Grafting is a cherished traditional propagation method for fruit trees and other woody plants. We can see examples of grafting in nature all over the place. Some basic forms found in nature are when roots from separate trees meet and connect or when branches of two closely related species cross and eventually fuse. Grafting is a great technique to...
Winter is usually the last season that comes to mind when thinking of plants in bloom, but adding winter interest to the garden does wonders in getting us through the darker months of the year. Too many gardens we visit in the winter look so bleak, dark, deciduous and grey...
Winter is a great time for spring planning and daydreaming of fresh growth ahead. It’s also a perfect time to prune dormant fruit trees and plants. Pruning during the winter can help set your fruit trees up for a successful growing season to come. Be sure to check out our winter pruning guide and...
The origin of wine produced from grapes dates back as far as 9,000 years ago in Asia where remnants of fermented rice, honey, grape, and hawthorn berries were discovered on pottery fragments in Central China. A few thousand years later regions throughout Europe began cultivating the winemaking craft while identifying the most favorable grapes that are still...
Often our desire to grow a particular plant or group of plants is far greater than our ability to actually do so in whatever climate we might live in. It seems that no matter where you live, whether it’s in the cold bitter winters of the northeast or the warm,...
Like all living organisms, plants need certain conditions in order to live and develop. Sun and water are important resources that plants need to receive above the surface in order to grow, however, what lies below the surface is just as essential in providing plants with the proper nutrients and components to truly thrive. Soil...
Fruit Tree Chill Hours Chart *this chart is based on the average range, some cultivars do vary Almond: 400-600 Walnut: 800-100 Filbert (Hazelnut): 800-1300 Chestnut: 300-500 Pistachio: 550-800 ————————————– Apple: 700-1000 (Low chill varieties between 200-500) Apricot: 500-800 Peach: 600-1000 (low chill varieties between 300-500) Nectarine: 100-500 Asian Pear: 400-500 European Pear: 600-800 Japanese Plum: 500-900 European Plum: 700-1000 Pluot: 400-800 (Low chill...
Imagine a winter where fresh vegetables and herbs can be harvested even when snow is falling outdoors! This time of year may always require a bit more patience and resilience for those of us who find joy in tending to our gardens and caring for fruit trees outdoors, but we can continue growing indoors all...
The taste of banana, guava, or pineapple can quickly transport any imagination to a warm, sunny location, lounging on a beach, and sipping margaritas. Tropical flavors aren’t usually available to us here in the north, but many subtropical plants grow quite easily here if given some winter protection. Now is the time to expand the possibilities...
Although the stereotypical weather in the Pacific Northwest is grey, rainy skies, there is a surprisingly long period of drought every year. Though the skies can sometimes still be a bit grey in June and September, there is no significant rainfall for most of our growing season. If it wasn’t already known...
