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Year of New Opportunities
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Greetings!
We are getting much closer to finalizing our bare root tree selection. Bare root tree season starts next weekend and generally lasts until March. Normally I order trees 6 months in advance, but now that we will be selling at 3 markets and have access to a larger growing ground, I am adding to the varieties we are offering. Although we can't carry all the varieties possible, we now have a great selection.
We are pleased that we will be able to offer the low chill cherry trees, Minnie Royal and Royal Lee. Most locations in Orange County should succeed with this pair (both needed for pollination). We are also very pleased with the hybrid Nectaplum called Spice Zee. In my back yard Spice Zee has beautiful mauve pink flowers, striking deep red foliage, and large, tasty fruit. The fruit resembles a nectarine but has a hint of plum flavor. Spice Zee is also self fertile. Last, but not least, I am pleased to also be able to again offer the pluots Flavor King and Splash. Pluot fruit can be described as the "perfect" plum. They boast a stronger flavor, sweeter, firmer flesh and a very long hang time and shelf life. Pluots require pollination. The combination of Flavor King pluot and Burgundy plum has performed well in my garden for nearly 2 decades.
At the moment our chill hours are slowly decreasing. I estimate we got up close to 200 hours a week or so ago. We are now losing "chill" for about 6 hours during the warm days and recovering some of what we lost during the roughly 12 hours of coolness (evening through morning). We'll need to get one or two more cool or cold weeks soon to ensure a good bloom and crop for the coming year.
If you haven't yet placed your onion order don't panic. Although too late to pre-order, we will have a decent selection of onion seedlings available at our farmer's market locations January 13, 14, 15 and the following weekend. If you have already ordered, we will have all the orders with us at each market so that you will be able to pick up at which ever is more convenient (or at my residence). The onions are best planted ASAP, but as long as they get in the ground before February the crop will be fine.
For the farmer's market on New Year's Day we have a good crop of Cilantro in quarts ($3) available. Cilantro is a cool season crop that will provide you with fresh leaves (pick the more mature leaves) until May or June. Bare root Albion strawberry plants and UC 157 asparagus roots are still available. Both potting soils will be available on Sunday.
Several landscape plants are still on sale. The 1-gallon Red Buckwheat (California native), 1-gallon Matilija Poppy (CA native), 1-gallon Bush Morning Glory (low water use plant) are all perfect for large slopes and background areas. All have notable floral displays.
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Bare Root and Potted Fruiting Plants Coming in January
We expect to have these available starting Saturday 1/7
Most suppliers of deciduous (winter dormant) fruit trees are now selling young potted trees in addition to bare root specimens. Bare rooting a tree is a stressful procedure. Fortunately most deciduous fruit trees are quite resilient. Not all trees tolerate being plowed out of the ground well, though.
Through the years the highest failure rate among bare root trees have been figs followed by pecans, walnuts, pomegranates and persimmons. We are not surprised when these fail. We are surprised when other bare root fruit trees fail.
Fig stems aren't very woody and seem to desiccate if the winter is dry and windy. Pomegranates have very sparse root systems, often not enough to support the top growth. Pecans and walnuts loose moisture easily and often come with just a single big root. Persimmons are quite brittle and the roots also seem highly prone to drying out during handling.
Our growers are now growing figs and pomegranate trees in small containers instead of, and in addition to, bare root. The container trees suffer much less stress. Even when processed carefully, a bare root tree loses a significant portion of its smaller roots. Container trees come totally intact. Even though they begin the year as a smaller plant, they catch up quickly, and rarely die.
Even though I feel that bare root is the easiest and most reliable method of starting a deciduous fruit tree, it is difficult to determine the absolute health of a dormant plant. You certainly can't tell by looking at the leaves. For this reason we have always guaranteed that bare root plants will grow.
Here's our updated list of bare root trees with potted trees included. Descriptions can be found at our nursery website at www.lagunahillsnursery.com Fruit Trees Apple Anna (rootstock M-111) $24Apple Fuji (rootstock M-111) $24Apple Gala (rootstock M-111) $24 Apple Granny Smith (rootstock M-111) $24 Apple Jonagold (rootstock M-111) $24 Apple Pink Lady (rootstock M-111) $24
Apricot Goldkist (rootstock St. Julian) $24 Apricot Ume Single Pink (rootstock Mariana 26-24) $25 Popular Japanese fruit that are dried and pickled (called umeboshi). Good spring show of pink flowers. Apricot size sour fruit ripens late spring This cultivar is better suited to our mild winter climate than other Ume. Cherry Minnie Royal (rootstock Colt) $38 Cherry Royal Lee (rootstock Mazzard) $38 Cherry combo 1 Minnie Royal + 1 Royal Lee $70
Both cultivars require the presence of the other when blooming to produce a good crop. Place in the garden within 25' of each other. Minnie Royal and Royal Lee will produce more reliably than any other true cherry.
Fig Black Jack-potted (own root) $20
Fig Black Mission-potted (own root) $22
Fig Flanders-potted (own root) $22
Fig Italian Everbearing-potted (own root) $20
Fig Panache (Tiger)-potted (own root) $22
Fig Violette de Bordeaux-potted (own root) $22
Jujube GA-866 (rootstock seedling) $36
Jujube Li (rootstock seedling) $36
Mulberry Black Beauty (Persian) bush form $24
Mulberry Pakistan Red $34
Mulberry Teas Weeping (high graft) $48
Nectaplum Spice Zee (rootstock Lovell) $24
We now feel that the MCR is less than 300 hours making production reliable throughout most of Orange County. Harvest in late July. Available stock is small.
Nectarine Arctic Star (rootstock Citation) $26
Nectarine Panamint (rootstock Citation) $24
Nectarine Snow Queen (rootstock Nemaguard) $24
Peach Babcock (rootstock Nemaguard) $22
Peach Long Beach (rootstock Nemaguard) $24
Peach Red Baron (rootstock Lovell) $24
Peach Tropic Snow (rootstock Nemaguard) $24
Pear Floridahome (rootstock Domestic Pear) $22
Pear Hood (rootstock Domestic Pear) $24
Pear Combo 1 Floridahome + 1 Hood $42
Both pears are partially self-fertile. Quantity and quality of fruit on each are improved when grown within 25' of each other.
Persimmon Fuyu Imoto (rootstock Lotus) $40
Persimmon Fuyu Izu (rootstock Lotus or Kaki) $42
Persimmon Hachiya (rootstock Lotus) $42
Plum Burgundy (rootstock Mariana 26-24) $24
Plum Catalina (rootstock Citation) $26
Plum Santa Rosa (rootstock St. Julian) $22
Plum Satsuma (rootstock Myrobalan or St. Julian) $24
Plum Weeping Santa Rosa (rootstock Mariana 26-24) $22
Pluot Flavor King (rootstock Citation) $29
Pluot Splash (rootstock Myrobalan) $29
Pomegranate Ambrosia bush (own root) $22
Pomegranate Angel Red bush (own root) $22
Pomegranate Desertnyi bush (own root potted) $20
This new introduction from Turkmenistan has a light orange rind and deep red arils. The flavor has a strong hint of orange juice. The flesh is quite firm while the seeds are soft and edible. Pomegranate Parfianaka bush (own root potted) $20
The bright red fruit is quite large. The bright red arils are also quite large with small edible seeds. Outstanding eating quality. Pomegranate Wonderful bush (own root) $22
Pomegranate Wonderful tree (own root) $34
Trees are 1-2 years older than the plants sold as bush.
Nut Trees
Almond All-In-One (rootstock Lovell) $24
This is a self-fertile cultivar with a soft shell. Best production in canyon areas and near river beds.
Pecan Western Schley (rootstock seedling) $45
This is a self-fertile cultivar with a soft shell. Production is increased somewhat when pollinated by a different cultivar. Pecans are medium to large, highly attractive shade trees. Grape Vines Grape Blueberry (seedless) $7 New seedless European grape. The small to medium size purple-blue grapes are sweet with a hint of blueberry flavor. Harvest mid-August to September. Grape Canadice (seedless) $7 Grape Eastern Concord (seeded) $7 Grape Himrod (seedless) $7 This is a sibling of Lakemont. Quite good, large bunches. Grape Lakemont (seedless) $7 Ornamental Bushes Lilac Chiffon $24 Descanso Hybrid developed in Southern California. Clusters of single lavender flowers. Grows 10' tall and 6' wide. Lilac Blue Skies $24 French Hybrid that performs well in Southern California. Clusters of single lavender-blue flowers. Grows 10' tall and 6' wide. Ornamental Trees
Maple Japanese Bloodgood $46
This is the most popular cultivar with purple-red foliage color that persists well into summer. Slow to moderate growth to 18' tall and wide with upright branches. Situate in full sun to part sun. Maple Japanese Tamukeyama $69
This is a laceleaf (dissectum) cultivar with finely cut leaves that emerge bright scarlet and mature to deep purple. Slow growth to 6' tall and wide with cascading branches. Tolerates full sun to nearly full shade.
Redbud Forest Pansy $40
Small, slow-growing tree to 20' tall and wide. Starts the year with a show of pink flowers in March. Rounded leaves emerge red, mature to deep maroon. Summer heat changes foliage to bronze green. Situate in full sun to partial sun.
We expect to have most or all of these plants available at our farmers markets starting on 1/7/12. We will be ordering other bare root items during the next month or so. If you have a special request let us know. We may be able to fill it. |
Poinsettias in Your Garden
Now that your Poinsettia has survived Christmas you may not want to discard it. Situate Poinsettia plants in full sun to half sun but you must not place it anywhere close to a night light. Exposure to artificial lights at night in fall will delay and/or prevent formation of the next set of flowers. Provide protection from strong wind. Provide good drainage and average moisture. Established plants tolerate short periods of drought and light frosts.
My grandmother's Poinsettia plants grew 10 feet tall and wide. My mother's Poinsettia grew 5' tall and 3' wide. Today's cultivars are generally compact growers. Most will stay in color for at least 5 months of the year. White cultivars may stay in color year round.
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Please visit us this Sunday (1/1/2012) at the Great Park.
EVERY SUNDAY 10am-2pm (New Years Day hours 8am-2pm)
The Great Park Farmer's Market
The Great Park, Irvine
Exit 5 at Sand Canyon, turn south on Marine Way (parallels east side of the 5) follow the signs.
Next weekend (1/7/12) we will also be in Orange
EVERY SATURDAY 9am-1pm
Old Town Orange Farmer's & Artisans Market
304 N. Cypress Street, Orange
3 blocks north and 4 blocks west of the Orange Traffic Circle
Starting the 2nd week (1/13/12) on Fridays we will also be in Mission Viejo
EVERY FRIDAY 9am-1pm
Mission Viejo Farmer's Market
Mission Viejo Library
200 Civic Center Drive, Mission Viejo
Exit 5, east on La Paz, right on Marguerite Pkwy, right on Civic Center Dr.
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26285 Verona Place
Mission Viejo, California 92692
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