete. We are waiting for our suppliers to confirm more choices. We will not be able to bring all our stock to each farmer's market due to limitations of our truck's capacity.
Fruit Trees Apple Anna (M-111 rootstock) $24 Apple Fuji (M-111 rootstock) $24 Apple Gala (M-111 rootstock) $24 Apple Granny Smith (M-111 rootstock) $24 Apple Jonagold (M-111 rootstock) $24 Apple Pink Lady (M-111 rootstock) $24
Apricot Ume Single Pink (Mariana 26-24 rootstock) $25
The fruit of this sour apricot are dried and pckled in Japan and called umeboshi, literally "dried plum". Trees bloom prolifically in mid winter with single pnk flowers. The 3/4-1" fruit ripens in late spring. This has the lowest MCR of any ume and should perform well along riverbeds.
Jujube GA-866 (seedling rootstock) $36
Jujube Li (seedling rootstock) $36
Mulberry Black Beauty Persian (low graft-bush form) $24
Mulberry Pakistan Red $24
Mulberry Teas Weeping (high graft) $48
Nectarine Panamint (Nemaguard rootstock) $24
Nectarine Snow Queen (Nemaguard rootstock) $24
Peach Long Beach (Nemaguard rootstock) $24
Peach Red Baron (Lovell rootstock) $24
Peach Tropic Snow (Nemaguard rootstock) $24
Pear Hood (Domestic pear rootstock) $24
Persimmon Fuyu Imoto (Lotus rootstock) $40
Persimmon Fuyu Izu (Lotus or Kaki rootstock) $42
Plum Burgundy (Mariana 26-24 rootstock) $24
Plum Satsuma (Myrobalan rootstock) $24
Plum Weeping Santa Rosa (Mariana 26-24 rootstock) $24
Pomegranate Ambrosia bush (own root) $22
Pomegranate Angel Red bush (own root) $22
Pomegranate Wonderful bush (own root) $22
Pomegranate Wonderful tree (own root) $34
These are 1-2 years older than the plants sold as bush.
Nut Trees
Almond All-In-One (Lovell rootstock) $24
This is a self-fertile cultivar with a soft shell. Best in canyon areas and near river beds.
Pecan Western Schley (seedling rootstock) $45
This is a self-fertile cultivar with a soft shell. Production can be increased when pollinated by a different cultivar. Pecans are highly attractive shade trees of medium to large size. Suitable soil needs to be friable to 2' deep.
Grape Vines
Grape Blueberry seedless $7
New seedless European type grape. The small to medium size purple-blue grapes are sweet with a hint of blueberry flavor. Harvest late summer.
Grape Canadice seedless $7
Grape Eastern Concord seeded $7
Grape Himrod seedless $7
This is a sibling of Lakemont. It is of very good quality with larger bunches.
Grape Lakemont seedless $7
Ornamental Bushes
Lilac Chiffon $24
Descanso Hybrid Lilac developed in Southern California. Single lavender flowers in clusters. Grows 10' tall and 6' wide.
Lilac Blue Skies $24
French Hybrid Lilac that performs well in Southern California. Single lavender-blue flowers in clusters. Grows 10' tall and 6' wide.
Ornamental Trees
Japanese Maple Bloodgood $46
This the standard among upright red-leafed Japanese maples. The foliage color is retained well into summer. Moderate growth to 18' tall and wide.
Japanese Maple Tamukeyama $69
This 400 year-old cultivar of red lace-leaf maple is becoming a favorite in hot summer climates. It tolerates sun and heat and holds its color (red maturing to purple) well into summer. Moderate growth to 6' tall and 8' wide with a cascading form.
Redbud Forest Pansy $40
This small to medium size shade tree is prized for it heart-shaped deep maroon leaves. Excellent show of tiny pink flowers in March. Leaves emerge red, mature to deep maroon, fade in summer heat to bronze. Moderate growth to 20' tall and wide.
Redbud Oklahoma $40
Known for its outstanding show of wine-red flowers in February. Rounded leaves emerge rose and mature to deep, glossy green. Moderate growth to 18' tall and 20' wide. |
This Week at Both Farmers Markets
Acid Mix Potting Soil $10 1 cu ft (status-in stock)
Our Acid Mix Potting Soil is the best potting soil for vegetables, annuals and perennials as well as acid-loving azaleas, blueberries, ferns and hydrangeas. It combines excellent moisture retention as well as excellent permeability. It is virtually impossible to overwater plants growing in it.
Tropical Potting Soil $10 1 cu ft (status-60 sacks) Our Tropical Potting Soil is the only potting soil sold locally that is permanent. It will not shrink or change significantly over several years of use. All you need to do is water and fertilize regularly. Even sensitive plants like Dracaena palms, ferns, Ming aralias, pansies, and Cyclamen grow quite easily. All other potting soils are blends of mostly organic materials that are perform for only 5 months to 1 year. Organic soils decompose and shrink gradually into impermeable (and uninhabitable) muck and most plants either decline severely or die. Bamboo Roc Gloves $8 pair Men's Extra Large size is now in stock.  Albion Strawberry bare root 40 cents each New. This is the first year we can offer this recent introduction in bare root form. A few years ago we sold a large number of 1-gallon size plants. We were delighted by the size, shape and flavor of the berries. Albion is a 2006 introduction from the University of California and boasts resistance to several diseases. It's fans love the tangy sweet flavor of its firm flesh, the deep red color inside and out and the elongated cone shape, perfect for dipping. Commercial growers also find the shape easier to pack. This week we have 500 plants available. Asparagus UC 157 bare root $1 each Restocked. This week we have 100 plants available. When mature this long-lived perennial will provide a 5-8 week harvest of spears every spring and an attractive 5-foot tall screen every summer-fall. Blueberry Plants prepotted $18 Jewel, Jubilee, Misty, Sunshine BlueThese are Southern Highbush Blueberry cultivars developed in Florida and Mississippi. They are partially self-fertile, producing best when different cultivars are blooming side by side. Expect a handful of berries the first year, about a quart the second. Plants mature at 5-6 years and produce 10-15+ pounds of berries per year. Blueberry plants seem to perform best in raised beds and containers. REMEMBER TO ORDER YOUR ONION SEEDLINGS! |
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Please visit us at our farmers market locations
EVERY SATURDAY 9am-1pm
Old Towne Orange Farmers & Artisans Market
304 North Cypress Street, Orange
3 blocks north and 4 blocks west of the traffic circle at Glasell and Chapman
EVERY SUNDAY 10am-2pm
The Great Park Farmers' Market
The Great Park, Irvine
Exit the 5 at Sand Canyon, go south on Marine Way (parallels east side of the 5), follow the signs
remember
STARTING FRIDAY JANUARY 13TH 9am-1pm
Mission Viejo Farmers' Market
200 Civic Center Drive (Marguerite & La Paz)
Mission Viejo Library parking lot
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26285 Verona Place
Mission Viejo, California 92692
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