Fruit trees take care and patience while waiting for the tree to produce fruit. It can take years before the fruit of your loving labor will appear. The first step is choosing quality fruit tree rootstock. But what is rootstock? Read our easy guide to fruit tree rootstocks to get you started. What Are Rootstocks? Rootstocks are the base and roots of grafted fruit trees. Nearly all productive fruiting type trees are grafted, with the scion (the top fruiting portion) being different from the rootstock (trunk or root material a bud or scion is grafted onto). Although there are some […]
Category: Fruit
Honeyberry: The Edible Blue Honeysuckle
What we call Honeyberries are actually a type of fruiting Honeysuckle – Lonicera caerulea, some of which are native to our Pacific Northwest. Haskaps, as they are also called, is the name used by the native Ainu people of the northern islands of Japan, where other subspecies also grow. Their word for them, “Haskaps” translates to “Edible Blue Honeysuckle”. Pretty simple and descriptively accurate. These shrubby fruit-forming honeysuckles are an exciting new option for home gardeners and farm-stand growers. Honeyberries are tough, cold-hardy plants that produce loads of soft, sweet blue elongated berries that can be used and eaten just […]
Tree Pruning Techniques & Best Practices
The best time to prune fruit trees is when they are in a dormant to semi-dormant state in late winter to early spring. It is important to do tree pruning during late winter while trees are not actively growing, and neither are disease pathogens. Remember, pruning stimulates growth, if done too early in winter and severe cold weather ensues, trees can be damaged or even killed. Do not rush it. As long as the tree buds have not broken, the tree is dormant enough for pruning. The pruning process is basically the same for ornamental trees as it is for […]
21 Garden Trends: 2021 Color of the Year
This time of year is perfect for grabbing a blanket and getting cozy with your 2021 Jung Seed Catalog while dreaming of your garden plans for next season. Pantone usually announces their Color of the Year to give us some fun inspiration. This year, Pantone announced two colors for 2021! “Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power, while Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements that are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.” Get ready to celebrate Illuminating Yellow with our wide selection of yellow fruits, vegetables, […]
Gardening Tips for Winter’s Early Arrival
When you have had 10 days or more of below 30° degree nights, what could possibly be left to do in the garden except dispose of dead plants and flowers. Oh, don’t you worry, we’ll find more work for you. Frost Loving Vegetables Perhaps you are fortunate enough to be in an area where you are still babying a good flush of frost hardy veggies. Arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, onions, radish, swiss chard, spinach, and turnips are all stalwart against early frosts. Kale, cabbage, chard, arugula, and brussels sprouts for sure, convert their bitter tannins […]
Why Won’t Fruit Grow on My Trees?
Fruit (& nut) producing trees and shrubs are an exciting thing to plan for, and then care for, so when they fail to produce according to our expectations, it can be frustrating and of course disheartening. Fruit trees will grow very similarly to other ornamental plants. However, when it comes to actually bearing fruit, fruit and nut trees and fruiting shrubs will require more time, attention, and specific care regimens to perform well, in order for them to produce to our gardening expectations. How Long Does It Take For Trees To Produce Fruit? The first basic truth to know is […]
24 Flowers, Fruit, & Plants Perfect For Your Patriotic Garden
July 4th marks the celebration of America’s independence. Typically, we spend this holiday celebrating with fireworks, parades, or family gatherings. This year, why not celebrate by planting a patriotic garden. Show your love of country with a beautiful patriotic garden filled with red, white, and blue flowers, plants, and fruit. We have selected 24 of our favorite flowers, fruit, and plants to get your patriotic garden started. Red – Flowers, Fruit, & Plants Ac Wendy Junebearing Strawberry Apeldoorn Tulip Fanal Astilbe Fireball Dwarf Monarda Hot Papaya Coneflower Latham Summer Bearing Raspberry Satin & Lace Berry Chiffon Coreopsis Shenandoah Red Switch Grass […]
How to Create a Bird-Friendly Garden
One of the joys of having a home garden is that you can attract some nature friends like birds. They make a garden more pleasant to be in and are a wonderful natural insect repellent. Various bird species feed on seeds, fruits, and insects. A few enhancements and considerations will increase the likelihood that your avian friends will be attracted to your garden or even make it their home. Birds play an integral role in the ecosystem as well because they are also seed dispersers. Creating your own happy garden can actually create happy unintentional gardens for your neighbors as […]
How to Care for Bare Root Plants and Tips for Planting
Revised on April 3, 2024 Bare root plants are perennial plants that are dug up and stored while dormant, or in the resting phase which is the period during the plant’s life cycle with minimal growth activity. They’re stored without soil, therefore, leaving the roots exposed or bare. Storing shrubs and trees this way has some distinct advantages that make bare root items an excellent option when buying woody plants. Benefits of Bare Root Plants When to Plant Bare Root Plants Bare root plants become available in late winter and early spring. Bare root trees and shrubs can be planted […]
Small Berries and Tips on Growing Them
Blueberries Blueberry Variety Perpetua Blueberry The Perpetua Blueberry is an attractive fruiting shrub. It produces two crops of fruit each season. The plant is bushy and vase-shaped. It will grow small sweet berries in mid-summer, then flower, and produce a second crop in the fall. Its glossy, dark green foliage changes to a reddish hue in the fall making it highly ornamental. Since it grows to 4 to 5 feet tall, this blueberry can be planted in the ground or a patio container. This blueberry would grow well in Zones 4 – 8. It loves full sun and acidic soil. […]